A SAM MAXWELL PRODUCTION
Sam Maxwell Draws Me Into The Bedford and Sullivan
Podcast Interview With Brooklyn Dodger Great
CARL ESKINE
Showing posts with label Negro League Baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Negro League Baseball. Show all posts
Monday, July 20, 2020
Brooklyn Dodgers Great Carl Erskine Joins a Bedford & Sullivan Podcast
From the desk of: BEDFORD AND SULLIVAN
Thursday, February 23, 2017
For Those Who Played and Never Got Paid
From the desk of: Black History Month
Negro National League Stars
Courtesy: Junior's Restaurant
Wilmer Rod Fields-GRAYS
Max Dr. Cyclopes Manning-EAGLES
Bill Ready Cash-PHILA STARS
Jim Fireball Cohen-CLOWNS
Larry Schoolboy Kimbrough-PHILA STARS
Courtesy: My buddy at work
ICYMI
Art by friend Ron Nesbitt
Monday, February 13, 2017
The Brooklyn Bushwicks and Dexter Park
From the desk: BROOKLYN BASEBALL HISTORY
...and the baseball club from Brooklyn wins the Caribbean championship!
Perhaps not this year, but it happened, folks. And not just once, but multiple times.
Brief History: Serie del Caribe
The inspiration for first creating a tournament whereby the best Caribbean winter league baseball clubs would vie for a championship is credited to Venezuelan businessman Jesus Corao.
In 1946, in Caracas, the first Inter-American Series was held between teams representing Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, and representing the United States ... the Brooklyn Bushwick. Five Caribbean series were held in Caracas between 1946 and 1950, with Brooklyn winning the first four and Venezuela winning the last.
The success of the series did not go unnoticed. In 1946 two Venezuelan entrepreneurs pitched a Caribbean series to what became the original members of the Confederation of Caribbean Baseball (Cuba, Puerto Rico, Panama, and Venezuela). In August 1949, in Havana, they signed an agreement creating a tournament whereby each nation's respective champion would vie for the Serie del Caribe title.
The rest, as they say, is Caribbean beisbol history ...
The Brooklyn Bushwick
They were an independent semi-pro club and easily one of the game's more unheralded New York City enterprises to ever take the baseball field.
The Bushwicks were owned by a gentleman named Max Rosner, who immigrated to the United States in 1892 from Hungary. A businessman in the cigar trade, he was soon sponsoring and even playing shortstop for a local team named the Paramounts in the neighborhood of Williamsburg.
A few years after the Paramounts disbanded, in 1913, Rosner purchased the nearby Ridgewood Nine semi-pro club, and in 1914 renamed them the Bushwick. The former Ridgewoods had previously played their home games since 1902 at Wallace's Grounds located at Halsey and Irvin streets in Bushwick. Rosner's team remained there until a fire in 1917 destroyed the grandstands.
In 1918, the Brooklyn Bushwicks moved into Dexter Park, where they played out the remainder of their existence. At its height, the park grew to hold upwards of 15,000 fans for their traditional Sunday double-headers.
And for a good reason - the team was good.
Former President of the Baseball Writers Association of America, Jack Lang, said, "In any given game, the Bushwicks had up to five men in the line-up who had some major league experience."
Whether playing for the Bushwicks or in exhibitions against them, Whitey Ford, Dazzy Vance, Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Dizzy Dean, Carl Hubbell, Casey Stengel, Jackie Robinson, Phil Rizzuto, Joe Medwick, and Hank Greenberg were just a few (future or former) major league notables who participated in games at Dexter Park.
The Brooklyn Bushwicks always maintained multicultural diverse rosters. Likewise, they hosted the finest Negro Leagues competition of the day, featuring their fellow Dexter Park tenant Brooklyn Royal Giants, the Adrian Page Fence Giants, Cleveland Buckeyes, Cuban Giants, Philadelphia Giants, Roy Campanella, and the Baltimore Elite Giants, Josh Gibson and the Homestead Grays, and other stars Cool Papa Bell, Satchel Paige, et al.
Jackie Robinson's breaking of baseball's color barrier and the resulting demise of the various Negro Leagues are believed to have made it increasingly harder for Max Rosner to field quality talent and lure representative competition. The advent of television further affected Rosner's ability to draw fans to the park.
Shortly after they participated in the Inter-America Caribbean series, the team ceased operations upon completing their 1951 season.
The area of Dexter Park had previously existed as a racetrack, then a recreational park. The ballpark itself, which dated back to the 19th century, was located just off Jamaica Avenue on the Woodhaven side of the Brooklyn/Queens border.
Dexter Park was also the nation's first ball field to be fitted with lights, hosting the first night game in 1930, a full six seasons before the Brooklyn Dodgers played the major's first night game at Ebbets Field.
One particular optician's advertisement on the outfield wall read, "Don't kill the Umpire - Maybe it's your eyes?" An incline also existed in the right field area due to a horse having been buried there.
Only in Brooklyn...
Yahoo images
covehurst.net
Green Cathedrals
...and the baseball club from Brooklyn wins the Caribbean championship!
Perhaps not this year, but it happened, folks. And not just once, but multiple times.
Brief History: Serie del Caribe
The inspiration for first creating a tournament whereby the best Caribbean winter league baseball clubs would vie for a championship is credited to Venezuelan businessman Jesus Corao.
In 1946, in Caracas, the first Inter-American Series was held between teams representing Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, and representing the United States ... the Brooklyn Bushwick. Five Caribbean series were held in Caracas between 1946 and 1950, with Brooklyn winning the first four and Venezuela winning the last.
The success of the series did not go unnoticed. In 1946 two Venezuelan entrepreneurs pitched a Caribbean series to what became the original members of the Confederation of Caribbean Baseball (Cuba, Puerto Rico, Panama, and Venezuela). In August 1949, in Havana, they signed an agreement creating a tournament whereby each nation's respective champion would vie for the Serie del Caribe title.
The rest, as they say, is Caribbean beisbol history ...
- Cuba won the inaugural Serie del Caribe of 1949-50, then captured a second in 1952. Between 1956 through 1960, Cuba reeled off another five straight Caribbean titles. However, as part of his revolution, Fidel Castro disbanded the county's professional baseball circuits.
- At the same time, Panama's professional league ceased operations as well. As a result, the Serie del Caribe was suspended between the years 1961 through 1969.
- The four-team Caribbean tournament resumed when the Dominican Republic joined the confederation in 1970 (with returning Venezuela and Puerto Rico) and when Mexico joined in 1971.
- The 2016-17 winter season marked Cuba's fourth straight reappearance in the Serie del Caribe. In 2014, Cuba participated in their first Serie del Caribe since 1960, and one short year later captured their first title in 55 years and the country's eighth overall. For now, they continue participating on an invitation basis extended by the four-member confederation.
- The Criollos de Caguas baseball club representing Puerto Rico defeated Mexico's Aguilas de Mexicali, capturing the Serie del Caribe 2017 title and thus becoming the 59th champion in the tournament's history.
The Brooklyn Bushwick
They were an independent semi-pro club and easily one of the game's more unheralded New York City enterprises to ever take the baseball field.
The Bushwicks were owned by a gentleman named Max Rosner, who immigrated to the United States in 1892 from Hungary. A businessman in the cigar trade, he was soon sponsoring and even playing shortstop for a local team named the Paramounts in the neighborhood of Williamsburg.
A few years after the Paramounts disbanded, in 1913, Rosner purchased the nearby Ridgewood Nine semi-pro club, and in 1914 renamed them the Bushwick. The former Ridgewoods had previously played their home games since 1902 at Wallace's Grounds located at Halsey and Irvin streets in Bushwick. Rosner's team remained there until a fire in 1917 destroyed the grandstands.
In 1918, the Brooklyn Bushwicks moved into Dexter Park, where they played out the remainder of their existence. At its height, the park grew to hold upwards of 15,000 fans for their traditional Sunday double-headers.
And for a good reason - the team was good.
Former President of the Baseball Writers Association of America, Jack Lang, said, "In any given game, the Bushwicks had up to five men in the line-up who had some major league experience."
Whether playing for the Bushwicks or in exhibitions against them, Whitey Ford, Dazzy Vance, Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Dizzy Dean, Carl Hubbell, Casey Stengel, Jackie Robinson, Phil Rizzuto, Joe Medwick, and Hank Greenberg were just a few (future or former) major league notables who participated in games at Dexter Park.
The Brooklyn Bushwicks always maintained multicultural diverse rosters. Likewise, they hosted the finest Negro Leagues competition of the day, featuring their fellow Dexter Park tenant Brooklyn Royal Giants, the Adrian Page Fence Giants, Cleveland Buckeyes, Cuban Giants, Philadelphia Giants, Roy Campanella, and the Baltimore Elite Giants, Josh Gibson and the Homestead Grays, and other stars Cool Papa Bell, Satchel Paige, et al.
Jackie Robinson's breaking of baseball's color barrier and the resulting demise of the various Negro Leagues are believed to have made it increasingly harder for Max Rosner to field quality talent and lure representative competition. The advent of television further affected Rosner's ability to draw fans to the park.
Shortly after they participated in the Inter-America Caribbean series, the team ceased operations upon completing their 1951 season.
Dexter Park, 1930s
The area of Dexter Park had previously existed as a racetrack, then a recreational park. The ballpark itself, which dated back to the 19th century, was located just off Jamaica Avenue on the Woodhaven side of the Brooklyn/Queens border.
Dexter Park was also the nation's first ball field to be fitted with lights, hosting the first night game in 1930, a full six seasons before the Brooklyn Dodgers played the major's first night game at Ebbets Field.
One particular optician's advertisement on the outfield wall read, "Don't kill the Umpire - Maybe it's your eyes?" An incline also existed in the right field area due to a horse having been buried there.
Only in Brooklyn...
Yahoo images
covehurst.net
Green Cathedrals
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Newark Bears: Village Voice Open Letter to Chris Rock
From the desk of: THE DEFUNCT BRICK CITY NINE
Newark Bears: Sounds like a perfect fit. I'd like to think it actually makes $en$e, but, economic reality says otherwise.
I would only add this, stated several times in this blog...
In light of Newark's rich baseball history, part of any renewed effort to field a Newark Bears baseball club again should involve a conversation to erect the finest Negro League museum this side of the Mississippi River.
Newark should, before another city does.
Mike
LINK:
Includes Chris Rock's take on blacks in baseball: HBO's Real Sports/YouTube
I would only add this, stated several times in this blog...
In light of Newark's rich baseball history, part of any renewed effort to field a Newark Bears baseball club again should involve a conversation to erect the finest Negro League museum this side of the Mississippi River.
Newark should, before another city does.
Mike
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Black History Month & My New Friend
I did it again. The Trolley was passing by and I saw a gentleman wearing a great jacket adorned with many Negro League Team Logos. I pulled over to him and asked if he wanted to be part of a post for this blog in honor of Black History Month. After we talked he seemed very happy to do it.
Neighbors of the BloggerHood, meet Carlos Pascal, my new friend. He was more than willing to share his name and picture with us. I took extensive pics of the logos. We also talked about the potential move of the NBA New Jersey Nets to Brooklyn. There's a lot of activity over at Atlantic Yards now, sight of the new complex which includes the arena.
Paraphrasing, these were some of his thoughts about the Nets in Brooklyn:
"I'd would be good for the city having another team. It creates revenue for the city and jobs for the people. Having Jay-Z as part owner helps too. He's from around here and it's a message that you too can get things going for yourself. You don't need a three-piece suit to do what you're doing. Jeans and t-shirt work fine."
I hope to gather more of these opinions about the Nets probable move to Brooklyn. They are still a single digit winning team this year and I want a message sent loud and clear to Mr.Ratner we won't tolerate a looser just so he can get his ever growing Downtown Empire and new project off the drawing board. The team has been his hook the whole time. I just want a committed owner who'll take the basketball operations seriously.
Paraphrasing, these were some of his thoughts about the Nets in Brooklyn:
"I'd would be good for the city having another team. It creates revenue for the city and jobs for the people. Having Jay-Z as part owner helps too. He's from around here and it's a message that you too can get things going for yourself. You don't need a three-piece suit to do what you're doing. Jeans and t-shirt work fine."
I hope to gather more of these opinions about the Nets probable move to Brooklyn. They are still a single digit winning team this year and I want a message sent loud and clear to Mr.Ratner we won't tolerate a looser just so he can get his ever growing Downtown Empire and new project off the drawing board. The team has been his hook the whole time. I just want a committed owner who'll take the basketball operations seriously.
Enough with that for now. Lets celebrate Black Hstory Month today with Carlos Pascal as he allows us to enjoy the team logos up-close. Thanks Carlos! Stay in touch.
Thanks again for the pics Carlos!
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
the Brooklyn Royal Giants
The
BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS
1905-1922 Independent
1923-1927 Eastern Colored League
1928-1942 Independent
historicbaseball.com
negroleaguebaseball.com
Monday, February 01, 2010
February is America's Black History Month
Periodically this month I will be making observances in this blog towards celebrating
Black History Month in America.
(Junior's)
(left to right) - "Rod" Wilmer Fields HOMESTEAD GRAYS,
Max "Dr. Cyclops" Manning NEWARK EAGLES,
Bill "Ready" Cash PHILA STARS,
Jim "Fireball" Cohen INDIANAPOLIS CLOWNS,
Larry "Shoeboy" Kimbrough PHILA STARS
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