OTD Brooklyn Semipros 8/8/1940: Bay Parkway Dukes Defeat New York Black Yankees at Erasmus Field

From the desk: NEGRO LEAGUES vs. BROOKLYN SEMIPROS

The Brooklyn Citizen, Friday, August 9, 1940

On Thursday, August 8, 1940, not more the two miles from where I presently live, the Bay Parkway Dukes defeated the New York Black Yankees at Erasmus Field, McDonald Avenue at the Avenue M station along the Culver Line.

NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE II

NEW YORK BLACK YANKEES

The Brooklyn Citizen, Friday, August 9, 1940

Bay Parkway starter Gene Bowe hurls a gem, limiting the Black Yankees to just one late run on seven hits and no walks with twelve strikeouts for the win.  

Visiting left fielder Marvin Barker wields the only extra-base hit against Bowe.  Not until the eighth inning did the Yankees manage to bunch together three hits to spoil the shutout.  Center fielder Charlie Biot was Gene Bowe's twelfth and final strikeout victim who ended the game.  Yankee third baseman  Henry Spearman and first baseman Johnny Washington each wield two hits apiece.  Catcher Johnny Hayes hits safely and scores the Yankees' lone run.

With two runners in scoring position in the home fourth, left fielder Larry Fischer singles in Bay Parkway's first run.  With the bases loaded in the fifth, Yankee starter Purnell Mincy walks Larry Fischer, forcing the runner from third.  In the home eighth, center fielder Pete Gray singles, advances on a walk, steals third, then scores when Yankee reliever Jesse Brown throws errantly on an ill-fated pickoff attempt to first.

Yankees starter Purnell Mincy is nothing short of erratic.  He allows three runs on six hits but walks eight batters in a self-inflicted losing effort.

 

OTD Brooklyn Semipros 7/27/1941: Mule Suttles Provides Bay Parkways Lesson In Hitting; New York Black Yankees Sweep Twin Bill at Erasmus Field

From the desk: NEGRO LEAGUES vs. BROOKLYN SEMIPROS

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Monday, July 27, 1941

On Sunday, July 27, 1941, not more than two miles from where I presently live, the Bay Parkway Dukes lose both games of a double-header to the New York Black Yankees at Erasmus Field, McDonald Avenue at the Avenue M station along the Culver Line.

The Dukes hang tough, losing the first game 9-5 and the second by a more tightly contested 14-12 margin.  But truth be told, Yankees left fielder Mule Suttles was better ... than everybody!  The future Hall of Famer drives home two runs in game one.  Then in game two, twice comes to the plate with the bases loaded; a triple in the fourth clears the bases, and a double in the eighth clears them again. 

Yankees left-hander Neck Stanley earns the victory in game one, and Russ Dedeaux starts game two, but Connie Rector earns the win.  

Bay Parkway's Timmy Adams drives home two-run in game two and extends his consecutive hitting streak to 16 games.  Abe Spiro started game two.

"Mule Suttles, often called the Babe Ruth of Negro baseball paced the Black Yankees heavy onslaught..."

NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE

NEW YORK BLACK YANKEES

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Monday, July 27, 1941

OTD 6/23/1935: Bay Parkway Dukes Split Twin Bill With New York Black Yankees at Erasmus Field

From the desk: NEGRO LEAGUES vs. BROOKLYN SEMIPROS

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York),

Monday, June 24, 1935

On Sunday, June 23, 1935, not more than two miles from where I presently live, the Bay Parkway Dukes split games of a doubleheader with the New York Black Yankees at Erasmus Field, McDonald Avenue at the Avenue M station along the Culver Line. 

⚾ 1935 New York Black Yankees ⚾

GAME ONE - Bay Parkway starter Al Morris limits the Yankees to just one run on eight hits and two walks with seven strikeouts for the win.  Second baseman Henry Spearman leads the visitors with four hits, including a double in four at-bats.  Catcher Bob Clarke is the only other Yankee with multiple hits.  Left fielder Crush Holloway and shortstop Walter Cannady account for the Yankees' other two hits.  But the New York Black Yankees leave nine men on base.  Starter Barney Brown yields two runs on just four hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in a hard-luck loss.  Both teams traded runs in the first inning, Spearman scoring for the Yankees and Goldstein for the Dukes.  The score remains unchanged through the fifth.  However, in the home sixth, Yankees' first baseman Dave Thomas drops a throw from third baseman Bill Riggins allowing Mac Posnack to score the game's decisive run.

GAME TWO - The Dukes twice hold the lead, each time relinquishing it to the Yankees, who finally pull away with single runs in the sixth and eighth innings en route to a tightly contested 6-5 victory and a split of Sunday's twin bill at Erasmus Field.  The Yankees' pitching duties are shared by Connie Rector and  Terris McDuffie joining together to win.  They allow nine hits, with four going for extra bases, including a triple by Dukes' second baseman, Rodrigues.  McDuffie walks one and strikeouts out four, and Rector walks one and hits a batter.  Making up for his game one misplay, first baseman Dave Thomas leads the Yankees with a double, triple, and two runs scored.  Center fielder Thad Christopher also goes 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored.  

OTD 6/14/1931: New York Black Yankees Sweep Double Header From Bay Parkways at Erasmus Field

From the desk: NEGRO LEAGUES AND BROOKLYN SEMIPROS

On Sunday, June 14, 1931, within two miles from where I presently live, the New York Black Yankees win both games of a doubleheader against Joe Rosner's Bay Parkways at Erasmus Field, McDonald Avenue at the Avenue M station along the Culver Line.

GAME ONE: Features starter Wuzzy Fullerton for the Bay Parkways pitted against right-hander William Bell for the visitors.  

New York seemingly handles Fullerton's offerings with great comfort and ease, wielding 14 hits, drawing two walks, and striking out only twice before Wuzzy is pulled with two outs in the fifth.  The Yankees resume their assault against reliever Artie Musicant en route to a 16 hit, 16 run trouncing of the local Dukes.  Fullerton is responsible for 14 hits, two walks, with two strikeouts in 4.2 innings.  

William Bell himself leads the Black Yankees hit parade with three, as five others finish with two hits apiece: first baseman and manager John Henry Lloyd, left fielder Fats Jenkins, shortstop Bill Riggins, center fielder Clint Thomas, and third baseman Cool Turner who also registers a double, while Jenkins laces a triple.  Otherwise, Bell yields three runs on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts in a winning effort.

Bay Parkways' first baseman George Sackett distinguishes himself going 3 for 4 with two home runs off Bell, his 12th and 13th for the season.  In fact, four of Bay Parkways' eight hits go for extra bases.  

GAME TWO:  The Yankees continue where they leave off, hammering out another eleven runs on twelve hits.  They erupt for five runs in the second, five more in the eighth, with a single run in the fifth.  John Henry Lloyd finishes 2 for 3 with a triple; Clint Thomas goes 2 for 3 with a home run; Bill Riggins is 3 for 5 and a home run.  Fats Jenkins scores twice.  

New York starter Red Ryan and Henry McHenry share pitching duties, limiting Joe Rosner's nine to six runs on ten hits and five walks with three strikeouts.  Four of the Dukes' ten hits go for extra bases.  They score twice in the second, rally for three in the fifth, but manage just one more run in the sixth.  O'Grady takes the loss.

The New York Black Yankees exacted their revenge for a twin-bill loss against the Bay Parkways earlier this season.

• SOURCE: Times Union (Brooklyn, New York), Monday, June 15, 1931

OTD 5/30/1931: New York Black Yankees Sweep Twin Bill From Brooklyn Royal Giants at Dexter Park

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS

The Standard Union (Brooklyn, New York), May 29, 1931

SATURDAY

DOUBLEHEADER

New York Black Yankees

vs.

Brooklyn Royal Giants

FROM

DEXTER PARK

The New York Black Yankees, at this point, are essentially a continuation of the New York Lincoln Giants, who ceased operations after the 1930 season.  The team exists in 1931 as the Harlem Stars, but it's clear by this article they are already known as the Black Yankees, who, according to Seamheads, did not occur until the following season.

On Saturday, May 30, 1931, the Brooklyn Royal Giants host the New York Black Yankees at Dexter Park.

GAME ONE - Despite jumping out to a two-run lead in the first, the Royal Giants are bested by right-hander Bill Holland, while misplays in the field also contribute to their demise.  New York's captain and (now) first baseman John Henry Lloyd hit a game-tying home run as the Yankees wind up chasing Dick Redding from the box en route to a 10-5 victory.

GAME TWO - Right-hander Connie Rector provides the same as the Black Yankees take game two by a near-identical 10-4 margin and complete the twin bill sweep.

Times Union (Brooklyn New York) May 31, 1908

When Paterson Was The World: Negro Leagues Baseball at Hinchliffe Stadium

From the desk of: NEGRO LEAGUES CENTENNIAL

1932  ~  HINCHLIFFE STADIUM  ~  1997

"SILK CITY STADIUM"

Perched on a hilltop overlooking the Passaic River and neighboring Great Falls, New Jersey's historic Hinchliffe Stadium is named after the depression era Paterson Mayor John Hinchliffe.  Built during his administration, the park is one of just a few ballparks still standing to host Negro Leagues baseball games.

• Others include famous Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama; Hamtramck Stadium in Hamtramck, Michigan; Cooper Stadium, Columbus, Ohio; Cleveland's League Park and Jacksonville's J.P. Small Memorial Stadium.

Paterson resident John Ellerbee is one among a crew of locals who help build Hinchliffe Stadium - a 10,000 capacity cast concrete oval in Art Deco style, with an infield configuration and outfield dimensions somewhat resembling those of the Polo Grounds.  On July 8, 1932, Hinchliffe opened for business.  Third baseman John Ellerbee plays at Hinchliffe with the Paterson semi-pro Smart Set club alongside two young teammates named Monte Irvin and Larry Doby.

Barnstormers and independents immediately flock to Hinchliffe - which provided unsegregated seating and racially integrated play.  As word spread, Hinchliffe became known not only as on the most beautiful but one of the most welcoming stadiums in the state, according to Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium.

Negro National League II Arrives at
 Hinchliffe Stadium

I - NEW YORK BLACK YANKEES (1931-1948)

Founded in 1931 as the independent Harlem Black Bombers, then rebranded as the New York Harlem Stars, the club initially plays home games at the Polo Grounds and Dykman Oval in upper Manhattan.  By 1932 the club is recognized as the New York Black Yankees partly owned by famous entertainer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.

• According to NegroLeagueMuseum.com, the New York Black Yankees franchise is basically an extension of the New York Lincoln Giants who fold after the 1930 season.  In 1931 John Henry "Pop" Loyd managed the Harlem Stars' interim team, which serves as a bridge between the two long-time franchises.

In 1933 they take up residence at Hinchliffe Stadium and stay through 1937, then return during the 1939-1945 seasons.  For one season in 1938, they play home games at Triborough Stadium on Randall's Island, and from 1941 through 1947, they also famously play at Yankee Stadium.

On Sept. 22, 1933, Hinchliffe Stadium hosts the "Colored Championship of the Nation" featuring the New York Black Yankees versus the Philadelphia Stars.  The latter defeat the Black Yankees fourteen runs to eight.  The 1933 Stars feature Hall of Fame members Jud Wilson and Biz Mackey, while the Black Yankees boast notables Walter Cannady, Fats Jenkins, John Beckwith, George Scales, and Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe.

On July 13, 1935, New York Black Yankees pitcher Terris McDuffie pitches an 8-0 no-hitter against House of David at Hinchliffe Stadium.  Led at the plate by Dave Thomas, Thad Christopher, and Pete Washington, the New York Black Yankees top the 1935 Independent Clubs standings.

In 1936 they joined the Negro National League II.  Over the next twelve seasons, Hall of Famers Willie Wells, Mule Suttles, and Satchel Paige variously take turns donning a Black Yankees uniform and plying their respective talents in front of NY/NJ metropolitan area crowds.

But to thwart declining attendance due to Jackie Robinson's arrival at Ebbets Field and to separate themselves from other metro area competition (namely the New York Cubans and Brooklyn Royal Giants), the Black Yankees uproot local operations after the 1947 season and relocate to upstate Rochester, N.Y., where after the 1948 season they ultimately fold all operations.

II - NEW YORK CUBANS II (1935-1950)

The New York Cubans (reorganized under owner Alex Pompez) also take up residence at Hinchliffe Stadium in time for the 1935 season and, like the Black Yankees, waste no time hosting some of the game's premier teams and players.

The Pittsburgh Crawfords capture the 1935 Negro National League II first-half title and finish in first place overall, while the New York Cubans recover from a poor start to finish the season in third place and win the second half flag.  On Sept. 13, Hinchliffe Stadium hosts game one of the Championship Series.  The Paterson watches Cubans starter Frank Blake yield just four hits against a Crawfords lineup that features such greats as Oscar Charleston, Josh Gibson, Pat Patterson, Judy Johnson, Sam Bankhead, Cool Papa Bell, and Jimmie Crutchfield.  

Facing Pittsburgh starter Harry Kincannon, New York's lineup featuring Lázaro Salazar, Alejandro Oms, Martín Dihigo, Rap Dixon, Clyde Spearman, and Dave Thomas defeat the Crawfords nine to three.  Games two and three are held at the Polo Grounds.  In-game two, New York's John "Neck" Stanley whitewashes the Crawfords on just four hits.  The series then shifts to Pittsburgh.  In game four, Martin Dihigo is opposed by Crawfords' starter Leroy Matlock.  New York wins the game six to one, giving the Cubans a commanding 3-1 series lead.  However, the Crawfords win game five at Pittsburgh, then sweep the next two games held at Philadelphia to win the championship.

After 1936 the New York Cubans fail to field a team for the next two seasons.

They resume playing in 1939 as members of the Negro National League II.  

In 1941, the New York Cubans line-up featured Caribbean Leagues star Juan "Tetelo" Vargas (who leads the team with a .327 average) and Pedro Cepeda (father to Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda).  Others include Ramón Heredia, Clemente "Sungo" Carreras, Francisco "Pancho" Coimbre, and Dave Barnhill.  The Homestead Grays are first-half champs and finish in first place overall.  New York wins the second-half flag, but bow to the Homestead Grays three games to one in the Championship Series.

The Cubans in 1943 and 1944 post-back-to-back second-place finishes again behind the Homestead Grays.

At the same time Jackie Robinson is breaking in with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Cubans are still splitting games between Hinchliffe and the Polo Grounds.  In 1947 the Newark Eagles won the Negro National League II first-half flag, and the Cubans win the second half flag and finish in first place overall.  There is no playoff, and thus New York is declared the champion.  Led by Luis "Lefty" Tiant (father of Boston Red Sox pitching great Luis Tiant) and Orestes "Minnie" Minoso, the New York Cubans go on to defeat the Negro American League champion Cleveland Buckeyes for the 1947 Negro World Series Championship.

The New York Cubans affiliation with the Negro National League II ends after the 1948 season.  The National Trust for Historic Preservation says the (independent) New York Cubans continue playing games at Hinchliffe Stadium until the team folded in 1950.

Newark Eagles Swoop Through
 Hinchliffe Stadium

Hailing from nearby Orange, N.J., Monte Irvin plays ball for East Orange High School and the Paterson semi-pro Smart Set when, during a Newark Eagles tryout at Hinchliffe Stadium, he is scouted and signed in 1937 by Abe Manley.  Monte makes a brief debut in 1938 as a 19-year old but effectively begins his Hall of Fame career in earnest the following season.  Shortly after that, a 17-year old local Paterson resident Larry Doby in 1942 is likewise signed by Abe Manley during a Newark Eagles tryout held at Hinchliffe Stadium.  However, Doby's upbringing is far more intertwined and, for that matter, intimately connected with Paterson's sports complex, for Larry is All-State in football, basketball, and baseball.  In 1941 and 1942, he leads Eastside High School to consecutive championships at Hinchliffe Stadium.  Monte and Larry play at Hinchliffe as teammates with the Smart Set; they visit Hinchliffe together as members of the Newark Eagles; then oppose each other in the 1954 World Series pitting the New York Giants versus the Cleveland Indians.  They are two of only four players to play in both a Negro World Series and a major league World Series, according to Negro League Baseball Museum.

List of Legends Who Play at Hinchliffe Stadium

American Hall of Fame/Cuban Hall of Fame

Over twenty future Hall of Famers
play games at Hinchliffe Stadium:

JOSH GIBSON    OSCAR CHARLESTON    SATCHEL PAIGE    WILLIE FOSTER  

LARRY DOBY    MONTE IRVIN

WILLIAM "Judy" JOHNSON    JAMES "Cool Papa" BELL    JOHN HENRY "Pop" LOYD

JAMES "Biz" MACKEY    GEORGE "Mule" SUTTLES

RAY DANDRIDGE    WILLIE WELLS    JUD WILSON    TURKEY STEARNS 

BUCK LEONARD    LEON DAY    RAY BROWN

American/Cuban Hall of Fame
MARTÍN DIHIGO **

Cuban Hall of Fame
ALEJANDRO OMS    LÁZARO SALAZAR

As Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby begin integrating major league baseball and other premiere African-American players follow, so begins the Negro Leagues baseball enterprise's demise.  Hinchliffe Stadium is forced into hosting more varied sporting events such as boxing and auto racing.  In 1963 the Paterson school district took over ownership of the stadium.  It remains in use through the 1980s when the original dirt and grass playing surface is replaced with astroturf.  The infield is also rotated clockwise from its actual alignment.  All the while, Hinchliffe Stadium falls further and further into widespread disrepair.  By 1997 extensive deterioration and matters of public safety force its closure. Hinchliffe is chained shut and ignored, left unattended to fend against relentless nature and weathering.

Finally, the restoration of Hinchliffe Stadium begins in earnest when in 2013, the National Park Service designates the park as a National Historic Landmark.  It also stands as baseball's only Historic Landmark.  Seven years later, the National Trust for Historic Preservation lists the stadium as one of the country's most endangered historic places.  Both are essential steps towards renovating the complex.  Last year, work commenced on the facade, ticket windows, decorative tile, main entrance gate, and (most recently) the cast concrete stadium signs.

Better yet, the Paterson city council earlier this month (August) approved a tax break for developers to rebuild their historic stadium.  The mega project includes senior housing, parking, and a restaurant.  Groundbreaking is expected in October with a grand opening in two years, according to newyork.cbs.com.

Larry Doby "... had fond memories of those times." - Larry Doby Jr.

Hopefully, Larry's field of dreams is restored in a manner befitting its former glory.