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Showing posts with label ebbets field. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ebbets field. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 09, 2022
Saturday, September 25, 2021
OTD at EBBETS FIELD 9/25/1921: Atlantic City Bacharach Giants Defeat the Hilldale Club at Bedford Avenue and Sullivan Place Grounds
From the desk: JOHN W. CONNOR'S REVENGE
On Sunday, September 25, 1921, the Bacharach Giants of Atlantic City defeated their rival, the Hilldale Club of Darby, Pennsylvania, at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn.
HILLDALE CLUB vs.
Before a crowd upwards of 3,000 fans, Hilldale right-hander Phil Cockrell climbs the bump opposed by Dick "Cannonball" Redding for the Giants. Both open with three scoreless innings.
The visitors finally breakthrough with two runs in the fourth, but the Bacharachs answer in the bottom half of the frame with three. In their next at-bat, Hilldale scores knotting the game at three. After a quiet sixth, the Bacharach Giants take a 4-3 lead in the seventh. Cannonball makes it stand, closing out the game with four scoreless frames.
All told, Dick Redding holds Hilldale to three runs on ten hits and five walks with four strikeouts for the win. Center fielder Otto Briggs (3) and shortstop Bill Francis (2) account for half of Hilldale's ten hits, while first baseman Toussaint Allen goes 2 for 4 with a double and registers a game-high eleven putouts. Meanwhile, Redding holds future Hall of Famers Louis Santop and Judy Johnson
hitless in nine at-bats.
Hilldale starter Phil Cockrell in a tightly contested loss, allows four runs on ten hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Center fielder Jesse Barber leads the Bacharach Giants with three hits, including a double and a run scored, first baseman Bill Pettus goes 2 for 4 with a triple, and second baseman Sam Mongin wields two hits in two trips.
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Background: Why, JOHN W. CONNOR'S REVENGE? Mr. Connor, in 1904/1905, founded the Brooklyn Royal Giants. To John Connor's great dissatisfaction, booking games ultimately meant dealing with the East's preeminent booking agent, Nat Strong. The two maintained a contentious relationship from hello. Yet by the end of the decade, Nat Strong is officially listed as the Royal Giant's official business manager. By 1913, John Connor, for stated reasons, decides to step away from baseball, leaving (selling) complete control of the Brooklyn Royal Giants in the hands of Nat Strong. A debate remains whether Connor exited for stated reasons or was he effectively pushed out by Nat Strong.The Atlantic City Bacharach Giants were formed in 1916, but they found themselves in financial straits within a few years. They needed an investor and found one in John W. Connor, who decided he wanted back into the game. By 1919 he and a partner are bankrolling the team and begin raiding rosters of the Brooklyn Royal Giants and Lincoln Giants. But Mr. Connor knows to generate profits, they'll need to invade New York City, Nat Strong's territory, where he wields control over almost all the main baseball venues. Strong, in alliance with the owners of the Lincoln Giants, conspire together to keep such Negro competition outside the New York City limits.
John Connor's ace up his leave is Charles H. Ebbets, co-owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers. During the earlier years of the Brooklyn Royal Giants, Charles Ebbets negotiated with Mr. Connor to let the Royal Giants play at Washington Park. Their acquaintance endured, and Ebbets once again pledged availability of his ballpark to the Bacharach Giants. In turn, John Connor's aggregation was in complete control of booking their own games and doing so on Nat Strong's turf. It's a saga unto itself.
Wednesday, September 15, 2021
OTD 9/15/1935: Negro National League Brooklyn Eagles Play Final Games at Ebbets Field
From the desk: WHERE THE EAGLES LEARNED TO FLY
On Sunday, September 15, 1935, the Brooklyn Eagles of the Negro National League, play their last games at Ebbets Field. Abe and Effa Manley, the owners of the Brooklyn Eagles, purchase the Newark Dodgers and merge the two organizations into the Newark Eagles for the 1936 season.
Saturday, September 11, 2021
OTD 9/11/1935: Brooklyn Eagles Defeat Grover Cleveland Alexander's Western House of David in First-Ever Arc-Light Game at Ebbets Field
From the desk: WHERE THE EAGLES LEARNED TO FLY
They tried this once before, on Monday, June 5, 1935, but the first-ever arclight game to be staged at Ebbets Field pitting the Brooklyn Eagles hosting the House of David Club was rained out with both parties unsure whether the game would ever be rescheduled.
Well, herein, we have our answer.
On Wednesday, September 11, 1935, the Brooklyn Eagles host Grover Cleveland Alexander's western House of David in the first-ever arclight game staged at Ebbets Field.
The now 48-year old Pete Alexander pitches the first inning, yielding one hit against leadoff batter Fats Jenkins, then retires to the dugout to coach the team. Walter Laufer takes over pitching duties in the second and surrenders six runs on ten hits and one walk with two strikeouts in a losing effort.
The Eagles open the scoring in the home fourth. But in the visitor's sixth, House of David ties the game at one. That is until Eagle shortstop Bill Sadler triples him the go-ahead run as part of a three-run rally in the home sixth. Brooklyn adds two more in the eighth en route to a 6-1 final score.
Fats Jenkins goes 3 for 4 with a triple and a stolen base. First baseman George Giles, right fielder Ed Stone, and catcher Tex Burnett who goes 2 for 3, also wield triples for the Eagles.
Brooklyn right-hander Terris McDuffie is the true star of the game, limiting the House of Davis to a lone run on six hits and two walks with ten strikeouts and a hit batsman for good measure.
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
OTD at EBBETS FIELD 8/25/1934: Local Colored All-Stars Defeat White Semipro All-Stars in Benefit Game for New York Sandlot Baseball
From the desk: NEGRO LEAGUES vs. SEMIPROS
Saturday, August 25, 1934
COLORED ALL-STARS
vs.
WHITE ALL-STARS
FROM
EBBETS FIELD
Nat C. Strong, the northeast's preeminent booker/business manager, with ownership interests in the Bushwicks and Brooklyn Royal Giants among other semipro and colored teams, in cooperation with the New York City Baseball Federation, the Community Councils, and the Sports Foundation, plays a leading role in organizing an exhibition between selected Colored All-Stars and a picked nine of White (semipro) All-Stars.
Proceeds of the game were dedicated to furthering New York sandlot baseball. High interest and wide support abound. Fred G. Lieb 1, a nationally known sportswriter, sponsors the event with support from National League president John Heydler and American League president Will Harridge, who donated the baseballs. At least twelve umpires volunteer their services, with six being selected. And a familiar face at Ebbets Field, Bill Boylan tosses batting practice for both teams just as he does for the Brooklyn Dodgers when they're home. Local fans could vote for colored and semipro players while tickets were held commensurate with local theater prices.
With Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia present, the Department of Welfare band and Fife & Drum Corps conduct opening ceremonies with a parade to the center field flagpole. In addition to numerous other luminaries in attendance, it was believed that former heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey 2 would perhaps also be on hand to throw out the first pitch.
"It's the first time a game of this type has been conducted for the edification of semipro fans, not to mention the big league addicts who will find themselves without a Dodgers' contest tomorrow. It represents a milestone in the game, for this contest has been years in the dreaming." - Times Union, (Brooklyn, NY), Friday, August 25, 1934
From the New York Black Yankees, George Scales manages selected players from the Philly Stars, Bacharach Giants, Newark Dodgers, and Black Yankees. 3
COLORED ALL-STAR LINEUP: (assumed)
The White All-Stars comprise member players from the Metropolitan Baseball Association: Cartlons (Bronx), Springfields (Queens), Glendale Farmers, Elmhurst Grays, Bay Parkway Dukes, Al Mamaux's Meadowbrooks, and Bushwick. They are managed by Joe Fero of the Farmers with Joe Press of the Bay Parkways as a base coach.
Bushwick catcher and New Jersey native Charlie Hargreaves, Erasmus High School product and Farmer shortstop Jonah Goldman, Bay Parkway outfielder and former Dodger Bruce Caldwell, have major-league experience.
⚾
Facing starter Henry McHenry, the Semipro stars jump out to an early lead with runs in the first and third. After tossing three scoreless innings, James Duffy is relieved by George Manfredi of the Bay Parkways, and that's when things begin to go wrong for the White team. The Colored stars score three times in the fourth, assisted by four walks and a hit but give one back in the bottom half. Fitzsimmons fares no better in the fifth, yielding three more runs on two hits and two walks and an error by second baseman Jack Winslow. After a scoreless seventh, the Colored All-Stars take a 7-2 lead in the top half of the eighth. However, the white semipros stage a big six-run rally in the bottom half of the frame to take a 9-7 lead. But the Colored All-Stars were not yet done. After trading a run each in the eighth, manager George Scales' team rallied for three runs in the ninth inning for an 11-10 lead and the final margin of victory.
Both teams strike for 15 hits. Jimmy Ashworth leads the white all-stars with three hits, including a double. Josh Johnson leads the Colored All-Stars with three hits, Leonard Lindsay, Willie Gray, and L.D. Livingston each wields two hits. Johnson, Ed Pryor, and Curtis Henderson score two runs apiece.
1,2,3 - New York Age, Saturday, August 25, 1934, p5, c7
Wednesday, August 04, 2021
OTD Negro National League 8/4/1935: Brooklyn Eagles Routed By Newark Dodgers in Twin Bill at Ebbets Field
From the desk: WHERE THE EAGLES LEARNED TO FLY
vs.
FROM
Ebbets Field
On Sunday, Aug 4, 1935, in a Negro National League matchup, the Brooklyn Eagles lost both games of a doubleheader to the Newark Dodgers. The visitors twice rally during the latter innings to capture victory at Ebbets Field, Bedford Avenue at Sullivan Place.
GAME ONE - Brooklyn opens the scoring in the first, but Newark responds with two runs in the second followed by a three-run third. The Eagles claw back with a run in the home fourth then erutpt for three runs in the sixth tying the game at five. However, Newark remains resolute with three runs in the eighth highlighted by pinch-hitter Frank McCoy's bases loaded double, and one last run in the ninth for a 9-5 victory in favor of the visitors.
Newark right-hander William Bell allows eleven hits and no walks in a winning effort. At the plate for Brooklyn, Fats Jenkins goes 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored, second baseman Harry Williams is likewise 2 for 4 with a double, stolen base, and one run scored, and first baseman George Giles lashes a triple.
Eagle starter Will Jackman yields 17 hits and no walks with five strikeouts in a losing effort. Newark second baseman Flash Miller leads the Dodgers going 3 for 5 with a double and two runs scored; William Bell also connects for three hits. Five other Dodgers weild multiple hits. Third baseman Ray Dandridge is 2 for 5 with two runs and a triple, and shortstop Ted Bond wields two hits with a stolen base.
GAME TWO - In a high-scoring, albeit closely contested affair, Newark outlasts Brooklyn to capture game two.
Starting for Brooklyn, right-hander Leon Day has certainly seen better days. He is knocked out of the box after recording just three outs but not before yielding five hits. Forced into quick relief duty, former NYC high-schooler Billy Nicholas allows two more hits as the Dodgers tally six runs in the second inning.
The Eagles respond in prolific fashion, with two runs in the bottom half of the frame, five runs in the third, and after Newark posts two runs in the top of the fifth, Brooklyn tallies three more for a 10-8 lead through four.
However, Otis Starks pitching in relief of Nicholas followed by Will Jackman cannot hold. Starks surrenders seven hits over 4.1 innings and Jackman allows another five hits in 1.2 innings as the Dodgers flourish in the closing fames with two runs in the seventh, three in the eighth, and one more in the ninth en route to a 14-12 victory and twin bill sweep at Ebbets Field.
Starting game two in right field, Bert Johnson leads Newark going 5 for 6 with a triple and three runs scored. Meanwhile, Ray Dandridge goes 4 for 6 giving him six total hits in eleven at-bats with five runs scored over two games.
The Dodgers in game two strike for 22 hits, the Eagles are not far behind with 19 hits. Newark starter Alonza Bailey lasts just 4.2 innings. As previously noted, Leon Day does not make it out of the second but does escape with a no-decision. William Bell earns the victory, Brooklyn's Otis Starks, the loss. Otherwise, it was clear that moundwork was not order of the day.
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
OTD Negro National League 7/13/1935: Brooklyn Eagles and Pittsburgh Crawfords Split Twin Bill at Ebbets Fields
From the desk: WHERE THE EAGLES LEARNED TO FLY
On Saturday, July 13, 1935, in a Negro National League contest, the Brooklyn Eagles and Pittsburgh Crawfords split games of a doubleheader at Ebbets Field.
GAME ONE - Crawford right-hander Roosevelt Davis limits the Eagles to three runs on just six hits and three walks with seven strikeouts for the win. Brooklyn's first baseman George Giles poses the biggest threat going 2 for 4 with a double and home run. The teams battle to a two-all tie through five, and Brooklyn even takes a one-run lead in the sixth on Giles' clout. But Pittsburgh posts four runs in the eighth to knock Elbert Williams out of the box and put the game out of reach. The Crawfords score once more in the top of the ninth for good measure. Elbert Williams walks two and strikes out two in a losing effort. Left-hander Otis Starks closes out the game in relief of Williams. Left fielder and native New Yorker Fats Jenkins bats 1 for 4 with a stolen base and a run scored.
- FINAL: PITT 7; BRK 3
GAME TWO: Despite opening the scoring in the second, Pittsburgh overtakes Brooklyn with two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth for a 3-1 lead. However, the Eagles answered with three runs in the sixth, and starter Leon Day makes them stand, closing out the game with three scoreless innings for the win. All told, Leon Day yields three runs on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts and a hit batsman for good measure. Pittsburgh's Jimmy Crutchfield is 2 for 5 with a double, stolen base, and run scored, center fielder Cool Papa Bell goes 2 for 4 with a triple, stolen base, and run scored, and Judy Johnson hits safely in both games. Brooklyn's George Giles once again poses a threat, this time to Crawford starter Bill Harvey with two hits and a run scored. Otherwise, Harvey yields only five hits and four walks in losing effort.
- FINAL: PITT 3; BRK 4
Thursday, July 01, 2021
100 YEARS AGO AT THE POLO GROUNDS 7/1/1921: Rain Continues To Fall; Giants Acquire Outfielder Casey Stengel
From the desk: WHEN THE POLO GROUNDS WAS THE WORLD
100 Years Ago Today at the Polo Grounds:
New York Giants & New York Yankees
1921 Seasons Revisited
In their last season at Hilltop Park, the now formerly known New York Highlanders lost 102 games. Rebranded as the Yankees, in 1913, they moved just a few blocks away into the Polo Grounds as tenants of the Senior Circuit's New York Giants. To the chagrin of Giants manager John McGraw, the Americans proceeded to lose another 94 games.
Known to hold a grudge, McGraw still harbored much animosity two full decades later, not only towards Ban Johnson and his rebel circuit (unkept promises included) but more so towards the Yankees. As they were founded at the expense of his rendered defunct Baltimore Orioles.
For as long as the Yankees paid their rent, the tenant/landlord relationship with the Giants remained amicably strained. Mainly because the middling Americans, except for one season in 1916, never elevated themselves above the ranks of Junior Circuit also-rans. But that changed in 1919 when they briefly vied for the pennant but tuckered out down the stretch to finish third. A franchise record of 619,164 fans showed up to root for the American League contenders. However, the Yankees' burgeoning success was not yet a pressing issue, per se, for the Giants, who were coming off a second-place finish and their best season in a decade at the turnstile.
Then, in 1920, baseball's tectonic plates along the New York/New England fault shift. The Yankees' purchase of George Herman "Babe" Ruth from the Boston Red Sox sends seismic waves reverberating throughout the baseball world but none more intense than in Washington Heights.
Ruth's earth-shattering record of 54 home runs was something never experienced before in the history of baseball. However, it was an accomplishment for which John McGraw had little appreciation. He believes players work too hard and earnestly to have their skills disrespected by some miscreant's lone swing of the bat.
Gotham's citizenry never before descended from Coogan's Bluff in such quantity and spectacle as in 1920 as the Giants would set a franchise record with 929,609 reported attendance. However, the New York Nationals faced an economic dilemma of Ruthian proportions. McGraw's disdain for his tenants was heightened more so when the Yankees outdrew the host Giants in their own home for the first time in each franchise's history. Headlined by Babe Ruth, the Yankees seized the city's attention, evidenced by an all-time major league record of 1,289,422 in attendance.
In 1921, over two million fans would again pack the Polo Grounds. Babe Ruth would continue accomplishing the unimaginable, and if that wasn't surreal enough, he proceeds to top it. All the while, with each passing day, John McGraw grows more incensed. Lest we forget, New York City is still Little Napoleon's empire.
Sharing a ballpark for both teams is becoming an insufferable condition—the Giants attempt to evict the Yankees before the start of 1921 to no avail. But a solution lies not too far away ...
Until then, two major league titans charge headlong into a season-ending October clash at the Polo Grounds. It is New York City's first-ever World's Championship Subway Series. All games are played at the Polo Grounds, making Coogan's Bluff the center of the baseball universe.
This is my replay of that season. Of course, I'll be exercising my creative license whenever and wherever ever possible. But, more than anything, this is about having fun and celebrating New York City's baseball history.
- Stats: BASEBALL REFERENCE
Enjoy the games ... PLAY BALL!
GAME CALLED: Rain
Saturday, July 1, 1921
POLO GROUNDS
⚾
GAME CALLED: Rain
Saturday, July 1, 1921
Braves Field
"Stengel might be of use as a pinch hitter or substitute outfielder."
Thursday, June 10, 2021
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
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
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
vs.
FROM
EBBETS FIELD
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.
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
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 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.
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.
⚾
vs.
FROM
EBBETS FIELD
EBBETS FIELD
GAME ONE:
Saturday, 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.
Saturday, May 25, 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.
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