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Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Once Upon A Summer 10/12/1918: John Donaldson Wins Duel Against Joe "Cyclone" Williams; Royal Giants and Lincoln Giants Split Doubleheader at Dexter Park

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS & THE DONALDSON NETWORK


On Saturday, October 12, 1918, Columbus Day, the New York Lincoln Giants visited Dexter Park to take on the Brooklyn Royal Giants one last time in a decisive doubleheader to determine the Colored baseball champions for the season.  The opponents enter with their series tied, thus necessitating a twin bill sweep by either to declare an outright victor.

The Standard Union (Brooklyn, NY), Sunday, October 13, 1921



Game One pits future Hall of Famer Joe "Cyclone" Williams for the Harlem visitors against southpaw John Donaldson for Brooklyn.  

Donaldson reaches safely in the home second and advances to second on third baseman Todd Allen's
errant throw to first base, then scores the game's opening run on center fielder Tom Fiall's base hit. 

In the third, Joe Williams draws a walk against Donaldson and soon scores on a double by right fielder Blainey Hall.

John Donaldson again helps his cause with a single against Smokey Joe, leading off the fourth.  Tom Fiall then reaches safely on a misplay and wild throw by first baseman William Parks resulting in both runners moving into scoring position.  Next in, left fielder Johnny Pugh clears the bases with a line drive to right field.  Right fielder Frank Crockett reaches safely when his fly to center field is dropped by the usually sure-handed Jules Thomas.  After Crockett steals second, Royal catcher John Cason drives home both runners.

Shortstop John Henry Lloyd singled and scored in the eighth, giving the Royals a 6-1 lead and the final margin of victory.

Smokey Joe Williams yields six runs on nine hits, and no walks with two strikeouts in a losing effort.

Blainey Hall leads the Lincolns with two hits and the game's only extra-base hit.  Royal first baseman
Bill Pettus and Lloyd each wield two hits, and Donaldson leads Brooklyn with two runs scored.

"Donaldson, pitching for the Royals, 
was in rare form." - The Standard Union.

Midwestern star John Donaldson was indeed in top form.  On the heels of a four-hit shutout performance against Long Island City, the Royal Giant left-hander holds the Lincoln Giants to a lone run on six hits and one walk with five strikeouts for the victory.


The Standard Union (Brooklyn, NY), Sunday, October 13, 1921


Lincoln Giants right-hander Ad Lankford toes the rubber in Game Two against Phil Cockrell for the Royals.  The game is an abbreviated five-inning contest, called due to darkness, with the Lincolns leading Brooklyn by a 3-1 score.  In the third, Harlem center fielder Jules Thomas drives home two runs, and Blainey Hall scored on a fielder's choice.  Third baseman Oliver Marcell drove in Brooklyn's only run in the fifth and final inning.


Times Union (Brooklyn, NY), 
Sunday, October 13, 1921

Therefore, the Lincoln Giants and Royal Giants series remains tied, but a decisive game will not be scheduled as the season is fast coming to its end and will remain dormant until the end of the war.  The Brooklyn Royal Giants will close out the season on Sunday with a twin bill against Bushwick.  Afterwhich, many players from the Lincolns and Royals are due to report in camp by Tuesday, October 16.


The Standard Union (Brooklyn, NY), 
Sunday, October 13, 1921

⚾


ONCE UPON A SUMMER 1918: JOHN DONALDSON'S LONE SEASON WITH THE BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

LHP - JOHN DONALDSON'S PITCHING RECORD w/ BROOKLYN:
  1. 6/30/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 2 runs, 7 hits, 2 W, 2 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  2. 7/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 0 RUNS, 5 hits, 1 W, 6 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
  3. 7/7/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 3 runs, 9 hits, 2 W, 2 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  4. 7/14/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 1 run, 7 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Bushwick; Dexter Park)
  5. 7/16/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?) W, 6 K (Atlantic City; Bacharach Park, N.J.)
  6. 7/21/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 6 runs, 10 hits, 4 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
  7. 7/28/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 9 runs, 16 hits, 2 W, 3 K (Silk Sox; Doherty's Oval, N.J.)
  8. 8/11/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 2 runs, 13 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  9. 8/18/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 5 runs, 5 hits, (?) W, 4 K (Tietjen & Lang; Nurge's Field, N.J.)
  10. 8/24/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 8 runs, 19 hits, 1 W, 2 K (Morse Dry Dock; Brooklyn)
  11. 9/1/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  12. 9/2/1918 - (L) 2 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 0 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
  13. 9/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 6 runs, 7 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Camp Mills; Garden City, N.Y.)
  14. 9/14/1918 - (W) No game account vs. Tietjen and Lang Ship Club (Nurge's Field, N.J.)
  15. 9/22/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 7 runs, 10 hits, (?) W, (?) K (New York Giants; Jersey City)
  16. 9/29/1918 - (ND) 4 innings, 3 runs, 6 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  17. 10/6/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 0 RUNS, 4 hits, 1 W, 6 K (Long Island City; Recreation Park)
  18. 10/12/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 1 run, 6 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Lincoln Giants; Dexter Park)
  • LINE: 141 innings, 62 runs, 154 hits, 16 walks, 47 strikeouts, 3.95 ERA
BEDFORD & SULLIVAN PODCAST:
Restoring Baseball Great John Donaldson's Lost Legacy With Negro Leagues Historian and Founder of The Donaldson Network, Peter Gorton.

Minnesota native Peter Gorton leads a group of historians dedicated to discovering the lost legacy of John Wesley Donaldson.  In this episode, we discuss the man, baseball career, and life of one of the more incredible and inspiring athletes to ever play the game, and how his amazing legacy became lost to a nation, most particularly Baseball's Hall of Fame.  

original airdate: March 13, 2021





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