Once Upon A Summer 10/15/1918: John Donaldson Leaves For Home in Kansas City

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS & THE DONALDSON NETWORK

The Standard Union (Brooklyn, NY), Wednesday, October 9, 1918

On Tuesday, October 15, 1918, the 28-year old Midwestern star John Donaldson sets back for home in Kansas City, where he soon becomes a founding member of the Kansas City Monarchs.  In fact, Donaldson suggested the team name to owner J.L. Wilkinson who in his later years would say the southpaw was the greatest pitcher colored or white he's ever seen.

Before his playing career ended in the 1940s, John Donaldson achieved over 400 verified wins, over 5,000 verified strikeouts, pitches 14 no-hitters and two perfect games, and twice struck out 30 batters in a single game.  

In 1949, he became major league baseball's first colored full-time talent scout for the Chicago White Sox.  

Please, delve deeper into his brilliant career at The Donaldson Network, spread the word, and let's together help this man gain the recognition he deserves with enshrinement into the Baseball Hall of Fame.  

I offer my humblest thanks and appreciation to the Network for personally helping me put together this Once Upon A Summer Series and presenting John Donaldson's season with the Royal Giants to baseball fans here in Brooklyn and afar.

I'll be following up with a podcast soon joined by Donaldson Network founder Peter Gorton and Negro baseball historian/author Phil Dixon.  Stay tuned; you surely don't want to miss that.

... AND JOHN DONALDSON

⚾

1918 BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

ONCE UPON A SUMMER 1918: JOHN DONALDSON'S LONE SEASON WITH THE BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

• 6/28 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Acquire Midwest Pitching Great, John Donaldson
• 6/30 - John Donaldson Loses Brooklyn Royal Giants Debut To New York Lincoln Giants
• 7/3 - John Donaldson Poised To Make Brooklyn/Queens Debut At Dexter Park
• 7/4 - John Donaldson Twirls Shutout Over Cuban Stars In Dexter Park Debut
• 7/7 - Joe Williams Wins Second Straight Decision Over John Donaldson; Lincoln Giants and Royal Giants Split Twin Bill
• 7/13 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Glendale at Farmer's Oval, Queens
• 7/14 - John Donaldson Defeats Bushwick; Royal Giants Split Twin Bill At Dexter Park
• 7/15 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Take Series Opener From Atlantic City Bacharach Giants
• 7/16 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Take Game Two from Bacharach Giants; John Donaldson Earns The Victory
• 7/17 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Wrap Up Series With Bacharach Giants at Atlantic City
• 7/18 - N.Y. Ship League Team Defeat Brooklyn Royal Giants at Camden, New Jersey
• 7/21 - Cuban Stars Double-Up Brooklyn Royal Giants; John Donaldson Takes Loss at Dexter Park
• 7/24 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Bow To Stan Baumgartner and Bethlehem Steel at Allentown, PA
• 7/27 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Camp Dix Soldiers*
• 7/28 - Silk Sox Clout John Donaldson's Offerings; Brooklyn Royal Giants Fall at Doherty's Oval
• 8/3 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Prospect Heights at Hackensack*
• 8/4 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Forfeit Game To Glendale at Farmer's Oval
• 8/7 - Bethlehem Steel Team Hosts a Scoreless Tie Against Brooklyn Royal Giants
• 8/11 - New York Lincoln Giants and Royal Giants Split Twin Bill at Olympic Field; Joe "Cyclone" Williams Wins Opener, John Donaldson Wins Game Two
• 8/17 - New York Ship Wins Second Contest Against Brooklyn Royal Giants at Camden, N.J.
• 8/18 - The Tietjen & Lang Shipyard Nine Defeat John Donaldson and the Brooklyn Royal Giants, North Bergen, N.J.
• 8/24 - Morse Dry Dock BBC Defeat Royal Giants in John Donaldson's True Brooklyn Debut
• 8/25 - Irvin Brooks Twirls Shutout; Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Glendale at Farmer Oval, Queens
• 9/1 - New York Lincoln Giants Sweep Twin Bill From Royal Giants at Olympic Field; Joe "Cyclone" Williams Earns Dual Victory, John Donaldson Suffers Loss in Second Tilt
• 9/2 - Brooklyn Royal Giants and Cuban Stars Split Games of a Doubleheader at Dexter Park
• 9/4 - Southpaw John Donaldson Hands Camp Mills Their First Loss This Season; Brooklyn Royal Giants Win, 7 to 6
• 9/8 - John Donaldson's Return Match Against Morse Dry Dock Along Brooklyn Waterfront Likely Rained Out
• 9/12 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Glendale in Eleven Innings at Farmer's Oval, Queens
• 9/14 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Defeat Tietjen and Lang Club; John Donaldson and the Backdrop of WWI
• 9/15 - Bushwick Sweeps Both Ends of Doubleheader Against Brooklyn Royal Giants at Dexter Park
• 9/22 - Brooklyn Royal Giants Stage Doubleheader Against New York Giants Players at Jersey City
• 9/29 - Smokey Joe Williams Outlasts Irvin Brooks and John Donaldson in Lincoln Giants Decisive Series Win Over Brooklyn Royal Giants
• 10/6 - John Donaldson Hurls a Gem; Brooklyn Royal Giants Sweep Doubleheader From Long Island City at Recreation Park
• 10/12 - John Donaldson Wins Duel Against Joe "Cyclone" Williams; Royal Giants and Lincoln Giants Split Twin Bill at Dexter Park
• 10/13 - Bushwick Sweeps Twin Bill From Brooklyn at Dexter Park; John Donaldson Plays Last Games With Royal Giants

LHP - JOHN DONALDSON'S PITCHING RECORD w/ BROOKLYN:

1. 6/30/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 2 runs, 7 hits, 2 W, 2 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
2. 7/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 0 RUNS, 5 hits, 1 W, 6 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
3. 7/7/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 3 runs, 9 hits, 2 W, 2 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
4. 7/14/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 1 run, 7 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Bushwick; Dexter Park)
5. 7/16/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?) W, 6 K (Atlantic City; Bacharach Park, N.J.)
6. 7/21/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 6 runs, 10 hits, 4 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
7. 7/28/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 9 runs, 16 hits, 2 W, 3 K (Silk Sox; Doherty's Oval, N.J.)
8. 8/11/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 2 runs, 13 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
9. 8/18/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 5 runs, 5 hits, (?) W, 4 K (Tietjen & Lang; Nurge's Field, N.J.)
10. 8/24/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 8 runs, 19 hits, 1 W, 2 K (Morse Dry Dock; Brooklyn)
11. 9/1/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
12. 9/2/1918 - (L) 2 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 0 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
13. 9/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 6 runs, 7 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Camp Mills; Garden City, N.Y.)
14. 9/14/1918 - (W) No game account vs. Tietjen and Lang Ship Club (Nurge's Field, N.J.)
15. 9/22/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 7 runs, 10 hits, (?) W, (?) K (New York Giants; Jersey City)
16. 9/29/1918 - (ND) 4 innings, 3 runs, 6 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
17. 10/6/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 0 RUNS, 4 hits, 1 W, 6 K (Long Island City; Recreation Park)
18. 10/12/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 1 run, 6 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Lincoln Giants; Dexter Park)

• LINE: 141 innings, 62 runs, 154 hits, 16 walks, 47 strikeouts, 3.95 ERA

BEDFORD & SULLIVAN PODCAST:

Restoring Baseball Great John Donaldson's Lost Legacy With Negro Leagues Historian and Founder of The Donaldson Network, Peter Gorton.

Minnesota native Peter Gorton leads a group of historians dedicated to discovering the lost legacy of John Wesley Donaldson.  In this episode, we discuss the man, baseball career, and life of one of the more incredible and inspiring athletes to ever play the game, and how his amazing legacy became lost to a nation, most particularly Baseball's Hall of Fame.  

original airdate: March 13, 2021

75 Years Ago Today 5/5/1946: Newark Eagles Leon Day Tosses Opening Day No-Hitter Against Philadelphia Stars

From the desk: THE BRICK CITY NINE

ON THIS DAY
May 5, 1946

In 1946, the Newark Eagles put forth one of the greatest single seasons in Negro League history.  They clinch the Negro National League pennant with a 50-20 (.714) record, outpacing the New York Cubans, Homestead Grays, and Baltimore Elite Giants each by 13.5 games in the standings.  Newark finishes the season with a 56-23 (.709) record when all is said and done.  

Managed by the long-time catcher and future Hall of Famer Biz Mackey, the Eagles defeat the Kansas City Monarchs from the Negro American League to capture the 1946 Negro League World Series championship, four games to three.  

The Newark Eagles also feature fellow future Hall of Famers Monte Irvin, Larry Doby, and right-handed pitcher Leon Day.

On Sunday, May 5, 1946, Day throws a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Stars in the first game of the regular season at Ruppert Stadium, Newark.  He joined Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller (Apr. 16, 1940) as the only two major league pitchers to ever hurl no-hitters on Opening Day.

The Philadelphia Inquirer

After two years of service and having landed at Utah Beach on D-Day, Leon Day received his honorable discharge from the United States Army in February.  In his first game back on the hill, Leon Day faced 29 batters, striking out six and walking three, with two fielding errors behind him.  However, no baserunner ever reached second.  Larry Doby drives home and scores the only two runs of the game.

Bedford and Sullivan Podcast: Celebrating Jackie Robinson Day 2021 with Negro League Historian Phil S. Dixon

From the desk: A SAM MAXWELL PRODUCTION

BEDFORD & SULLIVAN 

Meets BROOKLYN TROLLEY BLOGGER

JACKIE ROBINSON DAY

April 14, 1947

FEATURED GUEST

Negro Leagues Historian, Writer, Speaker

PHIL S. DIXON

ninety-eight minutes

If you want to hear a truly unique and informative conversation about Jackie Robinson's first day in the National League (4/15/1947) take a listen as @NegroLeagueMan, Mike Lecolant and @THE_SamMaxwell go DEEEEEEEP! https://t.co/VVpBZkf9TR

— Phil S. Dixon (@NegroLeagueMan) April 16, 2021

 

Bedford & Sullivan Podcast: On Jackie Robinson, Negro Leagues Baseball, and Black History Month

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS

BEDFORD & SULLIVAN 

PODCAST

a Sam Maxwell Production

On Jackie Robinson, Negro Leagues Baseball, & Black History Month

⚾

GUEST PANEL

Author and Journalist David Krell

Negro League Historian, Speaker, Author Phil S. Dixon

Forbes Contributor, Baseball Historian, Interviewer Nick Diunte

Video Director and Producer hailing from Crown Heights, Phil Maillard

TheBrooklynTrolleyBlogger and host Sam Maxwell

120 minutes

This was simply one of the best broadcast that I have participated on in sometime. Lots of wisdom was given. https://t.co/vnzkZbjTE9

— Phil S. Dixon (@NegroLeagueMan) February 26, 2021

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 

AND THE GREAT AMERICAN NARRATIVE

Bedford & Sullivan Podcast: Negro Leagues Centennial with Historian/Author Phil Dixon

From the desk of: A SAM MAXWELL PRODUCTION

BEDFORD & SULLIVAN meets

BROOKLYN TROLLEY BLOGGER

NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE

100th ANNIVERSARY

Sam Maxwell, myself and 

Historian, Author and Speaker Phil Dixon

From the desk of: BROOKLYN TROLLEY BLOGGER

• Dem Barnstormers: The Brooklyn Royal Giants
• Brooklyn To Newark I: Negro National League Eagles Take Flight
• Brooklyn to Newark II: Where Eagles Dare
• On Monte Irvin: A New Jersey Titan and New York Giant
• Negro Leagues Centennial: On William "Judy" Johnson

Brooklyn to Newark Part Two: Where Negro National League Eagles Dare

From the desk of: 100th Anniversary of Negro League Baseball

EFFA MANLEY

MATRIARCH OF THE NEWARK EAGLES

Brooklyn to Newark Part One: 

Negro National League Eagles Take Flight

Part Two: Where Eagles Dare   

Born December 22, 1885, in Herford, North Carolina, Abe Manley eventually makes his way up the east coast with stops at Norfolk, and Camden, until finally arriving in Brooklyn, New York.  Along the way, Abe creates a living in real estate and running numbers (not uncommon for the time) through which he becomes a familiar figure within Negro League circles.  Effa Manley, born in 1897 and raised in Philadelphia, relocates after graduating high school to New York City, where she takes up residence in Harlem.  A fervent baseball fan and particularly fond of watching Babe Ruth play, she is often in attendance at Yankee Stadium.  Effa Manley recounts meeting Abe there during the 1932 World Series pitting the Yankees against the Chicago Cubs.  In June of 1933, the two baseball fans are married, and by November 1934, the Negro National League owners grant Abe Manley's years' long request for a franchise.

Abe and Effa Manley together establish the Brooklyn Eagles with home games slated for play at Ebbets Field.  The inaugural 1935 Eagles finish fifth, one game above par with a 32-31 record.  Out in Pittsburgh, the Crawfords cruise to the pennant finishing ten games ahead of the Columbus Elite Giants, New York Cubans, and Philadelphia Stars.  Finishing behind Brooklyn is the Chicago American Giants and Homestead Grays, while the Newark Dodgers finish in last place, 25-games out of first.  After the season, Abe Manley purchases the struggling Newark Dodgers club, merges them together with the Brooklyn Eagles, and transfers team operations to New Jersey, giving rise in 1936 to the fabled Newark Eagles Baseball Club.  


Abe is responsible mainly for scouting, drafting, and acquiring personnel.  He is the one who scouts Monte Irvin coming out of high school and from the sandlots of New Jersey.  He also acquires future Hall of Famer Willie Wells from the Chicago American Giants.  In fact, Ray Dandridge becomes a member of the Eagles through Abe Manley's purchase of the Newark Dodgers.  Otherwise, Abe plays a significant role in procuring many higher-profile players to ever don the iconic Newark Eagles uniform.  But that's where his team responsibilities unofficially stop, and those of Effa Manley officially begin.  

Mrs. Manley does not procure talent, but you answer to her once in the Newark Eagles fold.  Effa does not just step into the role of tireless chief executive and nurturing matriarch of the Eagles.   She assumes full responsibility for all team administration and baseball operations - handling the media, attending to marketing and promotion, ticket sales, travel arrangements, and accommodations, down to player contracts, and attending league meetings.  Effa Manley handles all of this with dignity, and grace, and professionalism, even when confronted by overt male sexism practiced by, among others, fellow league owners.

From 1936 through 1948, the Newark Eagles play at Ruppert Stadium, where they author one of the more legendary narratives in Negro National League and baseball history.  In thirteen seasons, they fall under par just five times. Otherwise, they register six third-place finishes, three second-place finishes, and one first-place finish culminating in a Negro League World Series championship.

Today there are 41 members from the various Negro Leagues enshrined into baseball's Hall of Fame.  Eight hail from the Newark Eagles: Effa Manley; Monte Irvin; Ray Dandridge; Leon Day; Willie Wells; Mule Suttles; Biz Mackey; and Larry Doby.

Other Newark greats and team standouts include future Brooklyn Dodgers hero Don Newcombe; Jimmy Hills; Max Manning; George Giles; Ed Stone; Fats Jenkins; Harry Williams; Terris McDuffie; Fred Wilson; Jimmy Hill; Bus Clarkson; Lennie Pearson; Johnny Davis; Rufus Lewis; Pat Patterson; Leniel Hooker; among others.

After a 27-31 finish in 1936, the Eagles of 1937 are led on the mound by Leon Day and Terris McDuffie, who join together for eight victories in eleven combined starts.  McDuffie leads Brooklyn starting pitchers with a 3.12 earned run average.  First baseman Mule Suttles bats .318 and leads the team with seven home runs and 32 RBI.  Twenty-three old third baseman Ray Dandridge leads the Eagles with 45 hits, twelve doubles, and a .375 batting average, with shortstop Willie Wells right behind Dandridge boasting a .369 average.  The team finishes in second place with a 36-22 record, just 6.5 games out of first.

The Eagles of 1939 finish second behind the Homestead Grays, but their 37-21 record qualifies them for post-season play.  During the season, a 22-year old Leon Day posts a 7-3 record with a 3.41 ERA.  James Brown authors a fine 1.89 ERA through eight appearances and 38 innings pitched, and Jimmy Hill goes 5-1 with an even 3.00 earned run average.  At the plate, Fred Wilson leads the team with a .368 average.  Ed Stone bats .342 with a team-leading seven home runs and 31 runs batted in.  At 38-years of age Mule Suttles has another big season batting .351 while tying for the team lead in home runs and finishing second with 25 runs batted in.  However, the Eagles place fourth with a 1-3 record in a four-team round-robin playoff against the victorious Baltimore Elite Giants, the Homestead Grays, and Philadelphia Stars.

In 1940 the Eagles posted a 26-21 record good for third place, only five games out of first.  One game in the final standings separates the second-place Baltimore Elite Giants from Homestead Grays, who capture yet another pennant.  Meanwhile, the Eagles are led by Biz Mackey, Fred Matthews, Bus Clarkson, Lennie Pearson, and Monte Irvin, whom all bat over .300 for the season.  Center fielder Lennie Pearce boasts a .347 average, drives in 33 runs, and ties Bus Clarkson for the team lead with eight home runs.  Monte Irvin leads the team with a .371 average and posts a team-high 39 runs batted in.  Pitchers Jimmy Hill and Max Manning join together for 32 appearances and combine for 182.1 innings pitched in which they post a joint 18-6 record with a 3.65 earned run average.

Now 22-years old, Monte Irvin highlights the 1941 regular season by slashing an exceptional  .395/.442/.645, with 60 hits, twelve doubles, eight home runs, 48 runs batted in, and eight stolen bases - all team highs.  Leon Day bats .316, with four home runs, and finishes right behind Irvin with 32 runs batted in.  On the mound, Day is limited to 27.1 innings with a 3.95 ERA.  However, with a 27-23 record, the Eagles again finish third, a distant 12.5 games back of the Homestead Grays.

Six future Hall of Famers characterizes the 1942 Newark Eagles: Ray Dandridge; Willie Wells; Leon Day; Monte Irvin; Mule Suttles, and newcomer Larry Doby.  Rookie second baseman Larry Doby joins the fold as an 18-year old.  Five years later, on July 5, 1947, Larry Doby breaks the American League color barrier as a member of the American League Cleveland Indians.  Two-way threat Leon Day, now 25-years old, posts a 7-2 record with a 1.82 earned run average and a .344 batting average in 128 at-bats.  Lennie Pearson edges Day with a team-leading .346 average while smashing eleven home runs with 56 RBI.  And lest we forget 37-year old player/manager Willie Wells who bats .343 in 181 at-bats.

After back to back sub-par seasons, Newark in 1945 finishes third with a slightly improved 27-25 record.  Center fielder Johnny Davis leads the Eagles with a .321 batting average, four home runs, and 21 runs batted in.  Monte Irvin appears in just five games due to military service.  Meanwhile, a 19-year old rookie pitcher named Don Newcombe bursts onto the scene with a 4-3 record and a 2.38 ERA, with 36 strikeouts through eight appearances and 64.1 innings pitched.

The 1946 Newark Eagles are heralded as one of the greatest Negro League teams ever.  As well they should be.  Second baseman Larry Doby and shortstop Monte Irvin must be considered one of the best double-play combinations of the day, if not all of baseball.  Irvin hits five home runs and leads the team with a .363 average and 53 runs batted in.  Larry Doby hits a team-leading seven home runs while batting .339, with 47 runs batted in.  First baseman Lennie Pearson drives in 50 runs with a .310 average and amasses a team-leading 17 stolen bases.  Left fielder Johnny Davis bats .319 and is the third Newark Eagle to drive home 50 runs or better.  Catcher Leon Ruffin, third baseman Pat Patterson, center fielder Jimmy Wilkes, and right fielder Bob Harvey round out the field.  On the mound, the Eagles boast an exceptional pair of double-digit winners.  Leon Day is 11-2 with a 2.41 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 123 innings pitched; Max Manning is 10-2 with a 2.80 ERA, with 63 strikeouts over 109.1 innings pitched.  Complimenting the duo is pitching mate Rufus Lewis who goes 7-2 with a 2.73 ERA and 49 strikeouts in thirteen appearances, and 82.1 innings pitched.

Propelled by their depth of elite talent, Newark dominates the Negro National League season, soaring to a 50-20 (.714) record en route to a perch atop the league standings.  As well, they post an expanded 54-24 record against all comers.  Newark dethrones the Homestead Grays as Negro National League champions, snapping the former champion's historic string of nine consecutive pennants.  That bears repeating: the mighty Homestead Grays, who still feature Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Cool Papa Bell, et al.  The second place Grays finish 1946 with a 36-34 record, a distant 14.0 games back of Newark.  The Baltimore Elite Giants, New York Cubans, and Philadelphia Stars fare no worse, but the New York Black Yankees finish dead last with a 12-45 record, a distant 31.5 games out of first.

Having unseated the mighty Homestead Grays, Newark turns its attention towards the Negro American League champion Kansas City Monarchs - transcendently famous and favored to win the 1946 Negro League World Series.  The Monarchs finish their NAL regular season with a similar 50-16-2 record, outpacing the second-place Birmingham Black Barrons by a 14.0 game margin.  And they own a 56-26 overall record in all contests.  Kansas City on the mound features the great Satchel Paige, Hilton Smith, Ford Smith, Steve Wylie, and Jim LaMarque.  In the field, the Eagles are opposed by Buck O'Neil, Willard Brown, Ted Strong, Herb Souell, and Hank Thompson.  And guiding Kansas City from the dugout is long-time Monarchs player and manager Frank Duncan.

1946 Negro League World Series
BASEBALL REFERENCE

Newark Eagles (4) defeat Kansas City Monarchs (3)

Kansas City takes Game One played at the Polo Grounds by a slim 2-1 margin.  Satchel Paige earns the victory in relief of Hilton Smith, while Newark's Rufus Lewis suffers a tough luck loss in relief of Leon Day.   

Newark wins Game Two by a 7-4 final at Ruppert Stadium.  Trailing 4-1 after six, Newark erupts for six runs in the bottom half of the seventh.  Despite yielding four runs winning pitcher Max Manning allows just two hits through nine innings pitched.  Ford Smith takes the loss for Kansas City, while Satchel Paige appears in relief. 

Game Three shifts to Blues Stadium at Kansas City where the Monarchs march to a commanding 15-5 victory.  Jim LaMarque goes the distance for Kansas City.  Newark's Cotton Williams takes the loss. 

Newark evens the series with an 8-1 victory in Game Four at Blues Stadium.  Rufus Lewis goes the distance, allowing just one run and limiting the Monarchs to a mere four hits.  Satchel Paige proves ineffective in relief for a second straight game.  Monte Irvin hits a three run home run, and Larry Doby connects for a double and triple. 

Game Five is played at Chicago's Comiskey Park.  Newark manufactures ten hits against Monarchs starter Hilton Smith, but only push across one run.  Max Manning suffers the loss upon yielding five runs on nine hits through nine innings.  Kansas City leads the series three games against two. 

Facing elimination, Leon Day and the Newark Eagles withstand a first inning barrage - five runs by the Monarchs.  The Eagles regroup by the second, and hold on for a 9-7 Game Six victory at Ruppert Stadium.  Monte Irvin hits his second and third home runs; Willard Brown likewise hits his third homer for the series; and Lennie Pearson also connects for a pair of home runs.  Leniel Hooker earns the victory in relief of Leon Day.

Game Seven: With two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Newark Eagles achieve a come from behind 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Monarchs at Ruppert Stadium, to capture the 1946 Negro League World Series championship.  The Eagles jump out to a first inning lead.  But Buck O'Neil ties the game in the sixth with his second home run for the series.  With Larry Doby and Monte Irvin on base in the Newark eighth, Johnny Davis doubles plating the tying and go ahead runs. 

SERIES NOTES: The now 27-year old Monte Irvin makes the 1946 series his personal showcase.  He leads all batters with a .462 batting average, a .533 OBP, three home runs, and an .885 slugging average, while his eight runs batted in rank second behind Kansas City center fielder Willard Brown's ten.  Rufus Lewis carries the pitching load for Newark going 2-1 with a 1.23 eared run average and a series leading 15 strikeouts.  Rufus also leads the series with a stellar 0.95 WHiP.  Max Manning ranks second with a 1.27 WHiP.  Manning is 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA, and matches Lewis with 15 strikeouts.  Although largely ineffective as a reliever Satchel Paige fans 13 batters.

Despite achieving a second straight 50-plus win season, the New York Cubans clinch the 1947 pennant by six games over the Eagles.  Larry Doby and Monte Irvin once again lead the team.  Doby posts a team-leading .354 average, eight home runs, and 41 runs batted in.  Monte Irvin hits .304 with a team-high eleven home runs and 47 runs batted in.  Max Manning leads the pitching staff with one of his best seasons, going 12-4 with a 2.77 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 130 innings pitched.

The Eagles of 1948 finish third with a 33-32 record in what turns out being their last season at Newark and being the team's final season affiliated with the Negro National League.  Times are changing; major league integration is taking hold; the subsequent impact is transforming business conditions throughout Negro League baseball.  Abe and Effa Manley elect to sell the Newark Eagles, who are relocated to Houston and incorporated into the Negro American League.  A year later, the team again moves, this time to New Orleans.  Finally, after the 1951 season, the team folds operations for good.

• Monte Irvin makes his major league debut on July 8, 1949, with the New York Giants, two years before the arrival of Willie Mays.  After an eight-year career, Monte is inducted in 1973 into baseball's Hall of Fame.

The storied franchise founded in 1935 by Abe and Effa Manley ceases to exist - now relegated to history and lore.  Abe Manley passes away in 1952, thus sadly missing his wife's enshrinement as the only woman, to date, into Cooperstown's Museum and Baseball Hall of Fame.

"The Eagles were to (black) Newark 
what the Dodgers were to Brooklyn" - 

Newark Eagles pitcher Max Manning (aka Dr. Cyclops)

Effa Manley Society American Baseball Research   1946 Negro Leagues World Series Seamheads  

Kansas City Monarchs SeamHeads   Newark Eagles Seamheads    NegroLeagueBaseballPlayersAssociation  NegroLeagueBaseballMuseum.com   BOOK: The Most Famous Woman in Baseball, Effa Manley and the Negro Leagues by Bob Luke