Once Upon A Summer 9/22/1918: Brooklyn Royal Giants Stage Doubleheader Versus New York Giant Players at Jersey City

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS & THE DONALDSON NETWORK

Jersey Journal, Jersey City (NJ), via THE DONALDSON NETWORK

On Sunday, September 22, 1918, members of the New York Giants, playing under "Jersey City," hosted the Brooklyn Royal Giants in a doubleheader at the Culver Avenue and West Side Avenue ballpark, Hudson County, New Jersey. 

 

Jersey Journal, Jersey City (NJ), via THE DONALDSON NETWORK

This is the first time in the history of the Brooklyn Royal Giants they have faced a major league team.

• Jersey City Giants: Hal Chase, Art Fletcher, Larry Doyle, Jay Kirke, Joe Wilhoit, George Burns, Ollie O'Mara, Lew Wendell, Red Causey, Al Demaree.

• Brooklyn Royal Giants: John Henry "Pop" Lloyd, Louis Santop.

The first contest features midwestern star John Donaldson opposed by right-hander Al Demaree for the Giants.  Brooklyn is limited to no runs on just three hits.  John Donaldson yields seven runs on ten hits for the loss.

Game two is a more tightly contested affair pitting Irvin Brooks for Brooklyn versus rookie Red Causey for Jersey City.  In a seven-inning contest, Brooklyn and Causey duel through six scoreless innings.  The Jersey City hosts score in the top of the seventh, but the Royal Giants do not answer.  Right-hander Red Causey is the victor in a seven-inning shutout performance.  Irvin Brooks takes the hard-luck loss.

Jersey Journal, Jersey City (NJ), 

via THE DONALDSON NETWORK

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Saturday, September 21, 1918

Kingsbridge Athletics vs. Brooklyn Royal Giants

DYCKMAN OVAL

The New York Herald, Friday, September 20, 1918

UNRESOLVED

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BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

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

• 6/28 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Acquire Midwest Pitching Great, John Donaldson
• 6/30 - John Donaldson Loses Brooklyn Royal Giants Debut To New York Lincoln Giants
• 7/3 - John Donaldson Poised To Make Brooklyn/Queens Debut At Dexter Park
• 7/4 - John Donaldson Twirls Shutout Over Cuban Stars In Dexter Park Debut
• 7/7 - Joe Williams Wins Second Straight Decision Over John Donaldson; Lincoln Giants and Royal Giants Split Twin Bill
• 7/13 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Glendale at Farmer's Oval, Queens
• 7/14 - John Donaldson Defeats Bushwick; Royal Giants Split Twin Bill At Dexter Park
• 7/15 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Take Series Opener From Atlantic City Bacharach Giants
• 7/16 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Take Game Two from Bacharach Giants; John Donaldson Earns The Victory
• 7/17 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Wrap Up Series With Bacharach Giants at Atlantic City
• 7/18 - N.Y. Ship League Team Defeat Brooklyn Royal Giants at Camden, New Jersey
• 7/21 - Cuban Stars Double-Up Brooklyn Royal Giants; John Donaldson Takes Loss at Dexter Park
• 7/24 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Bow To Stan Baumgartner and Bethlehem Steel at Allentown, PA
• 7/27 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Camp Dix Soldiers*
• 7/28 - Silk Sox Clout John Donaldson's Offerings; Brooklyn Royal Giants Fall at Doherty's Oval
• 8/3 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Prospect Heights at Hackensack*
• 8/4 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Forfeit Game To Glendale at Farmer's Oval
• 8/7 - Bethlehem Steel Team Hosts a Scoreless Tie Against Brooklyn Royal Giants
• 8/11 - New York Lincoln Giants and Royal Giants Split Twin Bill at Olympic Field; Joe "Cyclone" Williams Wins Opener, John Donaldson Wins Game Two
• 8/17 - New York Ship Wins Second Contest Against Brooklyn Royal Giants at Camden, N.J.
• 8/18 - The Tietjen & Lang Shipyard Nine Defeat John Donaldson and the Brooklyn Royal Giants, North Bergen, N.J.
• 8/24 - Morse Dry Dock BBC Defeat Royal Giants in John Donaldson's True Brooklyn Debut
• 8/25 - Irvin Brooks Twirls Shutout; Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Glendale at Farmer Oval, Queens
• 9/1 - New York Lincoln Giants Sweep Twin Bill From Royal Giants at Olympic Field; Joe "Cyclone" Williams Earns Dual Victory, John Donaldson Suffers Loss in Second Tilt
• 9/2 - Brooklyn Royal Giants and Cuban Stars Split Games of a Doubleheader at Dexter Park
• 9/4 - Southpaw John Donaldson Hands Camp Mills Their First Loss This Season; Brooklyn Royal Giants Win, 7 to 6
• 9/8 - John Donaldson's Return Match Against Morse Dry Dock Along Brooklyn Waterfront Likely Rained Out
• 9/12 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Glendale in Eleven Innings at Farmer's Oval, Queens
• 9/14 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Tietjen and Lang Club; John Donaldson and the Backdrop of WWI
• 9/15 - Bushwick Sweeps Both Ends of Doubleheader Against Brooklyn Royal Giants at Dexter Park

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, NY)
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)

• LINE: 119 innings, 58 runs, 138 hits, 13 walks, 31 strikeouts, 4.38 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

  

100 Years Ago Today 6/1/1920: Brooklyn Robins Forge First Place Tie With Reds

From the desk of:  FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #37: Tuesday, June 1, 1920 - BR
New York Giants vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Brooklyn Robins Complete Sweep of Giants; Move Into First Place Tie With Reds

The month of June begins with a real barnburner, a fierce back and forth affair at Ebbets Field in which Brooklyn wins Tuesday's series finale and completes a three game sweep over their Giant rivals.  Rube Marquard is opposed by New York yeoman Rube Benton.  Both fail to make it out of the fifth inning.  With two out and two on in the Brooklyn first Pete Kilduff reaches safely on an error by shortstop Art Fletcher.  With the bases loaded Clarence Mitchell singles to left plating two.  New York storms back with two runs batted in each by Art Fletcher and Larry Doyle, and one run batted in from Frank Snyder, for a 5-2 lead through four and one half innings.  The Brooks then rally for two in the bottom half of the fifth on runs batted in from Bill McCabe and Ernie Krueger.  After which a Hi Myers triple in the sixth plates two for a 6-5 Robins lead.  But the bullpen duo of Art Nehf and Phil Douglas falters in the eighth yielding four runs on three hits and two walks giving New York a 9-6 advantage.  Then comes the obligatory comeback.  Pete Kuldiff and Clarence Mitchell each drive in a run apiece in the eighth cutting the Robins deficit to one.  In the Brooklyn ninth an incensed John McGraw seethes over his club's fourth error of the game, and eleventh of the series.  With two outs and the bases filled with Robins, Hi Myers doubles into deep right plating the tying and winning runs.  For the game Hi Myers is 2 for 5 with a walk, double, triple, two runs scored, and four runs batted in.  Bill McCabe starts in left field in place of the injured Zack Wheat.  Speaking of which Clarence Mitchell since taking over first base for the injured Ed Konetchy enjoys his biggest day at the plate going 4 for 5 with three runs batted in.  Sherry Smith earns his third victory in relief of Rube Marquard and George Mohart.  Marquard surrenders five earned runs on seven hits and one walk in just four innings pitched.  The Robins are now winners of six in a row.

• RECORD: 22-14 (.611)
• 1st place; tied

100 Years Ago Today 5/31/1920: Brooklyn Robins Sweep Rival Giants in Twin Bill at Ebbets

From the desk of:  THE FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #35: Monday, May 31, 1920 - BR
New York Giants vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field:  GAME ONE

Burleigh Grimes Flusters John McGraw and the New York Giants

Brooklyn bats swarm Giants starter Phil Douglas with haste, knocking him out of the box by the second inning.  Four hits, an error by his shortstop Art Fletcher, a run batted in by opposing pitcher Burleigh Grimes, and 0-3 deficit are all John McGraw can stand before dispatching Phil Douglas to the showers.  With one out and runners on the corners in the Giants third Art Fletcher makes up for his fielding gaffe by plating right fielder George Burns with the Giants first run.  Burleigh Grimes and the Robins then get after Giants reliever Jesse Winters in the Brooklyn fifth.  With two outs Pete Kilduff triples to left and scores on Grimes second hit of the game.  Then with runners on the corners and two outs Art Fletcher commits his second costly error of the game allowing Otto Miller to score Brooklyn's fifth run.  New York scores once in the ninth en route to a 5-2 defeat.  Burleigh Grimes improves to 6-2 with a 1.33 ERA.  He allows two earned runs on eleven hits and no walks with seven strikeouts.  With a stick in his hands Grimes goes 3 for 3 with two runs batted in.


Game #36: Monday, May 31, 1920 - BR
New York Giants vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field:  GAME TWO

Strong Pitching and Timely Hitting Continue to Propel Wilbert's Robins

The New Yorkers provide little defense for starter Jesse Barnes.  Five more fielding errors send manager John McGraw into conniption.  A contented Wilbert Robinson can not help but grin at his adversary's dismay as the Robins complete a sweep of Monday's twin bill at Ebbets Field.  Brooklyn pitchers continue wielding a hot bat, as starter Al Mamaux goes 2 for 4 with a run scored.  Ivy Olson is 1 for 5 with a triple and run batted in.  Making his sixth straight start at first base in place of Ed Konetchy, Clarence Mitchell is hitting .304 with seven hits in 23 at-bats.  On the mound Al Mamaux treats the Giants unkindly, yielding one earned run on just five hits and three walks with two strikeouts.  He improves to 3-1 with a fine 1.18 earned run average.  Brooklyn is now 5-3 against the Giants this season with the home teams continuing to hold sway.  The Reds and Cubs split their twin bill at Chicago leaving the Robins and Reds tied for second place one half game behind the front running Cubs.

• RECORD: 21-14 (.600)
• 2nd place; 0.5 GB

100 Years Ago Today 5/7/1920: Brooklyn Robins Drop Series at Polo Grounds

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #18: Friday, May 7, 1920 - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. New York Giants
Polo Grounds

Brooklyn Loses Rubber Game in Extras; Giants Win Series.  Robins Fall to Fourth Place

Friday's rubber game is every bit the back and forth contest we've come to expect from these inter city rivals.  Three separate times Brooklyn takes a lead, and three times the Giants counter en route to a series victory at the Polo Grounds.  Bernie Neis in the fourth inning singles home Zack Wheat with the game's first run.  But with one out in the bottom of the fifth Giants third baseman Fred Lear connects off Rube Marquard on his first home run of the season.  In the bottom half of the sixth shortstop Art Fletcher singles home left fielder George Burns for a 2-1 Giants lead.  Burns would again touch home plate in the eighth inning on right fielder Ross Young's base hit.  Entering the ninth trailing by two  Brooklyn finally sizes up Giants starter Rube Benton for three runs on five hits.  However Brooklyn starter Rube Maraquard walks the first batter he faces in the bottom half of the ninth, then serves up a single to High Pockets Kelly putting runners on the corners.  Out from the dugout emerges manager Wilbert Robinson whom summons Clarence Mitchell from the bullpen.  With one out Mitchell walks pinch hitter Mike Gonzalez to load the bases.  George Burns mister popular this day grounds into a fielder's choice freeing up Fred Lear to score the tying run from third.  Into extra innings they go.  In the top of the eleventh inning runs batted in from Ivy Olson and Jimmy Johnston give Brooklyn a 6-4 lead.  But when Fred Lear leads off the bottom half of the frame with a triple off Clarence Mitchell, Uncle Robbie summons Burleigh Grimes from the bullpen.  High Pockets Kelly promptly greets Brooklyn's hurler with another triple to right.  Ross Young's subsequent run batted in and an untimely error by replacement first baseman Ray Schmandt are ultimately Brooklyn's undoing.  A fun time for the roughly 14,000 fans in attendance, perhaps not so much for Wilbert Robinson.  Burleigh Grimes takes the loss, his second of the season.  Starter Rube Marquard yields four earned runs on eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts through eight-plus innings pitched.

* Saturday, May 8, 1920 - Series finale at Polo Grounds is rained out.

• RECORD: 9-8 (.529)
• 4th place; 2 GB

100 Years Ago Today 5/5/1920: Rested Brooklyn Robins Outlast New York Giants at Polo Grounds

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #16: Wednesday, May 5, 1920 - BR
Brooklyn Robins vs. New York Giants
Polo Grounds

Robins Get Back in Win Column With Series Opening Victory Over Rival Giants at Polo Grounds

It is said around baseball circles get to the good ones early before they settle into a rhythm.  After a sorely needed day off the rejuvenated Robins do just that against Giants starter Jesse Barnes in jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the top half of the first on four hits and runs batted in from Zack Wheat and Ed Konetchy.  New York counters with a run in the bottom half of the frame with lead-off hitter George Burns singling against Robins starter Clarence Mitchell then scoring from third on a sac-fly off the bat of shortstop Art Fletcher.  Brooklyn adds a crucial insurance run in the third which would prove to be the difference - with two on and one out Ed Konetchy doubles home Hi Myers from second base giving Brooklyn a 4-1 lead.  But of course the Giants rally.  Art Fletcher doubles home his second run of the game in the sixth, and second baseman Larry Doyle promptly follows with a hit scoring Fletcher making it a 3-4 Giants deficit.  However the New Yorkers would score no more.  Burleigh Grimes relieves Clarence Mitchell who he pitches himself into trouble to start off the eighth.  Mitchell exits on the winning side of the contest having allowed three runs, two earned, on just five hits and two walks with two strikeouts through seven innings of work.  Grimes faces nine batters over two scoreless innings for the save.  Jesse "nubby" Barnes a 25-game winner last season for the Giants suffers his third defeat of the season against two victories.  He yields four runs, three earned, on twelve hits but no walks, nor a strikeout through eight innings pitched.  Brooklyn third baseman Jimmy Johnston is 4 for 5 with a run scored.  Zack Wheat goes 3 for 5 with a double, a run scored, and a run batted in.  Wheat (.357) has now hit safely in 15 of Brooklyn's first 16 games to start the season.  Meanwhile Ed Konetchy extends his team lead with ten runs batted in.

• RECORD: 9-6
• 2nd place; 1 GB

100 Years Ago Today 4/29/1920: Brooklyn Robins Defeat Giants in Rubber Game at Ebbets

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #11: Thursday, April 29, 1920 - BR
New York Giants vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Robins Take Rubber Game at Ebbets Field; Starter Clarence Mitchell Whitewashes Giants

Giants   0

Robins  3

Cheered on by 9,000 strong at Ebbets Field the Robins continue their hot start with a 3-0 whitewashing of their rival Giants.  Fielding errors, this time committed by shortstop Art Fletcher and second baseman Larry Doyle, for a second straight game are New York's undoing.  Brooklyn tallies three unearned runs in the first and Robins southpaw Clarence Mitchell takes care of the rest.  Jimmy Johnston, Zack Wheat, and Hi Myers all cross the plate for Brooklyn.  Only Ed Konetchy is credited with a run batted in.  New York starter Fred Toney takes the loss upon yielding three unearned runs on six hits and two walks with one strikeout through six innings pitched.  Robins starter Clarence Mitchell on the other hand tosses a gem limiting the Giants to just five scattered hits and four walks with one strikeout through nine scoreless innings pitched.  The suddenly stingy Mitchell has now allowed but one earned run through his first two starts and 18 innings pitched.  Brooklyn improves to 8-3 and is tied for first place with the Cincinnati Reds.

• RECORD: 8-3 (.727)
• 1st place; tied