OTD 5/26/1935: Brooklyn Eagles Turn The Tables on Chicago American Giants With Twin Bill Sweep at Ebbets Field

From the desk: WHERE THE EAGLES LEARNED TO FLY

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 27, 1935

NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE II

Chicago American Giants

vs.

Brooklyn Eagles

FROM

EBBETS FIELD

 

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York), May 27, 1935

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 27, 1935

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York), May 27, 1935

On Sunday, May 26, 1935, in a Negro National League match-up, the Brooklyn Eagles exact a measure of revenge after Saturday's doubleheader loss to the Chicago American Giants, with a sweep of today's twin bill before a crowd of 5,000 on hand at Ebbets Field. 

GAME ONE - Twice, the American Giants mount a lead, and each time the Eagles answered.  After scoring once in the second and twice in the top half of the third, Brooklyn strikes back with three runs in the bottom of the frame.  When Chicago established a 5-3 lead after eight, the Eagles again respond with two runs in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game into extra innings.  With no outs in the home tenth and Harry Williams on base, center fielder Rap Dixon doubles home Williams with the game-winning run.  Dixon leads the Eagles with three hits in five trips with a stolen base, while shortstop Dennis Gilchrist is 2 for 3 with a double and run scored.  Chicago shortstop Willie Wells goes 2 for 5 with a double, and left fielder Turkey Stearns is similarly 2 for 4 with a triple.  Brooklyn right-hander Will Jackman earns the victory in relief of starter Elbert Williams, who escapes with a no-decision.  Chicago right-hander Ted Trent takes the loss.

GAME TWO - Brooklyn Eagles starter Sleeky Reese faces just two batters, surrendering a base hit and a walk.  Manager George Giles promptly replaces him with right-hander Will Jackman who allows four runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts over the ensuing nine innings for the win.  In fact, Jackman helps his own cause with a double and triple in three trips to the plate.  Chicago starter  Ossie Brown is knocked out of the box and relieved by Melvin Powell; together, they surrender nine runs on eight hits in the first inning alone.  Brooklyn totals 14 runs on 17 hits, including extra bases from Tex Burnett, Fats Jenkins, Dennis Gilchrist, Jackman, and a home run off the bat of captain Giles.  Jenkins, Gilchrist, and right fielder Ed Stone finish with three hits apiece.  The game ends after seven innings by agreement.  

• ICYMI  OTD: 5/25/1935: Brooklyn Eagles Drop Doubleheader to Chicago American Giants at Ebbets Field

OTD 5/18/1935: Brooklyn Eagles Lose Opening Day Game at Ebbets Field Against Homestead Grays

From the desk: WHERE THE EAGLES LEARNED TO FLY

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York) 

Saturday, May 19, 1935

OPENING DAY

Negro National League II

HOMESTEAD GRAYS

vs.

BROOKLYN EAGLES

FROM

EBBETS FIELD

On Saturday, May 18, 1935, in their first-ever (and only) Opening Day game at Ebbets Field, Abe and Effa Manley's newly formed Brooklyn Eagles baseball club host the famed Homestead Grays.

If not impressed by the outcome, Brooklyn fans were nevertheless appreciative to have witnessed a Grays' ilk team in action.  Homestead compiles 20 runs on 23 hits in quite the lopsided affair, of which eleven go for extra bases.  Second baseman Matt Carlisle leads the Grays with four hits in six at-bats, including a double and triple.  Right fielder Buddy Burbage goes 3 for 6 with a double and home run, and left fielder Vic Harris similarly finishes 3 for 6 with a double and home run.  Leadoff hitter and center fielder Jerry Benjamin and Grays starting pitcher Willie Gisentaner also homer for Homestead.  Third baseman George Scales is the lone Grays batter failing to register a hit.  Buck Leonard goes 2 for 6 with eleven putouts at first.

It was Brooklyn who initially jumps out to a 6-5 lead after two innings.  But they would score just once more the rest of the way.  After a four-run outburst in the third, Homestead continues pouring it on throughout.  Eagles center fielder Rap Dixon goes 2 for 5 with a home run; catcher Clarence Palm and left fielder Fats Jenkins also homer for Brooklyn.

Starting for the Eagles, Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe is relieved by Elbert Williams,  Navin, and Sleeky Reese.  Homestead's Willie Gisentaner goes the distance, allowing seven runs on eleven hits while walking two and striking out three.

This is the first of three scheduled games between the Grays and Eagles this weekend at Ebbets Field.