OTD Brooklyn Semipros 8/14/1932: House of David Sweeps Twin Bill Against Chick Fewster's Kings at Coney Island

From the desk: BROOKLYN SEMIPROS

Times Union (Brooklyn, NY),

Monday, August 15, 1932

 

On Sunday, August 14, 1932, in front of 5,000 fans, Chick Fewster's Kings are defeated by the House of David in both games of a doubleheader at Fewster Field, Coney Island.

GAME ONE - After allowing a run in the top of the first, Kings' starter, Dominick Torpe, holds House of David scoreless through the fifth.  Meanwhile, the Kings rally for three in the second and score once more in the home fifth for a 5-1 lead.  But that's when Brooklyn's hitting against Swaney effectively ends, and House of David begins.  The visitors tied the score with a run in the sixth and two in the seventh.  After dueling through a scoreless eighth inning, Martin singles home Sawyer with the go-ahead run in the top half of the ninth.  The Kings go down quietly in the home half of the frame.

Times Union (Brooklyn, NY), Monday, August 15, 1932

GAME TWO - House of David again opens the scoring with a first-inning run, and Kings again respond with four runs in the bottom of the frame and one in the second.  But they would score off House of David starter Bennett, no more.  As they accomplished in game one, House of David rallies for two runs in the third, then erupted for five runs in the fifth en route to an 8-5 victory and two-game sweep at Coney Island.  Kings' starter Fullerton allows seven hits and two walks in five innings pitched for the loss.  Stryker pitching in relief of Fullerton yields just one hit over the final four innings.

A Baltimore native and former second baseman for the New York Yankees, Chick Fewster retired in 1927 as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

  

 

OTD Brooklyn Semipro 7/26/1934: Harry Kowenhover Strikes Out 18 in House of David Victory at Bay Ridge Oval

From the desk: BROOKLYN SEMIPROS

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York), Friday, July 27, 1934

On Thursday, July 26, 1934, not more than two miles from where I presently live, the House of David club defeats the local Ridgers at Bay Ridge Oval, 15th Avenue at 86th Street.

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York), Friday, July 27, 1934

Despite yielding 14 hits, Bay Ridge starter Abe Spiro allows only four runs and no walks with ten strikeouts in a hard-luck loss.

A native of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, House of David starter Harry Kowenhoven limits Bay Ridge to just a pair of runs on six hits and two walks with 18 strikeouts for the win.

Only Pierce, the second baseman, wielded multiple hits for Bay Ridge, including a triple, and Abe Spiro lashed a double in four at-bats.   House of Davis left fielder Red Ramsey goes 4 for 4 with a run scored.

OTD 6/10/1935: The Brooklyn Eagles And The Historic First Ever Night Game At Ebbets Field That Wasn't

From the desk: WHERE THE EAGLES LEARNED TO FLY

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York), Saturday, June 8, 1935

On Monday, June 10, 1935, Abe and Effa Manley's Brooklyn Eagles were scheduled to play a historic game against the House of David at Ebbets Field.  The game was being called at 9:00 pm, making this the first night game to ever have been played at the Brooklyn Dodgers home park.

Daily News (New York, New York), Monday, June 10, 1935

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York), Saturday, June 8, 1935

Sunday's doubleheader featuring the Brooklyn Eagles hosting the Columbus Elite Giants in the first tilt, followed by the Eagles versus the Detroit Elite Giants in game two, was called off due to rain.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Sunday, June 9, 1935

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York), Monday, June 10, 1935

After consecutive rainouts, Brooklyn's Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe was slated to oppose Moose Swaney twirling for House of David.  But once again, Jupiter Pluvius intercedes, preventing the first-ever night game from being played at Brooklyn's Ebbets Field.  Not until June 18, 1938, would the National League Dodgers play their first night game at their Bedford Avenue and Sullivan Place grounds.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Tuesday, June 11, 1935

OTD in the Brooklyn Semi-Pros 5/17/1936: Bay Parkways Spilt Double-Header With House of David

From the desk: THE KINGS COUNTY GAME

Eighty-five year ago, on Sunday, May 17, 1936, not more than two miles away from where I live, one of Borough's best semi-pro clubs, the Bay Parkways, host and split a double-header with the skillfully renowned House of David baseball club at Erasmus Field, Brooklyn. 

 

• GAME ONE FINAL: House of David 4; Bay Parkways 3

In the opener, House of David starter Moose Swaney is opposed by Marius Russo for the By Parkways.  Swaney yields three runs on eleven hits, with two walks and one strikeout.  Russo limits House of David to just eight hits and three walks with five strikeouts.  Bay Parkway overcomes a 3-1 deficit with two runs in the eighth.  However, with two outs and Jim McCloskey back from the Boston Braves on the mound in Russo's relief, Caldwell's ninth-inning error in the right field proves costly as the local neighborhood Bay Parkways fall late 4 to 3.  McGee leads Bay Parkway with three hits, and three of their eleven hits go for extra bases to no avail.

• GAME TWO FINAL: House of David 6; Bay Parkways 16

There was little House of David could do to stem the Bay Parkway onslaught in game two.  The Brooklyn squad scored early, often, and late.  Three HOD pitchers joined together in surrendering 16 runs on 20 hits.  Henderson earns the win for Bay Parkway despite surrendering six runs on 14 hits and six walks with two strikeouts.  House of Davis right fielder Durning and Bay Parkway right fielder Caldwell each hit a home run apiece.  Catina led House of David with four hits, and left fielder Kelly leads Bay Parkway going 5 for 5 with a double and triple, and three runs scored. 

Recap and Boxscores: Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 18, 1936