OTD 7/2/1909: Umpire's Call Aids Brooklyn Royal Giants Victory at Pittsfield

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS

The North Adams Transcript (North Adams, Massachusetts), 

July 3, 1909

On Friday, July 2, 1909, the Brooklyn Royal Giants traveled north to Massachusetts where they defeat the Pittsfield nine, but not without some controversy. 

Brooklyn opens the scoring in the first inning.  Afterwhich, Royal Giant starter Harry Buckner and J. Ferry starting for Pittsfield engage in a scoreless duel through the sixth.  

The Giants scored twice more in the seventh, but Pittsfield answers back, and herein lies the controversy.  Umpire James Cain is said to have incorrectly ruled that center fielder Mahoney's potential double was a foul ball leaving the home team one run shy of knotting the game at three.  

Harry Buckner pitches a scoreless ninth.  All told, Buckner yields two earned runs on five hits, two for extra bases each by A. Ferry, the first baseman, and no walks with one strikeout for the win.  Brooklyn also plays a stellar game in the field, ten infield assists and no errors. 

Giant first baseman Al Robinson leads Brooklyn with two hits, and catcher Phil Bradley doubles in four at-bats.  Shortstop/manager Grant Johnson, second baseman Bill Monroe, and Buckner account for the rest of Brooklyn's hits.

OTD 6/22/1907: The Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Benton at Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS

The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 23, 1907

On Saturday, June 22, 1907, the Brooklyn Royal Giants defeat the Benton nine at Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, roughly 165 miles away from Washington Park.

Starting for the Benton locals, Bombey yields seven runs on eleven hits.  All but Grant Johnson and left fielder John Patterson hit safely for Brooklyn.  Third baseman Bill Monroe, first baseman Bob Jordan, second baseman Gus James, and catching this game, Clarence Williams, all register two hits apiece.  Starting pitcher Bill Merritt also joins in the hit parade with two of his own and two runs scored.  Otherwise, Merritt allows five runs on ten hits in a winning effort.  Shortstop Grant Johnson registers a game-high eight assists, and first baseman Bob Jordan with a likewise game-high ten putouts. 

OTD 5/11/1908: Brooklyn Royal Giants Edge Defenders of Dunkirk; Bill Monroe Delivers Winning Hit

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS

Buffalo Morning Express, May 12, 1908

Phil Bradley Twirls Seven-Inning Shut Out Against Defenders at Dunkirk, N.Y.

On May 11, 1908, at the Point Gratiot grounds in Dunkirk, New York, the local Defenders lost their season-opening game by the slimmest of margins against the Brooklyn Royal Giants.  In his first season with the Giants, Ed Wilson toes the slab for the visitors opposed by Harry Ehmke for the host Defenders.  The game is called after seven innings due to uncooperative weather.  Undeterred, the visitors play a clean game in the field.  Unlike Brooklyn, a Defenders' misplay in the fifth inning proves costly as Wilson's ensuing single and Bill Monroe's double and run batted in gives the Royal Giants a well-timed 1-0 lead.  The battery of Ed Wilson and Phil Bradley make it stand.  Wilson fans six in an abbreviated seven-inning shutout effort.  Defenders' starter Harry Ehmke though sabotaged by poor baserunning and three errors, yields just one run with six strikeouts in a hard-luck loss.