Showing posts with label The Donaldson Network. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Donaldson Network. Show all posts

Sunday, November 14, 2021

Bedford & Sullivan Podcast: Restoring John Donaldson's Legacy with Negro League Historian Peter Gorton



A Bedford & Sullivan Podcast welcomes back Negro Leagues Baseball historian and founder of The Donaldson Network, Peter Gorton.  Based in Minnesota, Mr. Gorton leads a group of historians dedicated to discovering the lost legacy of John Wesley Donaldson.  Hosted by yours truly, this episode will discuss Donaldson's lone season with the Brooklyn Royal Giants and his career accomplishments.  We'll learn about the life of one of the more incredible and inspiring athletes to ever play the game and how his fantastic legacy became lost to a nation.  With the Early Baseball Era Committee's upcoming vote on Dec. 5, the hope is John Wesley Donaldson is finally awarded a rightful place in the Hall of Fame.


FOUNDER of 
PETER GORTON
 




FORMER BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS UP FOR CONSIDERATION:



... AND JOHN DONALDSON



ONCE UPON A SUMMER 1918: JOHN DONALDSON'S LONE SEASON WITH THE BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS




Friday, October 15, 2021

Once Upon A Summer 10/15/1918: John Donaldson Leaves For Home in Kansas City

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS & THE DONALDSON NETWORK



On Tuesday, October 15, 1918, the 28-year old Midwestern star John Donaldson sets back for home in Kansas City, where he soon becomes a founding member of the Kansas City Monarchs.  In fact, Donaldson suggested the team name to owner J.L. Wilkinson who in his later years would say the southpaw was the greatest pitcher colored or white he's ever seen.

Before his playing career ended in the 1940s, John Donaldson achieved over 400 verified wins, over 5,000 verified strikeouts, pitches 14 no-hitters and two perfect games, and twice struck out 30 batters in a single game.  

In 1949, he became major league baseball's first colored full-time talent scout for the Chicago White Sox.  

Please, delve deeper into his brilliant career at The Donaldson Network, spread the word, and let's together help this man gain the recognition he deserves with enshrinement into the Baseball Hall of Fame.  

I offer my humblest thanks and appreciation to the Network for personally helping me put together this Once Upon A Summer Series and presenting John Donaldson's season with the Royal Giants to baseball fans here in Brooklyn and afar.

I'll be following up with a podcast soon joined by Donaldson Network founder Peter Gorton and Negro baseball historian/author Phil Dixon.  Stay tuned; you surely don't want to miss that.


... AND JOHN DONALDSON



ONCE UPON A SUMMER 1918: JOHN DONALDSON'S LONE SEASON WITH THE BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

LHP - JOHN DONALDSON'S PITCHING RECORD w/ BROOKLYN:
  1. 6/30/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 2 runs, 7 hits, 2 W, 2 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  2. 7/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 0 RUNS, 5 hits, 1 W, 6 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
  3. 7/7/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 3 runs, 9 hits, 2 W, 2 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  4. 7/14/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 1 run, 7 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Bushwick; Dexter Park)
  5. 7/16/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?) W, 6 K (Atlantic City; Bacharach Park, N.J.)
  6. 7/21/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 6 runs, 10 hits, 4 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
  7. 7/28/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 9 runs, 16 hits, 2 W, 3 K (Silk Sox; Doherty's Oval, N.J.)
  8. 8/11/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 2 runs, 13 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  9. 8/18/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 5 runs, 5 hits, (?) W, 4 K (Tietjen & Lang; Nurge's Field, N.J.)
  10. 8/24/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 8 runs, 19 hits, 1 W, 2 K (Morse Dry Dock; Brooklyn)
  11. 9/1/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  12. 9/2/1918 - (L) 2 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 0 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
  13. 9/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 6 runs, 7 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Camp Mills; Garden City, N.Y.)
  14. 9/14/1918 - (W) No game account vs. Tietjen and Lang Ship Club (Nurge's Field, N.J.)
  15. 9/22/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 7 runs, 10 hits, (?) W, (?) K (New York Giants; Jersey City)
  16. 9/29/1918 - (ND) 4 innings, 3 runs, 6 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  17. 10/6/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 0 RUNS, 4 hits, 1 W, 6 K (Long Island City; Recreation Park)
  18. 10/12/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 1 run, 6 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Lincoln Giants; Dexter Park)
  • LINE: 141 innings, 62 runs, 154 hits16 walks, 47 strikeouts, 3.95 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




Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Once Upon A Summer 10/13/1918: Bushwick Sweeps Twin Bill From Brooklyn at Dexter Park; John Donaldson Plays Last Games for Royal Giants

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS & THE DONALDSON NETWORK



On Sunday, October 13, 1918, with the baseball season winding to a close, Bushwick hosted the Brooklyn Royal Giants for a doubleheader at Dexter Park.  These games mark the end of John Donaldson's lone season with the Brooklyn Royal Giants.



GAME ONE pits right-hander Irvin Brooks for the Royals against Frank Kelleher pitching for Bushwick.  Riding a wave of ten consecutive wins, Bushwick opened the scoring in the third, then erupted for four runs in the fifth for a 5-0 lead.  Brooklyn finally answers with two runs in the sixth, bunching together three hits and benefitting from several Bushwick misplays in the field.  But the Dexters tally single runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings en route to an 8-2 final margin of victory.  Frank Kelleher does not allow the Royal Giants a hit through the first five innings.  All told, Kelleher holds the Royal Giants to a pair of runs on just six hits and four walks with four strikeouts for the win.  Irvin Brooks yields all eight runs on twelve hits and five walks with five strikeouts in the loss.  First baseman Bill Pettus leads Brooklyn with two hits, including a double, John Donaldson goes 1 for 3 with a run scored, and Joe Hewitt also scores.  Shortstop Jimmy Irving leads Bushwick with three hits.


GAME TWO was a shortened seven-inning affair on account of darkness.  Bill Kelleher, brother of Frank, hurls for Bushwick against Phil "Fish" Cockrell for the Giants.  At the bat, the Taguer Brothers open the scoring.  Center fielder, Jimmy, doubles on the first offering he sees from Cockrell, and brother Tommy's base hit sends him home.  McVoy, the first baseman, drives home Bushwick's second run in the fourth.  Bill Kelleher holds the Royal Giants to four hits and three walks with two strikeouts over seven scoreless innings for the win.  Bushwick completes the sweep and extends their consecutive game-winning streak to twelve.  Fish Cockrell pitches well in a tough-luck loss, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk with two strikeouts.  Cockrell, John Donaldson, Oliver Marcell (double), and Irvin Brooks account for Brooklyn's hits.







ONCE UPON A SUMMER 1918: JOHN DONALDSON'S LONE SEASON WITH THE BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

LHP - JOHN DONALDSON'S PITCHING RECORD w/ BROOKLYN:
  1. 6/30/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 2 runs, 7 hits, 2 W, 2 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  2. 7/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 0 RUNS, 5 hits, 1 W, 6 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
  3. 7/7/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 3 runs, 9 hits, 2 W, 2 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  4. 7/14/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 1 run, 7 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Bushwick; Dexter Park)
  5. 7/16/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?) W, 6 K (Atlantic City; Bacharach Park, N.J.)
  6. 7/21/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 6 runs, 10 hits, 4 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
  7. 7/28/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 9 runs, 16 hits, 2 W, 3 K (Silk Sox; Doherty's Oval, N.J.)
  8. 8/11/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 2 runs, 13 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  9. 8/18/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 5 runs, 5 hits, (?) W, 4 K (Tietjen & Lang; Nurge's Field, N.J.)
  10. 8/24/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 8 runs, 19 hits, 1 W, 2 K (Morse Dry Dock; Brooklyn)
  11. 9/1/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  12. 9/2/1918 - (L) 2 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 0 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
  13. 9/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 6 runs, 7 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Camp Mills; Garden City, N.Y.)
  14. 9/14/1918 - (W) No game account vs. Tietjen and Lang Ship Club (Nurge's Field, N.J.)
  15. 9/22/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 7 runs, 10 hits, (?) W, (?) K (New York Giants; Jersey City)
  16. 9/29/1918 - (ND) 4 innings, 3 runs, 6 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  17. 10/6/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 0 RUNS, 4 hits, 1 W, 6 K (Long Island City; Recreation Park)
  18. 10/12/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 1 run, 6 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Lincoln Giants; Dexter Park)
  • LINE: 141 innings, 62 runs, 154 hits16 walks, 47 strikeouts, 3.95 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



Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Once Upon A Summer 10/12/1918: John Donaldson Wins Duel Against Joe "Cyclone" Williams; Royal Giants and Lincoln Giants Split Doubleheader at Dexter Park

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS & THE DONALDSON NETWORK


On Saturday, October 12, 1918, Columbus Day, the New York Lincoln Giants visited Dexter Park to take on the Brooklyn Royal Giants one last time in a decisive doubleheader to determine the Colored baseball champions for the season.  The opponents enter with their series tied, thus necessitating a twin bill sweep by either to declare an outright victor.




Game One pits future Hall of Famer Joe "Cyclone" Williams for the Harlem visitors against southpaw John Donaldson for Brooklyn.  

Donaldson reaches safely in the home second and advances to second on third baseman Todd Allen's
errant throw to first base, then scores the game's opening run on center fielder Tom Fiall's base hit. 

In the third, Joe Williams draws a walk against Donaldson and soon scores on a double by right fielder Blainey Hall.

John Donaldson again helps his cause with a single against Smokey Joe, leading off the fourth.  Tom Fiall then reaches safely on a misplay and wild throw by first baseman William Parks resulting in both runners moving into scoring position.  Next in, left fielder Johnny Pugh clears the bases with a line drive to right field.  Right fielder Frank Crockett reaches safely when his fly to center field is dropped by the usually sure-handed Jules Thomas.  After Crockett steals second, Royal catcher John Cason drives home both runners.

Shortstop John Henry Lloyd singled and scored in the eighth, giving the Royals a 6-1 lead and the final margin of victory.

Smokey Joe Williams yields six runs on nine hits, and no walks with two strikeouts in a losing effort.

Blainey Hall leads the Lincolns with two hits and the game's only extra-base hit.  Royal first baseman
Bill Pettus and Lloyd each wield two hits, and Donaldson leads Brooklyn with two runs scored.

"Donaldson, pitching for the Royals, 
was in rare form." - The Standard Union.

Midwestern star John Donaldson was indeed in top form.  On the heels of a four-hit shutout performance against Long Island City, the Royal Giant left-hander holds the Lincoln Giants to a lone run on six hits and one walk with five strikeouts for the victory.




Lincoln Giants right-hander Ad Lankford toes the rubber in Game Two against Phil Cockrell for the Royals.  The game is an abbreviated five-inning contest, called due to darkness, with the Lincolns leading Brooklyn by a 3-1 score.  In the third, Harlem center fielder Jules Thomas drives home two runs, and Blainey Hall scored on a fielder's choice.  Third baseman Oliver Marcell drove in Brooklyn's only run in the fifth and final inning.



Therefore, the Lincoln Giants and Royal Giants series remains tied, but a decisive game will not be scheduled as the season is fast coming to its end and will remain dormant until the end of the war.  The Brooklyn Royal Giants will close out the season on Sunday with a twin bill against Bushwick.  Afterwhich, many players from the Lincolns and Royals are due to report in camp by Tuesday, October 16.





ONCE UPON A SUMMER 1918: JOHN DONALDSON'S LONE SEASON WITH THE BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

LHP - JOHN DONALDSON'S PITCHING RECORD w/ BROOKLYN:
  1. 6/30/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 2 runs, 7 hits, 2 W, 2 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  2. 7/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 0 RUNS, 5 hits, 1 W, 6 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
  3. 7/7/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 3 runs, 9 hits, 2 W, 2 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  4. 7/14/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 1 run, 7 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Bushwick; Dexter Park)
  5. 7/16/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?) W, 6 K (Atlantic City; Bacharach Park, N.J.)
  6. 7/21/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 6 runs, 10 hits, 4 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
  7. 7/28/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 9 runs, 16 hits, 2 W, 3 K (Silk Sox; Doherty's Oval, N.J.)
  8. 8/11/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 2 runs, 13 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  9. 8/18/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 5 runs, 5 hits, (?) W, 4 K (Tietjen & Lang; Nurge's Field, N.J.)
  10. 8/24/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 8 runs, 19 hits, 1 W, 2 K (Morse Dry Dock; Brooklyn)
  11. 9/1/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  12. 9/2/1918 - (L) 2 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 0 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
  13. 9/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 6 runs, 7 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Camp Mills; Garden City, N.Y.)
  14. 9/14/1918 - (W) No game account vs. Tietjen and Lang Ship Club (Nurge's Field, N.J.)
  15. 9/22/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 7 runs, 10 hits, (?) W, (?) K (New York Giants; Jersey City)
  16. 9/29/1918 - (ND) 4 innings, 3 runs, 6 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  17. 10/6/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 0 RUNS, 4 hits, 1 W, 6 K (Long Island City; Recreation Park)
  18. 10/12/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 1 run, 6 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Lincoln Giants; Dexter Park)
  • LINE: 141 innings, 62 runs, 154 hits16 walks, 47 strikeouts, 3.95 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





Wednesday, October 06, 2021

Once Upon A Summer 10/6/1918: John Donaldson Hurls a Gem; Brooklyn Royal Giants Sweep Twin Bill From Long Island City at Recreation Park

From the desk: DEM BARNSTORMERS & THE DONALDSON NETWORK



On Sunday, October 6, 1918, the Brooklyn Royal Giants sweep a doubleheader against the Long Island City club at Recreation Park, Queens.

GAME ONE - Midwestern star John Donaldson hurls a gem, limiting Long Island City to just four hits and one walk with six strikeouts in a complete-game shutout effort.  Donaldson also helps his cause with two assists in the field and at the plate with the game's only extra-base hits, both a double and triple.  Brooklyn bunches three runs in the third and two more in the fifth en route to a 5-0 final score.  Shortstop John Henry Lloyd tops the Royal Giants with three hits, and third baseman Oliver Marcell leads with two runs scored.

"Donaldson was in magnificent form, holding the locals at his mercy at all times in the first game."




GAME TWO - Brooklyn exacts a measure of revenge against Long Island City hurler Chad See, who defeated John Donaldson and the Royal Giants back on August 24 while pitching for Morse Dry Dock of Bay Ridge Brooklyn.  The Giants overcome a 2-1 deficit with pairs of runs in the fifth and sixth innings for a 5-2 victory and twin bill sweep over Long Island City.  Royal Giant pitchers Irvin Brooks and right-hander Phil "Fish" Cockrell join together in holding their Queens hosts to just three hits and three walks with five strikeouts, four by Cockrell.  Oliver Marcell and John Henry Lloyd wield extra-base hits.  Phil Cockrell helps the cause with two hits and a run scored.  First baseman Bill Pettus also goes for two hits, including a double, and posts a game-high 13 putouts, including two double-plays with assists from Joe Hewitt and Pop Lloyd.



ONCE UPON A SUMMER 1918: JOHN DONALDSON'S LONE SEASON WITH THE BROOKLYN ROYAL GIANTS

LHP - JOHN DONALDSON'S PITCHING RECORD w/ BROOKLYN:
  1. 6/30/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 2 runs, 7 hits, 2 W, 2 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  2. 7/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 0 RUNS, 5 hits, 1 W, 6 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
  3. 7/7/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 3 runs, 9 hits, 2 W, 2 K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  4. 7/14/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 1 run, 7 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Bushwick; Dexter Park)
  5. 7/16/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?) W, 6 K (Atlantic City; Bacharach Park, N.J.)
  6. 7/21/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 6 runs, 10 hits, 4 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
  7. 7/28/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 9 runs, 16 hits, 2 W, 3 K (Silk Sox; Doherty's Oval, N.J.)
  8. 8/11/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 2 runs, 13 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  9. 8/18/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 5 runs, 5 hits, (?) W, 4 K (Tietjen & Lang; Nurge's Field, N.J.)
  10. 8/24/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 8 runs, 19 hits, 1 W, 2 K (Morse Dry Dock; Brooklyn)
  11. 9/1/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 4 runs, 14 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Lincoln Giants; Olympic Field)
  12. 9/2/1918 - (L) 2 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 0 W, 1 K (Cuban Stars; Dexter Park)
  13. 9/4/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 6 runs, 7 hits, (?) W, (?) K (Camp Mills, Garden City, N.Y.)
  14. 9/14/1918 - (W) No game account vs. Tietjen and Lang Ship Club (Nurge's Field, N.J.)
  15. 9/22/1918 - (L) 9 innings, 7 runs, 10 hits, (?) W, (?) K (New York Giants, Jersey City)
  16. 9/29/1918 - (ND) 4 innings, 3 runs, 6 hits, 1 W, 5 K (Lincoln Giants, Olympic Field)
  17. 10/6/1918 - (W) 9 innings, 0 RUNS, 4 hits, 1 walk, 6 K (Long Island City, Recreation Park)
  • LINE: 132 innings, 61 runs, 148 hits15 walks, 42 strikeouts, 4.15 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