Showing posts with label George Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label George Smith. Show all posts

Sunday, August 01, 2021

OTD in Brooklyn Semipros 8/1/1935: Bay Parkway Dukes Routed By Local Rival Bay Ridge Club

From the desk: BROOKLYN SEMIPROS


"BAY RIDGES TROUNCE BAY PARKWAYS, 15-6, IN NIGHT GAME"

On Thursday, August 1, 1935, in a matchup of local rivals played not more than two miles from where I presently live, the Bay Ridge Baseball Club conquers the Bay Parkway Dukes at Bay Ridge Oval, 15th Avenue at 86th Street.



With neighborhood pride on the line, at least half the crowd of 4,500 watches on with great delight as the Bay Ridgers trounce the Dukes by a final score of 15 to 6.  All Bay Ridge batters hit safely, and all but one wield multiple hits.  By the game's end, they strike for twenty hits, including 13 for extra bases, against Bay Parkway starter George Smith and relievers Gannett and Lester.  Smith walks three and strikes out four in the loss.

Third baseman Harry Bennett leads Bay Ridge with four runs driven home.  Second baseman Bobby Cummings goes 3 for 5 with a double, a pair of triples, and two runs batted in.  Left fielder Eddie Marsini accounts for three hits, including a double; center fielder Jeff McDonald goes 2 for 4 with three runs batted in, and first baseman Al Ambramowitz collects three hits, including a triple and home run.

In the ninth, Luciano also homers for the Dukes.  Otherwise, Bay Ridge starter Joe Stryker holds Bay Parkway to six runs on eight hits and five walks with eight strikeouts for the win.  In fact, Luciano leads the Dukes with three hits, including two of four Bay Parkway extra-base hits, Rodriguez and Ike Goldstein account for the others.  Meanwhile, the number five-hitter in the lineup and right fielder Bruce Caldwell strikes out four times.

Sunday, July 18, 2021

OTD Brooklyn Semipros 7/18/1935: Bay Parkways Defeat The Homestead Grays In First Ever Night Game At Erasmus Field

From the desk: NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE & BROOKLYN SEMIPRO




On Thursday, July 18, 1935, not more than two miles from where I presently live, Joe Rosner's Bay Parkway Dukes defeat Cum Posey's Negro National League Homestead Grays in the first-ever night game at Erasmus Field, McDonald Avenue at the Avenue M Station along the Culver Line.



BAY PARKWAY DUKES vs. 

With a new lighting system in place, George Smith starts for the Bay Parkways and is opposed by Tom "Big Train" Parker for Homestead.  The Grays apparently see the ball well as they jump out to a prompt 2-0 lead in the first.  Bay Parkway answers with runs in the third and fourth innings.  The Homestead Grays then take a 3-2 lead in the fifth, but it does not last again.  The Dukes tie the game in the sixth, then erupt for three runs in the seventh for a 6-3 lead.  The teams again traded two runs apiece in the eighth inning, giving Bay Parkway an 8-5 lead and the final margin of victory, but not before Homestead poses one last threat.

With two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, and first baseman Buck Leonard due up, manager Harry Hesse removes George Smith in favor of Al Morris.  Leonard had previously doubled and homered off Smith.  When play resumes, Al Morris strikes out Buck Leonard on three pitches to end the game.  

George Smith yields five runs on seven hits and five walks with ten strikeouts through 8.2 innings pitched for the win.  Four of Homestead's seven hits go for extra bases; left fielder Vic Harris goes 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored; center fielder Ray Brown triples in four at-bats and pitches in relief of Big Train Parker (striking out four with one walk), while Buck Leonard accounts for six total bases.

Homestead starter Tom Parker allows eight runs on seven hits and seven walks with 13 strikeouts in a losing effort.  The slugging Parkways make their hits count as five go for extra bases.  Right fielder Bruce Caldwell leads the Dukes, going 2 for 4 with a double, home run, and two runs scored, and Frank Posnack is 2 for 5 with two doubles and one run scored.


First Night Game at Erasmus Field, Brooklyn