OTD in Brooklyn Semipros 8/2/1950: Bushwicks Steal A Victory From Chicago American Giants at Dexter Park

From the desk: NEGRO LEAGUES vs. BROOKLYN SEMIPROS

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 

Tuesday, August 1, 1950

On Wednesday, August 2, 1950, the Bushwicks defeated the Chicago American Giants in extra-innings at Dexter Park, Woodhaven.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Thursday, August 3, 1950

Making their only Eastern appearance this season, the Windy City nine of the Negro American League, managed by Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe, open the scoring against Bushwick starter Al Zachary in the top of the first with two runs off three hits (two doubles).

Bushwick retaliates with six runs in the bottom half of the frame knocking Chicago starter Harry Rhodes out of the box.   Rhodes now playing left field singles at the top of the second, followed by triples from shortstop Clyde McNeil and right fielder Butch McCord to pull the American Giants within two.  Chicago scores again in the fourth inning, cutting their deficit to one, but Bushwick tallies one in the sixth for a 7-5 lead.

The score remains unchanged through the eighth.

In the top of the ninth, two Chicago singles knock Al Zachary out of the box.  Pete Rafferty takes over mound duties and immediately walks center fielder Art Pennington to load the bases.  Third baseman Luther Braham's two-run double to left field ties the game at seven.  That precipitates a pitching change as Gene Bowe is summoned to relieve Pete Rafferty.

Pinch-hitting in the bottom half of the tenth, George Schneider reaches safely on Joe Scott's misplay at second.  Schneider advances to second on a bunt and moves over to third on a ground ball.  Then with two outs and Roy Trieble at the plate, George Schneider darts off third and steals home to end the game.

Gene Bowe comes away with the win, Al Zachary escapes with a no-decision.

OTD 6/10/1935: The Brooklyn Eagles And The Historic First Ever Night Game At Ebbets Field That Wasn't

From the desk: WHERE THE EAGLES LEARNED TO FLY

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York), Saturday, June 8, 1935

On Monday, June 10, 1935, Abe and Effa Manley's Brooklyn Eagles were scheduled to play a historic game against the House of David at Ebbets Field.  The game was being called at 9:00 pm, making this the first night game to ever have been played at the Brooklyn Dodgers home park.

Daily News (New York, New York), Monday, June 10, 1935

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York), Saturday, June 8, 1935

Sunday's doubleheader featuring the Brooklyn Eagles hosting the Columbus Elite Giants in the first tilt, followed by the Eagles versus the Detroit Elite Giants in game two, was called off due to rain.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Sunday, June 9, 1935

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York), Monday, June 10, 1935

After consecutive rainouts, Brooklyn's Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe was slated to oppose Moose Swaney twirling for House of David.  But once again, Jupiter Pluvius intercedes, preventing the first-ever night game from being played at Brooklyn's Ebbets Field.  Not until June 18, 1938, would the National League Dodgers play their first night game at their Bedford Avenue and Sullivan Place grounds.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Tuesday, June 11, 1935

OTD 5/25/1935: Brooklyn Eagles Drop Double-Header to Chicago American Giants at Ebbets Field

From the desk: WHERE THE EAGLES LEARNED TO FLY

The Brooklyn Citizen (Brooklyn, New York)

May 24, 1935

The soon-to-be 36-year old infielder Dick Lundy is traded from the Newark Dodgers to the Brooklyn Eagles in exchange for pitcher Bun Hayes, and third baseman Eugene White.  Lundy is best known for his days with the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants for whom he batted .322 in over 500 games, and more recently the Baltimore Black Sox where he batted .336 in over 200 games.  He made his professional debut in 1916 with Atlantic City and for the Brooklyn Royal Giants.  Lundy enters his twentieth season with a career batting average above .300 and more than 100 stolen bases.  

 

The Brooklyn Citizen (Brooklyn, New York), May 25, 1935

After posting a 5-5 record in Negro National League play, Ben Taylor is out as Brooklyn Eagles manager, replaced by the 26-year old first baseman, George Giles, who becomes the youngest manager in the league.

  

⚾

NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE II

Chicago American Giants

vs.

BROOKLYN EAGLES

FROM
EBBETS FIELD

The Brooklyn Citizen (Brooklyn, New York), May 25, 1935

GAME ONE:

Saturday, May 25, 1935

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York)

May 25, 1935

Game One features the matchup of left-hander Willie Foster for Chicago opposed by Brooklyn right-hander Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe.  The American Giants jump out to a 3-0 lead in the first, and Foster makes it stand.  He limits Brooklyn to a pair of runs on six hits, including a double from Rap Dixon and a triple from newly named manager George Giles.  Shortstop Bill Yancy drives home both Brooklyn runs.  Otherwise, Foster walks four and strikes out one for the win.  Ted Radcliffe takes the loss.  He settles down after the first, yielding just one run over the next seven innings.  But Chicago erupts for four more runs in the final frame en route to an 8-2 victory.  All told, Double Duty allows eight runs on 13 hits, including home runs off the bats of left fielder Mule Suttles and shortstop Willie Wells.  Center fielder Turkey Stearns goes 2 for 5 with two runs batted in.

GAME TWO: 

Saturday, May 25, 1935

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York)

May 26, 1935

Brooklyn ties the Chicago American Giants in the home ninth to send this game into extra innings.  But with the bases loaded in the top of the twelfth inning, left fielder Mule Suttles connects for a grand slam home run.  Brooklyn bows to Chicago, 9-5, at Ebbets Field.

The Chicago American Giants sweep both Saturday games.  The teams will play a doubleheader again on Sunday. 

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York)

OTD 5/19/1935: Brooklyn Eagles and Homestead Grays Split Double-Header at Ebbets Field

 From the desk: WHERE THE EAGLES LEARNED TO FLY

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York)

May 20, 1935

NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE II

DOUBLE-HEADER

Sunday, May 19, 1935

EBBETS FIELD

GAME ONE

Homestead Grays         9

BROOKLYN EAGLES  18

FINAL

Coming off Saturday's Opening Day defeat at the hands of the Homestead Grays, the Brooklyn Eagles again trail the visitors 9-7, entering the bottom half of the eighth.  With 5,000 watching at Ebbets Field, the home team erupts for eleven runs, sending 16 batters to the plate against Grays' relievers Harry Salmon and Willie Gisentaner.  

Brooklyn totals 19 hits, with seven going for extra bases.  Third baseman Harry Williams goes 4 for 6 with a double and two runs scored.  Shortstop Bill Yancy is 2 for 4 with a double and led the team with three runs scored.  First baseman George Giles, right fielder Ed Stone, and second baseman Dennis Gilchrist all wield three hits apiece.

Homestead third baseman George Scales hit the only home run of the game.  Second baseman Matt Carlisle goes 5 for 5, all singles.  Meanwhile, first baseman Buck Leonard is held hitless in three official trips to the plate.

Eagles right-hander Leon Day makes a start, yielding seven runs on eleven hits and six walks with three strikeouts through seven innings pitched but escapes with a no-decision.  Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe earns the victory for Brooklyn, with two runs allowed and a strikeout over the final two frames. 

The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, N.J.)

May 21, 1935

ICYMI:

• SERIES GAME ONE 5/18/1935: Homestead Grays @ BROOKLYN EAGLES

GAME TWO

Homestead Grays         4

BROOKLYN EAGLES    2

FINAL

Twirling game two for Homestead, right-hander Louis Dula limits the Eagles to a pair of runs on just five hits and three walks with three strikeouts through nine innings pitched.  Right fielder Ed Stone and catcher Clarence Palm account for two hits and score both Brooklyn runs in the fifth.  Double Duty Radcliffe, Harry Williams, and Bill Yancy are the only other Eagles to hit safely.  Homestead center fielder Jerry Benjamin leads the Grays, going 3 for 4 with a double and two runs.  Buck Leonard breaks out of a series slump with two hits, one for a double.  Ted Radcliffe takes the loss in this one, surrendering four runs on eleven hits and two walks.  The Eagles committed three errors behind him, two by Yancy.  

The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, N.J.)

May 22, 1935

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.