From the desk: NEGRO LEAGUES vs. SEMIPROS
Saturday, August 25, 1934
COLORED ALL-STARS
vs.
WHITE ALL-STARS
FROM
EBBETS FIELD
Nat C. Strong, the northeast's preeminent booker/business manager, with ownership interests in the Bushwicks and Brooklyn Royal Giants among other semipro and colored teams, in cooperation with the New York City Baseball Federation, the Community Councils, and the Sports Foundation, plays a leading role in organizing an exhibition between selected Colored All-Stars and a picked nine of White (semipro) All-Stars.
Proceeds of the game were dedicated to furthering New York sandlot baseball. High interest and wide support abound. Fred G. Lieb 1, a nationally known sportswriter, sponsors the event with support from National League president John Heydler and American League president Will Harridge, who donated the baseballs. At least twelve umpires volunteer their services, with six being selected. And a familiar face at Ebbets Field, Bill Boylan tosses batting practice for both teams just as he does for the Brooklyn Dodgers when they're home. Local fans could vote for colored and semipro players while tickets were held commensurate with local theater prices.
With Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia present, the Department of Welfare band and Fife & Drum Corps conduct opening ceremonies with a parade to the center field flagpole. In addition to numerous other luminaries in attendance, it was believed that former heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey 2 would perhaps also be on hand to throw out the first pitch.
"It's the first time a game of this type has been conducted for the edification of semipro fans, not to mention the big league addicts who will find themselves without a Dodgers' contest tomorrow. It represents a milestone in the game, for this contest has been years in the dreaming." - Times Union, (Brooklyn, NY), Friday, August 25, 1934
From the New York Black Yankees, George Scales manages selected players from the Philly Stars, Bacharach Giants, Newark Dodgers, and Black Yankees. 3
COLORED ALL-STAR LINEUP: (assumed)
The White All-Stars comprise member players from the Metropolitan Baseball Association: Cartlons (Bronx), Springfields (Queens), Glendale Farmers, Elmhurst Grays, Bay Parkway Dukes, Al Mamaux's Meadowbrooks, and Bushwick. They are managed by Joe Fero of the Farmers with Joe Press of the Bay Parkways as a base coach.
Bushwick catcher and New Jersey native Charlie Hargreaves, Erasmus High School product and Farmer shortstop Jonah Goldman, Bay Parkway outfielder and former Dodger Bruce Caldwell, have major-league experience.
⚾
Facing starter Henry McHenry, the Semipro stars jump out to an early lead with runs in the first and third. After tossing three scoreless innings, James Duffy is relieved by George Manfredi of the Bay Parkways, and that's when things begin to go wrong for the White team. The Colored stars score three times in the fourth, assisted by four walks and a hit but give one back in the bottom half. Fitzsimmons fares no better in the fifth, yielding three more runs on two hits and two walks and an error by second baseman Jack Winslow. After a scoreless seventh, the Colored All-Stars take a 7-2 lead in the top half of the eighth. However, the white semipros stage a big six-run rally in the bottom half of the frame to take a 9-7 lead. But the Colored All-Stars were not yet done. After trading a run each in the eighth, manager George Scales' team rallied for three runs in the ninth inning for an 11-10 lead and the final margin of victory.
Both teams strike for 15 hits. Jimmy Ashworth leads the white all-stars with three hits, including a double. Josh Johnson leads the Colored All-Stars with three hits, Leonard Lindsay, Willie Gray, and L.D. Livingston each wields two hits. Johnson, Ed Pryor, and Curtis Henderson score two runs apiece.
1,2,3 - New York Age, Saturday, August 25, 1934, p5, c7
