From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS & BROOKLYN SEMIPROS
On Sunday, June 7, 1931, not more than two miles from where I presently live, the Brooklyn Royal Giants and the Dukes of Bay Parkway split games of a doubleheader at Erasmus Field, McDonald Avenue at the Avenue M station along the Culver Line.
GAME ONE - The Parkways stake starting pitcher O'Grady to a 7-0 lead. O'Grady, in turn, opens with six scoreless innings pitched. But the Royal Giants finally break through with three runs in the seventh and one run in the eighth. Trailing 8-5 entering the ninth, the Royal Giants generate a four-run rally en route to a 9-8 victory. Brooklyn clearly makes the most of their eight hits yielded by O'Grady, who walks nine batters and strikes out two in a losing effort. The Bay Parkways totaled 14 hits, with six going for extra bases, highlighted by George Sackett's home run against Pritchard, who nonetheless earns the win.
GAME TWO - Within mere outs of winning game one, the Bay Parkways ensure victory in the second contest with eleven runs and the pitching of Fullerton, who limits the Royal Giants to just one run on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts in a winning effort. Royal Giants starter
Austin surrenders 15 hits, with eight going for extra bases. He also drilled Fullerton with a pitch, perhaps for good luck. Left fielder
Namon Washington accounts for three of the Royal Giants' six hits. However, the major highlight of the game is once again Bay Parkway first baseman George Sackett, who swats two more home runs giving three for the day.
George Sackett is one year removed from playing with New York University. The debate rages as to who among the semipro locals is the best, George Sackett of Bay Parkway or Bushwick first baseman, Eppie Barnes.
