OTD Negro National League 8/10/1935: Brooklyn Eagles Overpower Homestead Grays in Altoona, Pennsylvania

From the desk: WHERE THE EAGLES LEARNED TO FLY

Altoona (PA) Tribune, Sunday, August 10, 1935

On Saturday, August 10, 1935, in a Negro National League contest, the Brooklyn Eagles defeated the Homestead Grays at the Cricket Field, Altoona Pennsylvania.

Altoona (PA) Tribune, Sunday, August 10, 1935

NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE II

BROOKLYN EAGLES

vs.

HOMESTEAD GRAYS

Pitching is not the order of this day.  Both teams score early, often, and late.  Twelve extra-base hits are struck in this contest, with four going for home runs.  The game is declared final after the eighth, with Brooklyn pushing across 13 runs on 14 hits.  Despite a three-run rally in the eighth, the Grays still come up two runs short.

Brooklyn winning pitcher Otis Starks surrenders all eleven Homestead runs on 17 hits and three walks with three strikeouts.  Grays left fielder Vic Harris leads Homestead with four hits, including a double, home run, and two runs scored.  Playing right field this game, Louis Dula connects for three hits with a double.  Center fielder Jerry Benjamin, second baseman Matt Carlisle, and third sacker Jimmy Binder 

wield two hits apiece, including a double, respectively.

For Homestead, pitchers Willie Gisentaner, Joe Strong, and Roy Williams all take their share in the loss.  Eagle center fielder Clarence Griffin wields three hits, highlighted by a home run with four runs scored.  Catcher Clarence Palm also collects three hits.  Second baseman Harry Williams doubles and homers, and Crush Holloway also homers for Brooklyn.

Pittsburgh (PA) Sun-Telegraph,

Monday, August 11, 1935

OTD Brooklyn Semipros 7/18/1935: Bay Parkways Defeat The Homestead Grays In First Ever Night Game At Erasmus Field

From the desk: NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE & BROOKLYN SEMIPRO

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Friday, July 19, 1935

On Thursday, July 18, 1935, not more than two miles from where I presently live, Joe Rosner's Bay Parkway Dukes defeat Cum Posey's Negro National League Homestead Grays in the first-ever night game at Erasmus Field, McDonald Avenue at the Avenue M Station along the Culver Line.

Times Union (Brooklyn, New York), 

Friday, July 19, 1935

BAY PARKWAY DUKES vs. 

HOMESTEAD GRAYS

With a new lighting system in place, George Smith starts for the Bay Parkways and is opposed by Tom "Big Train" Parker for Homestead.  The Grays apparently see the ball well as they jump out to a prompt 2-0 lead in the first.  Bay Parkway answers with runs in the third and fourth innings.  The Homestead Grays then take a 3-2 lead in the fifth, but it does not last again.  The Dukes tie the game in the sixth, then erupt for three runs in the seventh for a 6-3 lead.  The teams again traded two runs apiece in the eighth inning, giving Bay Parkway an 8-5 lead and the final margin of victory, but not before Homestead poses one last threat.

With two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, and first baseman Buck Leonard due up, manager Harry Hesse removes George Smith in favor of Al Morris.  Leonard had previously doubled and homered off Smith.  When play resumes, Al Morris strikes out Buck Leonard on three pitches to end the game.  

George Smith yields five runs on seven hits and five walks with ten strikeouts through 8.2 innings pitched for the win.  Four of Homestead's seven hits go for extra bases; left fielder Vic Harris goes 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored; center fielder Ray Brown triples in four at-bats and pitches in relief of Big Train Parker (striking out four with one walk), while Buck Leonard accounts for six total bases.

Homestead starter Tom Parker allows eight runs on seven hits and seven walks with 13 strikeouts in a losing effort.  The slugging Parkways make their hits count as five go for extra bases.  Right fielder Bruce Caldwell leads the Dukes, going 2 for 4 with a double, home run, and two runs scored, and Frank Posnack is 2 for 5 with two doubles and one run scored.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Friday, July 19, 1935

First Night Game at Erasmus Field, Brooklyn

 

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.