OTD Brooklyn Semipros 7/23/1941: Bushwicks Defeat Kansas City Monarchs On Festive Night At Dexter Park

From the desk: NEGRO LEAGUES vs. BROOKLYN SEMIPROS

The Brooklyn Citizen, July 24, 1941

On Wednesday, July 23, 1941, in a tightly contested affair, the Bushwicks defeated the Kansas City Monarchs at Dexter Park.

The game itself marks the eleventh anniversary of the first-ever night game played at Woodhaven's ballpark.  Back on July 23, 1930, in the first night game, Bushwick lost to the Springfields.  In celebration of that night and paying homage to Max Rosner, Bushwick alumni, former members of Springfield, including owner Archie Turner, and home plate umpire that game, Buster Brown, are all on hand before a crowd upwards of 8,000 fans.  Sportswriter Lester Bromberg of the World-Telegram serves as master of ceremonies.  

NEGRO AMERICAN LEAGUE 

Kansas City Monarchs

The Brooklyn Citizen, July 24, 1941

With Kansas City pitching great Satchel Paige (nursing a sore arm) looking on from a box behind home plate, Bushwick's Francis "Bots" Nekola limits the Monarchs to one run on just five hits (all singles) and two walks with five strikeouts for the victory.  In fact, the Monarchs remain hitless through the fifth.

Kansas City inevitably spoils the shutout when Buck O'Neil lifts a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the sixth.  Ironically, it is starter Frank "Schoolboy" Bradley who scores the Monarch's only run.  Bradley, third baseman Newt Allen, second baseman Rainey Bibbs, left fielder Willie Simms, and shortstop Jesse Williams accounts for Kansas City's hits.

"The fielding star of the game was Jesse Williams, shortstop of the Kansas City team.  He handled eight chances brilliantly, several times robbing the Bushwick players of base hits." - The Brooklyn Citizen, July 24, 1941

Bradley yields three runs on seven hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in an effective albeit losing effort on the mound.  With the game tied at one through the sixth, Bushwick bunches together four of their seven hits in the seventh resulting in two runs and a 3-1 final margin of victory.  Bots Nekola helps his own cause with two hits.  Center fielder Buddy Hall wields a triple in the first and drivers home a run, and left fielder Jimmy Ashford also drives home a run and scores.  Third baseman Gene Zaiser and catcher Charlie Hargreaves also score for Bushwick.

The Brooklyn Citizen, July 24, 1941

OTD 5/29/1938: Pittsburgh Crawfords Sweep Twin Bill From Bushwick at Dexter Field

From the desk: BROOKLYN SEMIPROS

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

On Sunday, May 29, 1938, before 15,000 fans, the Pittsburgh Crawfords of the Negro National League II, sweep a twin bill from the Brooklyn Bushwicks at Dexter Park.  Waite Hoyt, native Brooklynite and former New York Yankees great, makes his pitching debut for Bushwick.

Crawford's Theolis Smith Twirls 11-Inning One Hitter

GAME ONE - Making his debut for Bushwick, the soon to be 38-year old Brooklyn born Waite Hoyt, on May 15 pitches his last major league game while donning a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform against the Boston Braves.  Now facing the Crawfords, Hoyt yields just two hits and strikes out five through nine scoreless innings pitched.  However, Crawford's starting right-hander Theolic Smith matches Hoyt zero for zero through the ninth, forcing extra innings.  Jimmy Pattison relives Hoyt in the tenth.  In the eleventh, Pattison surrenders three hits plating third baseman Dan Wilson and right fielder Gene Benson.  Theolic Smith closes out Bushwick in the bottom half of the frame for the win.  Smith allows just one hit to third baseman Gene Zaiser and one walk with one strikeout in a brilliant 11-inning shutout effort against the competent Bushwick.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Pittsburgh Crawfords Complete Sweep at Dexter Park

GAME TWO - Pittsburgh scores early, often, and late in game two en route to a 7-1 final score and sweep of the twin bill at Dexter Park.  Crawford's starter Barney Morris allows just one run on five hits and five walks and a hit batsman with nine strikeouts for the win.  Bushwick starter George Earnshaw surrenders twelve hits and exits a 6-0 game on the losing side.  Center fielder Buddy Hall drives home Brooklyn's lone run of the game.  In relief of Earnshaw, Jim Petersen gives up one run in the ninth, giving this game its 7-1 final score.  Pittsburgh's first baseman Johnny Washington is 3 for 5 with a triple, stolen base, and a run batted in.  Dan Wilson goes 3 for 4 with a double, stolen base, and one run batted in.  Catcher Leon Ruffin delivers home two runs.  Bushwick center fielder Buddy Hall is 2 for 4 with a triple.