On Saturday, August 17, 1918, the Brooklyn Royal Giants, for a second time, meet defeat against the New York Ship League Team at the Third and Erie Streets ballpark, Camden, New Jersey. Brooklyn previously lost to the New York Shippers here on July 18 by a score of 3 to 2. The visitors again come away with two runs, but the Ship Team this time tallies five for the victory.
Despite the Delaware River Ship Building A.A. League season reaching its conclusion, the Royal Giants and Ship Team nevertheless partake in an exhibition.
Starting pitcher, Jack Barnard yields just two runs on seven hits in a near mirror image of his previous start against the Royal Giants. Through two games and 18 innings pitched against Brooklyn, Barnard has now allowed just four runs on twelve hits. He held Brooklyn scoreless through the seventh until they ruined the shutout, scoring their runs in the eighth.
Second baseman Joe Hewitt and third baseman Oliver Marcell score for Brooklyn. Only Marcell and Rafael Figarola wield multiple hits and left fielder John Donaldson accounts for one.
Also making his second start against the Ship Team, right-hander Irvin Brooks yields an equal seven hits, but the shipbuilders do a better job bunching them together for two runs in the first, one in the third, and a retaliatory two runs in the home eighth.
MEANWHILE, out in the Midwest, rumors are running wild ... but have no fear, for John Donaldson is scheduled to pitch for Brooklyn in North Bergen, N.J., on Sunday.
"Donaldson won fame with the All-Nations of Kansas City, and in one game against all stars from the National and American leagues, struck Ty Cobb out three times."
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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
LHP - JOHN DONALDSON'S STARTS w/ BROOKLYN:
- 6/30/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 2 runs, 7 hits, 2 W, 2K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
- 7/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 0 RUNS, 5 hits, 1 W, 6K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
- 7/7/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 3 runs, 9 hits, 2 W, 2K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
- 7/14/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 1 run, 7 hits, 1 W, 5K (Bushwick; Dexter Park)
- 7/16/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?)W, 6K* (Atlantic City; Bacharach Park)
- 7/21/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 6 runs, 10 hits, 4 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
- 7/28/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 9 runs, 16 hits, 2 W, 3 K (Silk Sox, Doherty's Oval, N.J.)
- 8/11/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 2 runs, 13 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants, Olympic Field)
- LINE: 72 innings, 27 runs, 81 hits, 12 walks, 25 strikeouts, 3.37 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
