The Negro Leagues Chronology : Events in Organized Black Baseball, 1920-1948 [1 ed.] 9781476608488, 9780786442362

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The Negro Leagues Chronology

The Negro Leagues Chronology Events in Organized Black Baseball, ¡920–¡948 CHRISTOPHER HAUSER

McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers Jefferson, North Carolina, and London

The present work is a reprint of the illustrated case bound edition of The Negro Leagues Chronology: Events in Organized Black Baseball, ¡920–¡948, first published in 2006 by McFarland.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGUING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Hauser, Christopher. The Negro leagues chronology : events in organized black baseball, ¡920–¡948 / Christopher Hauser. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-7864-4236-2 softcover : 50# alkaline paper ¡. Negro leagues— History. 2. Baseball — United States— History. I. Title. GV875.N35H38 2008 796.357'64'08996073 — dc22 2006003237 British Library cataloguing data are available ©2006 Christopher Hauser. All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. On the cover: Buck Leonard of the Homestead Grays at bat (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, New York) Manufactured in the United States of America

McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers Box 6¡¡, Je›erson, North Carolina 28640 www.mcfarlandpub.com

Table of Contents Acknowledgments Preface 1 1920 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  5 1921 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  8 1922 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  11 1923 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  15 1924 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  20 1925 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  29 1926 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  38 1927 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  46 1928 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  55 1929 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  61 1930 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  65 1931 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  70 1932 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  71 1933 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  75 1934 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  79

1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948

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.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  85 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  91 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  96 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  101 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  106 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  111 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  115 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  120 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  128 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  136 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  143 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  149 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  155 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  161

Notes 171 Bibliography 191 Index 195

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Acknowledgments Many helped with the research of this book, including the sta› at the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and the Humanities and Social Sciences Library. I would also like to thank the sta› at the National Baseball Hall of Fame Research Library, and the Queens Library’s Langston Hughes Community and Cultural Center. In addition, many members of the Society for American Baseball Research o›ered research help including Larry Lester, Paul Debono, Jules Tygiel, and Robert Peterson. Thanks also to friends and family who shared their insights, advice, and support. Christopher Hauser Astoria, New York 2006

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Preface In the ¡970s baseball historians began to discover that black athletes had a rich tradition in the sport long before Jackie Robinson signed a contract to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in ¡945. Until then, Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson had a place in mainstream baseball discussions, but they were exceptions. More often, the accomplishments and contributions of black baseball organizers, team owners, and players had been overlooked or forgotten by the baseball world. With the publication of Robert Peterson’s Only the Ball Was White in ¡970, this began to change. Drawing heavily on interviews with veterans of the segregated leagues and contemporary accounts in the black press, Peterson blew the dust o› nearly ¡00 years of professional black-baseball history. He revealed some scattered participation by black athletes in ¡9th century major league baseball and shed light on the subsequent unwritten “color bar” that forced black baseball players onto all-black barnstorming teams and, beginning in ¡920, prompted them to form their own leagues. He also showed that the Negro Leagues had produced many players whose excellence rivaled that of major leaguers. Soon after, John Holway followed Peterson’s lead and published several biographies and an oral history, Voices from the Great Black Baseball Leagues, which appeared in ¡975 and is still important to researchers. Other important works include James A. Riley’s The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues and The Negro Leagues Book, edited by Dick Clark and Larry Lester. (Both books were relied on for clarification of player names in this book.) In addition, there have been several autobiographies by former Negro Leaguers, biographies, and team histories that have deepened our understanding of the Negro Leagues. The Negro Leagues Chronology is an addition to this literature, with a comprehensive, year-by-year reference that distills the basic facts in Negro Leagues history. It covers the Negro National League, ¡920–¡93¡; the Eastern Colored League, ¡923–¡928; the American Negro League, ¡929; the East-West League, ¡932; the second Negro National League, ¡933–¡948, and the Negro American League, ¡937–¡948 . The book begins with the founding of the Negro National League in ¡920 and ends in ¡948, just after the integration of the major leagues. Prior to ¡920, there were attempts

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to organize black baseball leagues, but these rarely got o› the ground. In ¡887, the League of Colored Base Ball Players opened play in May but played only ¡3 games before collapsing.¡ Black teams attempted to form a league in the Midwest without success in ¡907,2 and another league, formed in late ¡9¡0 with clubs in Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Louisville, among others, disbanded before any games were played.3 By contrast, the Negro National League lasted for ¡2 full seasons. By ¡948, Jackie Robinson was established with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and other players, like Larry Doby, Roy Campanella, and Don Newcombe, were beginning to enter the major leagues. The diversion of media and fan attention made organized black baseball less profitable, causing the dissolution of the second Negro National League. In addition, successful owners with long traditions in baseball, like Abe and E›a Manley, J.L. Wilkinson, Cumberland Posey and Tom Wilson, had either left baseball or passed away. The NAL absorbed some of the NNL clubs and stayed in business, but the focus for elite black players and the press had shifted significantly to the major leagues, and fan interest in the Negro Leagues progressively declined. In this 29-year period, the Negro Leagues encountered many problems. It was always di‡cult to create a balanced schedule, stadiums were sometimes di‡cult to book, travel was challenging, and players and owners alike, at times, had little respect for contracts. Despite these obstacles to league stability, the Negro Leagues were vibrant and often delivered top-flight baseball. The aim of this book is to provide an overview of outstanding events in Negro Leagues history, both good and bad, including league meetings, important games such as no-hitters or playo›s, opening days, pennant runs, criticisms by prominent baseball columnists, and moments that exemplify the relationship of the Negro Leagues and the major leagues. Also covered are the controversies that defined the experience of black baseball organizers, including player-rights disputes, the alleged subjectivity of umpires, failures to adhere to league schedules, violations of league rules, and contested pennant races, as well as some highlights of winter league competition and postseason barnstorming games where black players had the opportunity to compete with major league players. The Negro Leagues Chronology is not a statistical history. Several researchers have done a lot to improve our knowledge of Negro Leagues statistics, but problems still exist that make a comprehensive and accurate statistical record di‡cult to compile. For example, when Oscar Charleston criticized the Eastern Colored League for not making it clear which games were o‡cial and which were exhibitions (see 20 June ¡925), he found sympathy with the sports editor of the Baltimore Afro American, who had a similar complaint. If the di›erence between league games and exhibitions was di‡cult to determine for close observers and participants, that di‡culty must be amplified for researchers working many years later. Another problem was that Negro Leagues games were not consistently reported. Before the ¡94¡ season, the Negro National League threatened clubs with a $¡0 fine for failing to report a box score. And in ¡942, Call and Post sportswriter John Fuster inquired about the standings during a pennant race but couldn’t get an o‡cial answer from the NAL. To make it even more confusing, game reports in one newspaper and another di›ered at times. Progress is being made in compiling the most complete sta-

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tistical record possible, but the inclusion of statistics, with a few exceptions, was considered outside the scope of this book. Among the exceptions are won-lost records, which are included in entries on pennant winners, but these should be read as a reflection of the way league standings were reported in the contemporary press and not as the result of any subsequent research. All other statistics are confined to individual games; there are no comprehensive home run statistics over the course of a season, for example, but there are entries that focus on a game in which a player hit four home runs. Though the book focuses on organized black baseball and tries to separate it from exhibition games, it is nearly impossible to exclude barnstorming entirely. All black clubs were forced to play many games outside the league structure if they had any hope of prospering. Some of these games were played against white semipro clubs in the team’s home city, some were booked on barnstorming tours in small towns far from league cities, others were played by two league clubs and, at times, an exhibition game would follow a league game as the second game of a doubleheader. Ironically, these exhibition games sometimes eclipsed league games in popularity. One example of this occurred at the end of the ¡934 Negro National League season when two exhibition four-team doubleheaders featuring NNL clubs were played at Yankee Stadium and sold more tickets and received better press attention than the NNL championship series that was being played around the same time between two of the same clubs. Similarly, the ability of the annual East-West game to capture the imagination of baseball fans and the black press often exceeded that of regular league play. But without the league structure, the reputations of these clubs and players might not have been as well established, and therefore these exhibition games might not have created the buzz that allowed them to attract more than 50,000 fans to some games. Great successes like the East-West game became intertwined with the organized Negro Leagues and, together, provided many moments that now have a place in mainstream baseball history.

¡ 920 February ¡3 and ¡4, ¡920 — Negro National League Founded in Kansas City The Negro National League, the first successful baseball league featuring black athletes,* was founded at a meeting of baseball club owners in Kansas City, Mo. The NNL comprised the St. Louis Giants, the Kansas City Monarchs, the American Giants (Chicago), the Chicago Giants, the Indianapolis ABCs, the Dayton Marcos, the Detroit Stars and the Cuban Stars. During the two-day meeting a constitution governing the league was written by Elisha Scott, an attorney, and journalists Dave Wyatt, Cary B. Lewis, and Elwood Knox. In addition, Andrew “Rube” Foster was elected as the NNL’s first president, and each club paid a $500 franchise fee. Originally, the NNL owners planned to begin play in ¡92¡, but that date was later changed and play began in May ¡920. Among those attending the meeting were Andrew “Rube” Foster (American Giants), John “Tenny” Blount (Detroit Stars), Joe Green (Chicago Giants), C.I. Taylor (Indianapolis ABCs), J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs), and Lorenzo Cobb, a representative for St. Louis Giants owner Charles Mills, who was reported to be ill. The owner of the Cuban Stars, Augustin Molina, did not attend,¡ and the same was true of Dayton Marcos owner John Matthews, who made it known before the meeting that he was in favor of the league.2 According to Frank Young of the Chicago Defender, Rube Foster unexpectedly announced that the league had already been incorporated in many of the states in which it would compete.3 The Negro National League would play for ¡2 full seasons before disbanding in ¡932.

March 2, ¡920 — Negro Southern League Founded Baseball team owners in the South met in Atlanta and formed the Negro Southern League. Representatives from Chattanooga, Knoxville, Atlanta, Montgomery, Birmingham, Pensacola, New Orleans, Nashville,4 and, according to one report, Greenville and Jacksonville, attended the meeting.5 All of these clubs, with the exception Greenville *Earlier attempts to organize a league of elite black baseball teams were either short-lived or never got past the planning stage (see Preface).

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and Chattanooga, would be granted franchises.6 In other league business, Frank M. Perdue was elected president; R.H. Tabor (Nashville), vice president; W.M. Brooks (Knoxville), secretary; and W.J. Shaw (Atlanta), treasurer. Each club paid a $200 franchise fee, and a limit of ¡4 players was placed on each club.7

May 2, ¡920 — Inaugural Game of the Negro National League In the first game played in the Negro National League, the Indianapolis ABCs defeated the Chicago Giants 4–2 at Washington Park in Indianapolis. An estimated 6,000 fans saw Indianapolis pitcher Ed “Huck” Rile throw a seven-hitter to lead the ABCs. Chicago Giants pitcher Walter Ball took the loss. In the second game of the doubleheader8 the ABCs won ¡¡–4 for the opening-day sweep.9

May 9–¡6, ¡920 — Opening Day Games for Negro National League The Indianapolis ABCs and the Chicago Giants formally opened Negro National League play on May 2, but all other league clubs began play between May 9 and ¡6. On May 9, the Kansas City Monarchs met the St. Louis Giants in St. Louis,¡0 and Kansas City won 2–¡. The game was so well attended that the crowd overflowed onto the field and the space in the outfield was greatly reduced, the Chicago Defender said. Kansas City scored first when John Donaldson doubled to drive in Edgar Washington and added a run in the seventh inning for a 2–0 lead o› St. Louis starter William Drake. St. Louis got one run back in the eighth inning and threatened in the ninth when Kansas City reliever Rube Currie gave up a two-out double and then hit John Finner with a pitch, causing the fans to rush onto the field. The game was delayed while order was restored, and Currie ended the game with a strikeout.¡¡ The Cuban Stars opened their Negro National League season against the Indianapolis ABCs at Washington Park in Indianapolis on May 9. The ABCs, who won their opener a week earlier, handed the Stars a 4–2 loss in the first game of a doubleheader before a crowd of about ¡0,000 fans. Both pitchers, Louis “Dicta” Johnson for Indianapolis and Julio LeBlanc for the Cuban Stars, went the distance.¡2 The Cuban Stars had a chance to win the opener when, with two out and two men on base in the ninth inning, LeBlanc hit a drive to center that ABCs outfielder Oscar Charleston tracked down and caught to end the rally and the game. The second game was won by the ABCs 4–2 and was called after six innings¡3 to comply with Indianapolis’s 6 P.M. curfew.¡4 In another May 9 game, the American Giants were 8–3 winners in their Negro National League opener against the visiting Chicago Giants at Schorling’s Park in Chicago.¡5 The Chicago Giants had opened the week before. Pitchers for the American Giants were listed as Dave Brown and Tom “Stringbean” Williams, and Bingo DeMoss had three hits in the American Giants win.¡6 The Detroit Stars and the Cuban Stars, a team without a home field, opened Detroit’s Negro National League season in Detroit on May ¡5. The Detroit Stars took a first-inning lead o› Cuban Stars starting pitcher LeBlanc when Frank Warfield doubled, moved to third, and then scored the game’s first run on a double steal. Detroit

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manager Pete Hill followed with a two-run homer that gave the Stars a 3–0 lead. That was enough run support for Detroit starter Gunboat Thompson who allowed just five hits and threw a complete game as the Detroit Stars won 5–2.¡7 On May ¡6,* the Dayton Marcos defeated the American Giants 6–5 despite getting only two hits o› American Giants pitchers Jack Marshall and Dave Brown. The Marcos got a complete game from their pitcher, Charles Wilson, and were aided by five American Giant errors, including three by catcher Buck Ewing.¡8 This game was played at Westwood Field in Dayton.¡9

May ¡6, ¡920 — Bacharach Giants Appear at Ebbets Field The Bacharach Giants became the first African-American baseball team to play at Ebbets Field, home of the National League Brooklyn Dodgers, when they faced the Treat ’Em Roughs, a white semipro club, the New York Age reported. The Bacharachs, owned by John W. Connors, won both ends of the doubleheader, and their shortstop, Dick Lundy, received a standing ovation for his play from the predominantly white crowd.20

May 30, ¡920 —¡6,000 Fans at Schorling’s Park Before an estimated ¡6,000 fans, what the Chicago Daily Tribune described as a record crowd for Schorling’s Park, the American Giants defeated the Cuban Stars 4–¡. American Giants pitcher Tom Williams threw a complete game.2¡ Until ¡9¡0, the park was the home of the American League Chicago White Sox.

July 5, ¡920 — Bullet Joe Rogan Throws One-Hitter Kansas City Monarchs pitcher Wilber “Bullet Joe” Rogan had more balks (2) than hits allowed (¡) in the Monarchs 4–2 win over the American Giants, the Chicago Daily Tribune reported.† The Monarchs scored three first-inning runs o› American Giants starter Dave Brown, and that, combined with Rogan’s one-hit, ¡¡-strikeout performance, was enough for the win.22 Bingo DeMoss, who had the lone American Giants hit, was not their only base runner, it was noted, as Rogan also walked eight batters.23

July ¡¡, ¡920 — Lincoln Giants vs. Bacharach Giants at Ebbets Field A crowd of nearly ¡5,000 at Ebbets Field, home of the National League Brooklyn Dodgers, watched a doubleheader between the Lincoln Giants and the Bacharach Giants. The first game featured two of the most famous black pitchers of all-time, Dick “Cannonball” Redding of the Bacharach Giants and Smokey Joe Williams of the Lincoln Giants. Redding was more e›ective than Williams on this day as the Bacharach Giants won 5–0. In the second game the Lincoln Giants won 7–5 for a split of the doubleheader.24 *It is not clear whether this was the first NNL game for the Dayton Marcos, but it seems to be the first reported. † The Chicago Defender (¡0 July ¡920) reported the score as 4 –¡.

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It was reported that, after his defeat in the first game, Smokey Joe Williams was unwilling to have his photograph taken with Redding.25 Caesar Jamison and Jesse Shipp Jr. were the umpires.26

September 24, ¡920 — American Giants Win First Negro National League Title The September 24 issue of the Baltimore Afro American reported that the American Giants finished the season in first place and were declared champion of the Negro National League’s first season. The American Giants posted winning records against all leagues teams, 4–3 vs. Detroit Stars; 9–3 vs. the St. Louis Giants; 9–¡ vs. the Cubans Stars; ¡¡–4 vs. the Kansas City Monarchs; 8–¡ vs. the Dayton Marcos, and were undefeated against the Chicago Giants.*

December 3 and 4, ¡920 — Negro National League Meeting in Indianapolis The Negro National League convened at the YMCA in Indianapolis, and among the business was the replacement of the Dayton Marcos franchise with a club in Columbus and the announcement that Augustin Molina’s Cuban Stars would play their home games at Redland Park, home of the National League Cincinnati Reds. In addition, Hilldale joined the Bacharach Giants as associate members of the NNL, establishing a working relationship with the league though their games with league clubs wouldn’t count in the standings. In addition to his re-election as president, Rube Foster was also named secretary of the NNL after an appointment to the position was turned down by Pittsburgh Courier journalist Ira Lewis. In addition, the issue of contract jumpers was discussed by the owners. Among those present were Rube Foster, John “Tenny” Blount (Detroit Stars), J.W. Connors (Bacharach Giants), Ed Bolden (Hilldale), J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs), J.G. Tate (Cleveland), L.R. Williams (Cleveland), John Matthews (Dayton Marcos), Charles Mills (St. Louis Giants), C.I. Taylor (Indianapolis ABCs), Dr. Howard Smith, Ira Lewis, Harry St. Clair, Q.J. Gilmore and Homer Philips.27

¡ 92¡ January 7, ¡92¡— Nashville Elite Giants Founded The Nashville Elite Giants Baseball Association was founded† in the Elite poolroom in Nashville, Tenn., with Tom Wilson as president.¡ This club first played on a *The Baltimore Afro American didn’t report a specific record against the Chicago Giants and didn’t provide details for games against the Indianapolis ABCs. † This date based on the dateline in the Chicago Defender (8 January ¡92¡).

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national level in the Negro National League in ¡930 (see ¡4 January ¡930), and then the franchise moved several times, calling Detroit and Columbus home for parts of one season (see May 4 ¡935), Washington, D.C., for two seasons (see 25 January ¡936), before finally settling in Baltimore (see 5 March ¡938).

April 30, ¡92¡— Negro National League Opening Day On opening day of the Negro National League’s ¡92¡ season, the Indianapolis ABCs defeated the hometown Cuban Stars, ¡2–2 , at Cincinnati’s Redland Field. Both pitchers, Latimer for the ABCs and Suarez for the Cuban Stars, pitched complete games.2 The ABCs trailed 2–¡ going into the seventh inning and rallied to score three times, added three more in the eighth, and finished a five-run ninth to win decisively.3 In other action, the visiting St. Louis Giants defeated the Kansas City Monarchs 6–4 with two runs in the ninth inning o› Monarchs starting pitcher Rube Currie before an estimated 3,000 fans in Kansas City. The Giants scored early on Charles Blackwell’s two-run homer, but the Monarchs came back, and by the end of the eighth inning the score was tied 4–4. Singles by Charles Brooks and Sam Bennett and an error by Monarchs first baseman Frank Blatner gave St. Louis a 6–4 lead in the ninth. Kansas City rallied in the bottom half of the inning, but pinch hitter Leonard King was retired by St. Louis Giants starting pitcher John Finner with the bases loaded, and the game ended 6–4 with St. Louis on top.4 Joe Green’s Chicago Giants spoiled opening day for the new NNL franchise, the Columbus Buckeyes, and their manager, John Henry Lloyd, by defeating them 5–3 at Neil Park in Columbus, Ohio. Negro National League President Andrew “Rube” Foster was in attendance, and Columbus Mayor Thomas threw out the ceremonial first pitch.5 Before about 2,000 fans, Chicago Giants pitcher John Taylor outpitched George Britt of the Buckeyes, striking out ¡2 and allowing just one run through eight innings before giving up a two-run homer to Buck Ewing that trimmed the Giants lead to 5–3. But that was all Taylor would allow.6

May 7, ¡92¡— Negro National League Openers The American Giants opened their NNL season at home in Chicago against the Kansas City Monarchs, who had opened the week before.7 American Giants pitcher Dave Brown threw a one-hitter, striking out nine, while leading his club to a 2–0 win. Monarchs pitcher Rube Currie also pitched well, giving up just four hits while striking out seven, but took the loss.8 The Detroit Stars played the NNL associate-member Bacharach Giants in Detroit and won a high-scoring game 9–8 when Bill Holland got out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth inning with the help of the Detroit defense, who threw out two Bacharachs runners at home plate.9* *Games with associate clubs did not count in the o‡cial NNL standings.

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May 2¡, ¡92¡— John Beckwith Homers Out of Redland Field On May 2¡* John Beckwith of the Chicago Giants homered over the left field wall at Redland Field in Cincinnati o› Cuban Stars pitcher Manella.† Beckwith’s feat, the first in the history of the park, the Chicago Defender noted, cleared the wall by three feet just east of the clock. The Giants lost ¡4–2 despite Beckwith’s record-setting home run.¡0

June 6, ¡92¡— Bill Gatewood Throws a No-Hitter On June 6! Bill Gatewood, of the Detroit Stars, threw a no-hitter against the Cuban Stars. In addition to his nearly flawless performance on the mound, Gatewood helped his own cause with a two-run homer.¡¡ Gatewood struck out ¡0 while walking just two batters (neither got beyond first base) while leading Detroit to a 4–0 win at Mack Park in Detroit.¡2

June 28, ¡92¡— American Giants Rally to Tie ¡8–¡8 The American Giants bunted ¡¡ times, including six successful suicide squeeze plays, and hit two grand slams to score ¡8 runs in the eighth and ninth innings to tie the Indianapolis ABCs ¡8–¡8 at Indianapolis. Trailing ¡0–0 to start the eighth, the American Giants scored nine times only to see the ABCs pull away with eight more runs and extend their lead to ¡8–9. In the ninth, the American Giants rallied again to score nine more runs, and the game ended in an ¡8–¡8 tie at the end of nine innings. There were 44 hits in the game, 24 by the American Giants, and Cristobal Torriente and George Dixon both hit grand slams for the Giants.¡3

July 3¡, ¡92¡—¡5,000 at Ebbets for Bacharachs vs. Indianapolis ABCs The Bacharach Giants defeated the Indianapolis ABCs ¡¡–3 before an estimated ¡5,000 fans at Ebbets Field, home of the National League Brooklyn Dodgers. Cannonball Redding went the distance for the Bacharach Giants, but Indianapolis starting pitcher Dicta Johnson needed relief. Among the ¡5,000 fans was former heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson.¡4

August 6, ¡92¡— Detroit Stars Defeat the Columbus Buckeyes in ¡7 Innings On August 6** the Detroit Stars and the Columbus Buckeyes played ¡7 innings before Detroit broke the tie to win 5–4.¡5 The game was a seesaw battle with Columbus breaking the tie in the top of the ninth inning and again in the ¡4th only to have Detroit tie *This date based on a “Saturday” reference and the dateline in the Chicago Defender (28 May ¡92¡). † Manella was also known as Marcello ( James A. Riley, The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues [New York: Carroll & Graf, ¡994], 5¡2). ! This date based on dateline in Chicago Defender (¡¡ June ¡92¡). **Date based on dateline in Chicago Defender (¡3 August ¡92¡).

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it each time before Detroit finally won it in the ¡7th inning. The starters at Mack Park in Detroit were Bill Gatewood, who went ¡4 innings for Detroit before being relieved by Bill Holland, and Lewis Hampton, who gave the Buckeyes nine innings before being yanked for Roy Roberts.¡6 One notable batting performance was that of Columbus player-manager John Henry Lloyd, who had four hits in eight at bats.¡7

August ¡4, ¡92¡— Dave Brown Wins Pitcher’s Duel ¡–0 Dave Brown and the American Giants came out on top of a pitcher’s duel with Bill Drake of the St. Louis Giants at Schorling’s Park in Chicago, ¡–0. Both pitchers were stingy. Brown allowed two hits, Drake gave up just three, and the game remained scoreless until the eighth inning¡8 when the American Giants manufactured a run as Cristobal Torriente singled, took second on a sacrifice, stole third base, and came in to score the game’s only run on Jelly Gardner’s squeeze bunt.¡9

October 2, ¡92¡— American Giants Win Negro National League Pennant The NNL season ended on October 2, with the American Giants (43–22) in first place, followed by the St. Louis Giants (42–30), the Kansas City Monarchs (53–38), the Detroit Stars (33–33), the Indianapolis ABCs (38–40), the Columbus Buckeyes (32–40), the Cincinnati Cuban Stars (29–42), and the Chicago Giants (¡0–35).20

¡922 January 26–28, ¡922 — Pittsburgh Keystones and Tate Stars Admitted to Negro National League The Pittsburgh Keystones and the Cleveland Tate Stars were awarded franchises in the Negro National League at a league meeting at the Appomattox Club, 3632 Grand Boulevard, in Chicago. The new clubs replaced the Columbus Buckeyes and Joe Green’s Chicago Giants, who lost their NNL franchises. The Chicago Giants, along with the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants, would play as associate members of the NNL in ¡922, defined by an agreement to respect player contracts and play exhibition games with league clubs. In other league business, after playing the ¡92¡ season with Cincinnati’s Redland Field as their home, the Cubans Stars announced that they would play all of their games as a road team. In addition to these changes, o‡cers of the NNL were elected at this meeting: Rube Foster (American Giants), president and treasurer; C.I. Taylor (Indianapolis ABCs), vice president; and J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs), secretary. In a player move, John Henry Lloyd, ¡92¡ manager of the Columbus Buckeyes, joined the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants. With the changes, the Negro National League now comprised the American Giants (Chicago), the Kansas City Monarchs, the

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Indianapolis ABCs, the Pittsburgh Keystones, the Cleveland Tate Stars, the Cuban Stars, the Detroit Stars and the St. Louis Giants. While Rube Foster had been making arrangements to replace the St. Louis Giants owner, Charles Mills, with new ownership, the status of the club remained in doubt after this meeting.¡ Chicago Defender sportswriter Frank Young suggested that at least part of Foster’s problem with the St. Louis franchise emanated from the unwillingness of the St. Louis players to complete a postseason series with the National League St. Louis Cardinals in ¡92¡.* By late March, Richard Kent and Samuel Shepard took control of the St. Louis franchise and renamed the club the St. Louis Stars.2

February 23, ¡922 — C.I. Taylor Dies in Indianapolis Owner and manager of the Indianapolis ABCs and vice president of the Negro National League, Charles Isham Taylor died of pneumonia at his home in Indianapolis. Taylor was 47 years old. Born on January 20, ¡875, in South Carolina, Taylor embarked on a baseball career, along with his brothers, Jim, John and Ben, that earned him a reputation as one of baseball’s elite managers, first with the Birmingham Giants in ¡904 and, by ¡9¡4, with the Indianapolis ABCs, a team that featured Oscar Charleston, Dizzy Dismukes, Dave Malarcher, Biz Mackey, Frank Warfield and C.I.’s brother, Ben. Taylor, a founding member of the Negro National League in ¡920, left a controlling interest in the ABCs to his wife, Olivia, but the quality of the club steadily declined and the team lost its franchise in the Negro National League in the middle of the ¡924 season (see 2¡ June ¡924). George Tate, owner of the Cleveland Tate Stars, assumed Taylor’s duties as NNL vice president in March ¡922.3

May 6–¡3, ¡922 — Opening Day in the Negro National League The Negro National League opened play with four of the eight clubs in action on May 6, with the Kansas City Monarchs visiting Chicago to play the American Giants and the Detroit Stars hosting the Cuban Stars. The St. Louis Stars and the Indianapolis ABCs began play on May 7, and the Pittsburgh Keystones met the Cleveland Tate Stars on May ¡3. The St. Louis franchise had new ownership, who changed the name to the Stars, and began construction on a $27,000 ballpark at Compton and Market Streets in St. Louis. The new field wasn’t ready in time for opening day, but it would come to be noteworthy because of the presence of a streetcar barn in left field that was said to be about 250 feet from the plate and made home runs relatively easy.4 In addition, after early reports that Ed Bolden had broken his relationship with the NNL and intended to sign players from that league to his Hilldale club, Bolden changed his mind, and by opening day he had re-established his associate status.5 In opening-day play, the visiting Kansas City Monarchs defeated the American Giants at Schorling’s park 5–¡. Monarchs starting pitcher Rube Currie threw a complete*St. Louis Giants pitcher Bill Drake recalled playing a postseason series with the National League St. Louis Cardinals in ¡920 and ¡92¡ and that the Cardinals won five of the eight games played (Bill Drake in John Holway, Voices from the Great Black Baseball Leagues [New York: Da Capo Press, ¡992], 30).

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game two-hitter, and American Giants pitcher Ed Rile gave up five runs on eight hits in the loss. Monarch shortstop Dobie Moore hit a home run that was described by the press as the longest ball ever hit at Schorling’s park.6 The Cuban Stars, who would play all their games on the road this season, visited Detroit for the league opener and lost 4–3 to the hometown Stars at Mack Park.7 Despite being limited to six hits by Cuban Stars starting pitcher Eustaquio Pedroso, the Detroit Stars managed to score four times in the fifth inning. Detroit starting pitcher Bill Holland gave up just seven hits.8 On May 7, the Indianapolis ABCs swept a doubleheader from the St. Louis Stars.9

May ¡5, ¡922 — Cool Papa Bell Throws Complete-Game Victory St. Louis Stars pitcher James Bell, in one of his first professional starts, threw a complete-game six-hitter to lead his club to a 6–3 win over the American Giants at Schorling’s Park in Chicago.¡0 Earlier in the season, Bell was playing semipro baseball in the St. Louis area with the Compton Hill Cubs and pitched well enough against the Stars in an exhibition game that they signed him for $90 a month.¡¡ Bell’s career as a pitcher was short-lived, and by ¡924 he had been converted to an outfielder, the position at which he earned his Hall-of-Fame credentials. In his early days as a pitcher, Bell featured a knuckleball and a curve, though he later said that his manager with the Stars, Bill Gatewood, discouraged him from throwing the knuckler. Long after his playing days were over, Bell recalled that his nickname, “Cool Papa,” was hung on him during his Stars debut when he struck out several Indianapolis ABCs batters in a successful relief appearance before a crowd of more than ¡0,000 in Indianapolis.* Suggesting that he had been unusually calm pitching to a top-flight club at their home park, his teammates began calling him “Cool,” and Gatewood later added “Papa” to create the nickname that is inscribed on his plaque at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.¡2

June 4, ¡922 — Opening of Bacharach Park in New York The Bacharach Giants, an associate member of the Negro National League and owned by John Connors and Barron Wilkins, opened their new home park in New York with a doubleheader loss to the visiting Hilldale club 8–6 and ¡9–4. The park, formerly known as the New York Oval, was at ¡50th street and River Avenue in the Bronx.¡3

July 25, ¡922 — Nip Winters Throws No-Hitter On July 25,† Jesse “Nip” Winters of the Bacharach Giants threw a no-hitter against the Indianapolis ABCs in Kokomo, Indiana.¡4 Winters also struck out eight batters and allowed no earned runs in the 7–¡ Bacharach win. The only run scored by the ABCs was the result of an error by Warren Duncan.¡5 *The St. Louis Stars played three games against the Indianapolis ABCs in Indianapolis on May 7 and 8, but there is no mention of Bell in the box scores. There were also reports of a doubleheader between the ABCs and the Stars on May ¡2. (Indianapolis Star, 8, 9 May ¡922; Paul Debono, Indianapolis ABCs [Je›erson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., ¡997], ¡96). † Date based on dateline in the Chicago Defender (5 August ¡922).

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August ¡6, ¡922 — American Giants Defeat Bacharach Giants, ¡–0, in 20 Innings The American Giants and the Bacharach Giants battled through ¡9 scoreless innings at Schorling’s Park in Chicago before the American Giants manufactured a run o› Bacharach Giants starting pitcher Harold Treadwell in the bottom of the 20th for the ¡–0 win. American Giants pitcher Dave Brown got the win in relief of starter Ed Rile. Each team had just nine hits, and the only extra-base hit of the day came o› the bat of the American Giants’ Bobby Williams but did not figure in the scoring.¡6 In the last of the 20th, Treadwell walked Cristobal Torriente, who then moved to second base on Bobby Williams’s sacrifice bunt and scored the game’s only run on Dave Malarcher’s single to right field. After the game, the Chicago Defender suggested, there was some second guessing of Bacharachs manager John Henry Lloyd, who had replaced his regular right fielder, Warren Duncan, with pinch runner Ramiro Ramirez in the ¡0th inning in an attempt to break the tie. Many believed that, had Duncan remained in right field, he would have had a better chance to throw Torriente out at the plate.¡7

August ¡9, ¡922 — Phil Cockrell Throws No-Hitter Against American Giants Hilldale pitcher Phil Cockrell pitched a no-hitter against the American Giants in a non-league game, leading them to a 5–0 win at Schorling’s Park in Chicago. Cockrell got early run support when Hilldale scored three times in the first inning¡8 and got noteworthy defense, the Chicago Defender said, from shortstop Judy Johnson, who fielded Bingo DeMoss’s grounder in back of second base and made a strong throw to first base to preserve the no-hitter in the seventh inning.¡9 Luis Padron threw a complete-game five-hitter for the American Giants but was no match for Cockrell.20

October ¡, ¡922 — American Giants Win the Negro National League Championship Regular season play ended in the NNL on Sunday, October ¡,* with the American Giants (36–23) in first place followed by the Indianapolis ABCs (46–33), the Detroit Stars (43–32), and the Kansas City Monarchs (44–33).2¡

October 2–4, ¡922 — St. Louis Stars Meet the Detroit Tigers The St. Louis Stars won two of a three-game series against the American League Detroit Tigers. The Stars won the first game 5–4 behind the pitching of George Meyers and trailed 7–2 in the second game before rallying to win ¡¡–7. In the third game, the Tigers got a three-hitter from Roy Moore and knocked out ¡6 hits o› St. Louis Stars pitching as they rebounded with a ¡0–3 win in the series-closer. The Stars bolstered their lineup somewhat for the series, and listed on their roster were Oscar Charleston *Date based on “Sunday” reference in Chicago Defender (7 October ¡922).

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of the Indianapolis ABCs, Frank Warfield of the Detroit Stars, and American Giants pitcher Dave Brown.22

October 7, ¡922 — Cleveland Indians Defeat Tate Stars On October 7, the American League Cleveland Indians swept a postseason doubleheader with the Negro National League Cleveland Tate Stars.23

December 7–8, ¡922 — Meeting of the Negro National League At a meeting of the Negro National League at the Appomattox Club in Chicago, Rube Foster was reelected president and treasurer, John “Tenny” Blount was elected vice president, and J.L. Wilkinson was elected secretary. In other league business, Ed Bolden gave up his associate membership in the NNL, the Cleveland Tate Stars were dropped from the league, and it was suggested that the Pittsburgh Keystones wouldn’t return to the league for ¡923 season.24 Among those attending were Rube Foster (American Giants), Olivia Taylor and William “Dizzy” Dismukes (Indianapolis ABCs), J.L. Wilkinson and Q.J. Gilmore (Kansas City Monarchs), J.R. Devoe (Cleveland Tate Stars), Ed Bolden (Hilldale), G.B. Keys and Richard Kent (St. Louis Stars), Joe Green (Chicago Giants), John “Tenny” Blount and Bruce Petway (Detroit Stars), and Cumberland Posey (Homestead Grays). No representatives were sent by the Pittsburgh Keystones or the Bacharach Giants.25

December ¡6, ¡922 — Founding of the Eastern Colored League Eastern baseball club owners met at the Christian Street YMCA in Philadelphia and founded the Eastern Colored League. The league comprised the Lincoln Giants, the Brooklyn Royal Giants, the Baltimore Black Sox, the Cuban Stars, the Atlantic City Bachararch Giants, and Hilldale, which had recently dropped its association with the Negro National League. Hilldale owner Ed Bolden was elected ECL chairman, and James Keenan was appointed to the dual post of secretary-treasurer.26 Among those attending were Ed Bolden and Lloyd Thompson (Hilldale), James Keenan (Lincoln Giants), Nat Strong (Brooklyn Royal Giants), Alejandro Pompez (Cuban Stars), Charles Spedden, George Rossiter and John J. McDevitt (Baltimore Black Sox), and William Weeks, Thomas Jackson and Henry Tucker (Atlantic City Bacharach Giants).27

¡923 February 24, ¡923 — Schedule Meeting of the Eastern Colored League Owners in the Eastern Colored League met in Philadelphia and drafted the schedule for the ¡923 season.¡ In addition, team rosters were submitted, and Ben Taylor pro-

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posed a deal in which he would bring many of the Negro National League Indianapolis ABCs players to Washington, D.C., and enter the club in the ECL.2 (Washington did not have an ECL franchise until ¡924).

April 6, ¡923 — Negro National League Bulletin Bans Contract Jumpers In an “o‡cial bulletin” the NNL stated that any players who were under contract to play with NNL clubs and subsequently signed with Eastern Colored League teams had until April 28 to return to the NNL or they would face a lifetime ban.3 Early reports of players jumping to the ECL included Dave Brown, who left the American Giants to sign with the Lincoln Giants.4

April 28, ¡923 — Opening Day of Negro National League Six of the NNL clubs opened on April 28 in games that featured newly hired AfricanAmerican umpires. At Kansas City, Billy Donaldson and Bert Gholston o‡ciated in the Monarchs 5–0 win over the American Giants. Kansas City was led by Wilber “Bullet Joe” Rogan, who threw a complete-game two-hitter for the home team. The game was preceded by a parade and a ceremonial first pitch by Kansas City Mayor Cromwell. Lewis Wolfolk got the opening-day start for the American Giants but needed relief from Ed Rile. In other action, the Detroit Stars visited Washington Park in Indianapolis and played the ABCs in a game featuring African-American umpires Caesar Jamison and William Embry.5 About 9,000 fans saw the hometown ABCs defeat the Stars 8–7.6 At Milwaukee, Leon Augustine and Lucian Snaer were assigned umpiring duties7 as the hometown Bears beat the Cuban Stars 8–5.8 The St. Louis Stars and the Toledo Tigers were not scheduled on opening day.9*

April 28, ¡923 — Inaugural Game of the Eastern Colored League Hilldale defeated the visiting Atlantic City Bacharach Giants, 4–2, in the inaugural game of the Eastern Colored League before an estimated ¡7,000 fans at Hilldale Park in Darby, Pa. Ping Gardner got the win¡0 and Lewis Hampton, who gave up three firstinning runs, took the loss.¡¡

May ¡¡, ¡923 — 9,000 Fans at Maryland Park More than 9,000 fans, what the Baltimore Afro American described as the largest crowd in the history of Maryland Park, watched the hometown Baltimore Black Sox split a doubleheader with the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants. The Sox won the first game 6–4 and dropped the second game ¡5–9.¡2 *An early reported game for Toledo, and possibly their league opener, was played on May 5 and won 8–4 by the Indianapolis ABCs, the Chicago Defender (¡2 May ¡923) reported.

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May 22, ¡923 — St. Louis Stars Win ¡¡–¡0 with Seven-Run Ninth Inning Two days after the American Giants rallied to score six runs in the ninth inning to win 9–6 over the St. Louis Stars,¡3 the Stars returned the favor and erased a ¡0–4 American Giants lead with seven runs in the ninth inning to win ¡¡–¡0.¡4 St. Louis got help from American Giants pitcher Ed Rile, who reportedly hit three straight batters and then walked the next four before being lifted for a reliever. ¡5

May 27, ¡923 — Stands Collapse at Schorling’s Park New stands, erected in anticipation of an unusually large crowd,¡6 collapsed in the seventh inning of a game between the American Giants and Kansas City Monarchs at Schorling’s Park in Chicago. About ¡,500 of the estimated ¡5,000 fans in attendance fell to the ground when the stands gave way, and 28 were hospitalized. The Giants had tied the score 2–2 in the seventh inning and, when play resumed, the game went into extra innings tied 4–4. In the Chicago ¡0th, Jim Brown’s base hit scored Cristobal Torriente with the game-winning run.¡7

June ¡¡, ¡923 — Ed Rile Throws One-Hitter Ed Rile gave up just one hit while leading the American Giants to a 2–0 win over the St. Louis Stars in Chicago. Stars pitcher Jimmy Oldham was nearly as good, allowing just three hits, but he also gave up two first-inning runs that were the di›erence.¡8 In the Chicago first, Cristobal Torriente came in to score the Giants’ first run on Jim Brown’s triple, and Brown followed Torriente home on Eddie Holtz’s error to make it 2–0.¡9

June 26, ¡923 — American Giants Win 20–0 In a runaway game at Schorling’s Park in Chicago, the American Giants scored ¡2 times o› Detroit Stars pitching in the second inning and went on to win 20–0. The Stars used three pitchers: Jack Combs, William Force and Buck Alexander, and American Giants pitchers Ed Rile and Aubrey Owens combined for the shutout. The Giants scored with speed and power, including three steals of home20 and two home runs, one each by Cristobal Torriente and Dave Malaracher.2¡

July 5, ¡923 — Bullet Joe Rogan Loses No-Hitter in Ninth Kansas City Monarchs pitcher Wilber “Bullet Joe” Rogan lost a no-hitter and the game ¡–0, in the ninth inning at Schorling’s Park in Chicago when the hometown American Giants loaded the bases on Bingo DeMoss’s double, John Beckwith’s walk and Harry Kenyon’s single, and then scored the only run of the game on Dave Malarcher’s infield single.22

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July ¡5, ¡923 — Toledo Tigers Dropped from Negro National League E›ective July ¡5, the Toledo Tigers disbanded and were dropped from the NNL, and it was announced that the Cleveland Tate Stars would take their place. As a condition of their admission to the NNL, the Tate Stars assumed the Tigers NNL record and the remainder of their schedule. In a related story, the Milwaukee Bears moved their franchise to Toledo23 because of lagging attendance in Milwaukee.24 By the end of July it was being reported that the Tate Stars still hadn’t made their $¡,000 deposit with the NNL, delaying their entrance into the league, and there was speculation that the Birmingham Black Barons and the Memphis Red Sox might be added to the NNL roster of franchises.25*

August 22, ¡923 — American Giants Bunt Black Barons’ Miller O› Third Base Before 3,500 fans at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Rube Foster started a rally in the seventh inning by instructing his American Giants to continually bunt on Black Barons third baseman Bob Miller until Miller was moved to second base and replaced with Charles Wesley. The American Giants won ¡¡–526 and reportedly scored nine of their runs in the last three innings.27†

August 26, ¡923 — Willie Foster Debuts with American Giants Future Hall-of-Famer Willie Foster reportedly made his debut with the American Giants28 in a ¡0–2 win over the Kansas City Monarchs at Schorling’s Park. Foster lasted just one inning before he was removed by his brother and Giants manager, Rube Foster, for reliever Aubrey Owens.29 Both Kansas City runs were scored in the first inning.30 Owens, according to a report, pitched the remaining eight innings for the American Giants, allowing just one hit.3¡ Earlier that month Willie Foster was pitching for the Memphis Red Sox.32 Foster later recalled that when his brother Rube heard that he was pitching with the Red Sox he got in touch with club owner R.S. Lewis and had him sent to Chicago.33

September 24, ¡923 — Kansas City Monarchs Clinch Negro National League Pennant An ¡¡–3 win over the Detroit Stars gave the Kansas City Monarchs the ¡923 NNL title. It had been reported earlier in September that the Monarchs had clinched the title,34 but after a review by NNL President Rube Foster it was determined that the Monarchs needed to win two of the season-ending five-game series with the second place Detroit Stars. The Monarchs lost the first game on Saturday and split the doubleheader on Sunday before clinching the title on Monday.35 *The Black Barons were admitted to the NNL after this season (see 6 December ¡923), and the Memphis Red Sox joined the league in the middle of the ¡924 season (see 2¡ June ¡924). † Some details in the Chicago Daily Tribune (23 August ¡923) account di›er from the Chicago Defender and the Kansas City Call game reports. The Tribune reported that the American Giants scored seven runs from the seventh inning on and that the final score was ¡0–5.

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September 29, ¡923 — Hilldale Wins First Eastern Colored League Pennant At an Eastern Colored League meeting on September 29,* Hilldale was o‡cially acknowledged as the champion of the inaugural season.36

October 8, ¡923 — Detroit Stars vs. St. Louis Browns On October 8,† the Detroit Stars, after trailing 6–0, rallied to defeat the American League St. Louis Browns 7–6, before an estimated 6,000 fans at Mack Park in Detroit. American Giants slugger John Beckwith, appearing with the Stars for this series, hit a two-run homer in the rally.37 The Detroit Stars won two of the three-game series.38

October 20–22, ¡923 — American Giants vs. Detroit Tigers The American Giants, winner of the Negro National League pennant, met the American League Detroit Tigers for a three-game series at Schorling’s Park in Chicago. The Giants bolstered their lineup with players from other NNL clubs, including Oscar Charleston of the Indianapolis ABCs and Finis Branahan of the Cleveland Tate Stars. The Tigers played without Ty Cobb. In the first game, the Tigers pitched Bert Cole and George Dauss, and the American Giants sent three pitchers to the mound — Tom Johnson, Tom Williams and Finis Branahan — but the game was called because of darkness with the score tied 5–5. On the following day, the two clubs met again, and this time the Tigers scored seven times o› American Giants pitchers Ed Rile, Tom Williams and Finis Branahan and won 7–¡. Herman Pillette pitched for the Tigers. The clubs met for a third time on October 22 and the American Giants evened the series with an 8–6 win despite playing without Oscar Charleston and Cristobal Torriente, who left to play winter ball in Cuba after the second game. The American Giants scored all eight runs o› Tigers starter George Dauss, who was relieved by outfielder Harry Heilmann in the eighth inning; Heilmann! pitched scoreless ball the rest of the way. George Harney pitched a complete-game victory for the American Giants and had four hits in four times at bat.39

December 6 and 7, ¡923 — Negro National League Meeting in Chicago The Birmingham Black Barons became members of the Negro National League when league owners met at the Appomattox Club in Chicago. At the end of the meeting, the NNL had seven clubs: the Kansas City Monarchs, the American Giants, the Indianapolis ABCs, the Cuban Stars, the St. Louis Stars, the Detroit Stars and the new Birmingham franchise. In other league business, it was agreed that the use of AfricanAmerican umpires had been successful and that the league would renew that policy for *Date based on Pittsburgh Courier (6 October ¡923). † Date based on game report in Chicago Defender (¡3 October ¡923). ! After Heilmann died in July ¡95¡, former American Giant Dave Malarcher expressed sadness in a eulogy in the Chicago Daily Tribune (¡6 July ¡95¡) and credited Heilmann with working with Rube Foster and using his influence to make postseason series like this one possible.

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the ¡924 season, which was set to open on May 3. Among those attending the meeting were Rube Foster (American Giants), J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs), G.B. Keys and Richard Kent (St. Louis Stars), Olivia Taylor (Indianapolis ABCs), Joe Rush (Birmingham Black Barons), Tenny Blount (Detroit Stars), Q.J. Gilmore, John Matthews, Jim Taylor and A.D. Williams.40

December 8, ¡923 — Eastern Colored League Meeting On December 8,* the Eastern Colored League met at the Christian Street YMCA in Philadelphia and admitted two new franchises, C.W. Strothers’s Harrisburg Giants and George Robinson’s Washington Potomacs, for the ¡924 season. The league roster now included eight teams: Hilldale, the Cuban Stars, the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants, the Lincoln Giants, the Brooklyn Royal Giants, the Baltimore Black Sox, the Harrisburg Giants and the Washington Potomacs.4¡ Washington requested suggestions for the club’s nickname from the Washington community, and the Potomacs was selected from those suggestions by Washington Tribune editor William O. Walker, S.H. Dudley, and club manager Ben Taylor, the Baltimore Afro American said.42

¡924 January ¡4, ¡924 — Oscar Charleston Goes 6 for 6 in Cuban Winter League On January ¡4,† Oscar Charleston got six hits in six at bats for Santa Clara in the Cuban Winter League and hit for the cycle, with a home run, triple, two doubles, and two singles in a ¡5–0 drubbing of Marinao at Almendares Park in Havana. Marinao used three pitchers, including two ex–major leaguers Joe DeBerry and Slim Love, in addition to Cuban pitcher Emilio Palmero, while Santa Clara’s Pedro Dibut threw a complete-game three-hitter.¡

February 9 and ¡0, ¡924 — Negro National League Meeting in St. Louis The Negro National League met at the Pine Street YMCA in St. Louis to discuss the coming season and agreed to employ an attorney to prevent NNL players from jumping their contracts to play for Eastern Colored League teams.2 Attending the meeting were Rube Foster (American Giants), John “Tenny” Blount (Detroit Stars), Olivia Taylor (Indianapolis ABCs), Richard Kent, G.B. Keys, and Jim Taylor (St. Louis Stars), W.H. Perdue (Nashville Elite Giants), and J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs). *Date based on Philadelphia Tribune (¡ December ¡923). † Date based on dateline in Baltimore Afro American (¡8 January ¡924).

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Cleveland and Birmingham were represented by proxy. After the meeting the league had settled on seven of the NNL franchises for the ¡924 season: the American Giants (Chicago), the Indianapolis ABCs, the Detroit Stars, the Kansas City Monarchs, the St. Louis Stars, the Cuban Stars and the Birmingham Black Barons. It was believed that the eighth league club would be either Memphis or Cleveland.3*

February 23, ¡924 — Eastern Colored League Schedule Meeting The ECL met in Philadelphia and approved the schedule that had been created by Ben Taylor, Nat Strong, James Keenan, Ed Bolden and Charles Spedden at a meeting in Philadelphia on February 9. A schedule of 70 games for each club was agreed upon, with the Washington Potomacs and the Cuban Stars opening the league season on April 24 and all other clubs opening later.4

March 30, ¡924 — Smokey Joe Williams Strikes Out 25 in Exhibition Game Brooklyn Royal Giants pitcher Smokey Joe Williams struck out 25 batters in an extra-inning exhibition game against the semipro Bushwicks at Dexter Park in Brooklyn but lost the game 4–3. Williams relieved Royal Giants starter Pud Flournoy, who got into trouble in the first inning, and set the Bushwicks down until the ¡2th, when the they scored twice. The Royal Giants scored once in the ¡2th but came up short.5

April 24–May ¡, ¡924 — Opening Day of the Eastern Colored League Scoring six runs in the first two innings, the Cuban Stars defeated the Washington Potomacs on opening day in the Eastern Colored League 8–3 at American League park, home of the Washington Senators. Potomacs starting pitcher Lewis Hampton needed relief from Omer Newsome, and the Cuban Stars got a complete game from Oscar Levis. Attendance reports ranged from 2,500 to 3,000.6 The Stars won despite arriving in Washington, D.C., from Cuba only the night before the game.7 According to the Pittsburgh Courier, U.S. President Calvin Coolidge had agreed to attend the game.8 On April 26, opening day of the ECL at Hilldale Park in Darby, Pa., went ¡2 innings before Hilldale could defeat the visiting Harrisburg Giants 6–4. With Biz Mackey on base in the ¡2th inning after doubling, Louis Santop hit the first pitch thrown by Harrisburg pitcher Daltie Cooper for a walk-o› two-run homer. Cooper by then had thrown all ¡2 innings for Harrisburg, and Hilldale had used three pitchers: Rube Currie, who came out with an injury, Red Ryan, and Nip Winters. Harrisburg’s Oscar Charleston erased a 3–¡ Hilldale lead in the sixth with a two-run homer9 and then was instrumental in the ninth when he drew a walk, stole second and came around to score on a single, tying the game at 4–4.¡0 Before the game, Charleston, as the Harrisburg manager, *Both Cleveland and Memphis participated in NNL play in ¡924; Cleveland started the season as a full member and Memphis joined in June after the Indianapolis ABCs dropped out (see 2¡ June ¡924).

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joined his Hilldale counterpart, Frank Warfield, and raised a flag commemorating Hilldale’s ¡923 ECL championship.¡¡ Also on the 26th, an estimated ¡,000 fans showed up at Maryland Park in Baltimore for opening day and saw the hometown Black Sox defeat the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants 6–2. Starting pitchers were William Force for Baltimore and Wayne Carr for the Bacharach Giants, who was released by the Black Sox just before this game, signed by the Bacharachs, and put in to pitch.¡2 In other ECL action, the Harrisburg Giants visited the Lincoln Giants in New York on April 27 for Lincoln’s league opener,¡3 and Lincoln swept the doubleheader 8–6 and 9–3.¡4 The last club to begin play was the Brooklyn Royal Giants, who were scheduled to open on May ¡ at Hilldale.¡5*

April 28, ¡924 — Negro National League Opening Day, Birmingham vs. Cuban Stars An estimated ¡0,000 fans turned out at Rickwood Field in Birmingham for the NNL opener between the Birmingham Black Barons and the Cuban Stars. The Black Barons won 6–3, and Cuban Stars starting pitcher Lucas Boada was knocked out of the game during the Black Barons’ decisive five-run third inning. Birmingham starter Sam Streeter went the distance for the win.¡6 All other NNL clubs opened later.

May 3, ¡924 — Negro National League Openers The Kansas City Monarchs opened the ¡924 NNL season with a ¡0–3 win against the hometown American Giants at Schorling’s Park in Chicago. The Monarchs got solid pitching from Bill Drake, who went the distance while giving up just seven hits, but the American Giants needed three pitchers: Luis Padron, Tom Williams, and George Harney. The Monarchs took the lead in the fifth inning with three runs¡7 and knocked out ¡6 hits, including three each by third baseman Newt Joseph and Drake.¡8 In other action, the Detroit Stars were scheduled to host the Cleveland Browns,¡9 and the St. Louis Stars defeated the Indianapolis ABCs ¡7–¡0 at Indianapolis.20

May ¡0, ¡924 — Nip Winters Throws One-Hitter but Loses, 2–¡ Hilldale pitcher Jesse “Nip” Winters allowed only one hit, a first-inning single by Joe Goodrich on an 0–2 count, but still lost the game 2–¡ to the Washington Potomacs at Hilldale Park. The Potomacs scored both of their runs in an error-filled fourth inning when, with Elias “Country” Brown on base, Mack Eggleston reached first after the Hilldale catcher, Joe Lewis, dropped the third strike. Brown moved to third on the play and then scored on a wild pitch by Winters, giving Washington a ¡–0 lead, while Eggleston went to third. Theodore “Bubbles” Anderson followed by drawing a walk. With runners on first and third, the Potomacs put on a double steal. Lewis threw to second *It is not clear whether this game was played, but the Philadelphia Tribune (¡0 May ¡924) reported a May 3 game between the Brooklyn Royal Giants and Hilldale at Darby, Pa., that Hilldale won 6–5 in ¡0 innings.

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base, but the ball came right back when Eggleston broke for home. Lewis dropped the ball, and Washington had a 2–0 lead. Hilldale was able to score only once o› Potomacs starter Andrew “Stringbean” Williams, who also had a fine day on the mound and was credited with a three-hitter.2¡

May ¡8, ¡924 — Montalvo Homers Three Times Against American Giants The Cuban Stars got three home runs, one a grand slam by Estaban Montalvo, who also tripled, but that was still not enough as the American Giants won ¡5–¡4 at Schorling’s Park. The American Giants scored five runs in the eighth inning to take a ¡5–¡2 lead, and Montalvo trimmed that lead with a two-run homer, his third of the day, in the ninth inning to make it ¡5–¡4, but his teammates failed to score after that. Both clubs sent three pitchers to the mound.22

May 26, ¡924 — Brooklyn Royal Giants Readmitted to the Eastern Colored League The Eastern Colored League met in Philadelphia and accepted Nat Strong and the Brooklyn Royal Giants back into the league with the condition that the Royal Giants and the Lincoln Giants would complete the Eastern Colored League schedule.23 It had been previously reported that Strong and the Royal Giants had been thrown out of the league because Strong refused to play against James Keenan’s Lincoln Giants.24

June 2¡, ¡924 — Memphis Red Sox Join Negro National League The Memphis Red Sox played their first NNL game, against the Cleveland Browns at Hooper Field in Cleveland, and came away 6–4 winners.25 The Red Sox became full league members after the Indianapolis ABCs were dropped from the league. The ABCs had lost a lot of players to clubs in the Eastern Colored League and had ceased to be competitive. In addition, the NNL asserted that Olivia Taylor, who had been running the club since the death of her husband, C.I. Taylor (see 23 February ¡922), did not have the financial resources to keep the team running properly. Initially it was decided that the Red Sox would assume the ABCs’ 3–¡926 record, but it was later determined that a .500 record (set at ¡2–¡2) was more equitable, and by July the Red Sox were in fourth place with a ¡7–¡5 record.27

June 26, ¡924 — Bill McCall Throws One-Hitter and Loses Birmingham Black Barons pitcher Bill McCall gave up just one hit to the American Giants at Schorling’s Park in Chicago but still lost 3–¡. Cristobal Torriente got the Giants’ lone hit in the three-run first inning28 when the Giants capitalized on walks to Joe Hewitt and Dave Malarcher, three stolen bases (including a double steal that caused

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an errant throw for the Giants’ first run), Torriente’s base hit, and a fielder’s choice to put three runs on the board.29

July 4, ¡924 —¡¡ Consecutive Hits for John Henry Lloyd In the second game of a doubleheader, Harrisburg Giants pitcher Daltie Cooper retired John Henry Lloyd in his first at bat to end a streak of ¡¡ consecutive hits for the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants manager and second baseman. Going into the first game that day, Lloyd was 8 for 8 in two previous games and added three hits in three at bats.30

July 26, ¡924 — Sam Streeter Loses No-Hitter in Ninth Inning On July 26,* Birmingham Black Barons pitcher Sam Streeter was one out away from a no-hitter when St. Louis Stars pinch hitter Jim Taylor singled to break it up.3¡ Streeter, who had a full count on Taylor, finished the game with a one-hitter, striking out nine batters. Birmingham won ¡0–0.32

August ¡8, ¡924 — Detroit Stars Turn Triple Play In the first inning of a 6–4 loss to the American Giants, the Detroit Stars completed a triple play. After a walk to Jelly Gardner and a single by Bingo DeMoss, Dave Malarcher put the ball in play and was retired by Detroit first baseman Anderson Pryor, who threw to shortstop Bill Riggins for the second out, and Riggins then threw to catcher† Bill Pierce to retire the side.33

September 4, ¡924 — Nip Winters Throws No-Hitter Jesse “Nip” Winters pitched a no-hitter on September 4 to lead Hilldale to a 2–0 win over the Harrisburg Giants. Only an error by Jake Stephens that allowed Harrisburg outfielder Clarence “Fats” Jenkins to reach first base kept Winters from a perfect game. In addition to his pitching heroics, Winters helped his own cause when his RBItriple scored the first Hilldale run.34

September 28, ¡924 — Cleo Smith Hits Flagpole Cleo Smith, of the Lincoln Giants, nearly tied a 4–3 game in the ninth inning at the Catholic Protectory Oval in New York when he hit a shot to center field but, instead of clearing the fence for a home run, the ball hit the flagpole and bounced to Cuban Stars outfielder Alejandro Oms, who retrieved it and threw to third base, where Smith was tagged out.35 *Date based on dateline in Chicago Defender (2 August ¡924). † Positions for Riggins and Pierce are not mentioned in the game report, but James A. Riley in The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues (New York: Carroll & Graf, ¡994) says that Riggins and Pierce primarily played shortstop and catcher, respectively.

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October 3, ¡924 — Kansas City Wins First Game of World Series 6–2 Eastern Colored League champion Hilldale met the Negro National League pennant-winning Kansas City Monarchs in the first game of a best-of-nine games World Series that was made possible by an agreement by the two leagues to respect each other’s player-contracts.36 The Monarchs, aided by eight Hilldale errors and a five-run sixth inning, won 6–2 at Baker Field, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. In the top of the sixth, Hilldale pitcher Phil Cockrell intentionally walked Hurley McNair to load the bases with one out. Cockrell got Dobie Moore to hit a grounder to Frank Warfield, but the Hilldale second baseman’s error allowed two runs to score. Cockrell continued the error-filled inning by throwing wildly in an attempt to pick McNair o› second base, allowing two more runs. Kansas City pitcher Bullet Rogan followed with a single, stole second, and later scored to cap the five-run Kansas City sixth. Cockrell was the center of attention throughout the game. In addition to his four errors, Cockrell’s use of the spitball was questioned by the home plate umpire (who normally worked in the International League) after just two pitches in the first inning, but after some discussion, the pitch was allowed.37 Rube Foster threw out the first pitch.38 Attendance estimates in the press ranged from 5,500 to 6,000, and the o‡cial figure issued by the World Series Commission after the series was 5,366 fans for game one.39

October 4, ¡924 — Hilldale Wins Second Game of World Series ¡¡–0 Hilldale evened the series with the Kansas City Monarchs with an ¡¡–0 win behind the four-hit pitching of Nip Winters at Baker Field in Philadelphia. Hilldale started the scoring in the first inning when Biz Mackey singled with runners on first and second, scoring one and moving Frank Warfield to third base, leading to the removal of Kansas City starting pitcher Bill McCall. Monarchs reliever Bill Drake got the next batter to keep the ball in the infield, but Warfield was able to elude Kansas City catcher Frank Duncan’s tag to score Hilldale’s second run. After Judy Johnson made the first out of the inning, George Johnson’s double scored two, and a two-out RBI single by Tom Allen gave Winters a five-run lead after the first inning. Hilldale added two runs each in the second and third innings to put the game out of reach. Kansas City used four pitchers: McCall, Drake, Jose Mendez, and Harold Morris, and Winters went the distance for Hilldale. Attendance figures in the press ranged from 8,700 to ¡0,000,40 and the o‡cial figure released by the World Series Commission was 8,66¡. 4¡

October 5, ¡924 — Third Game of World Series Ends in 6–6 Tie After ¡3 Innings The third game of the Kansas City Monarchs–Hilldale championship series ended in a 6–6 tie after ¡3 innings, called on account of darkness at Maryland Park, home of the ECL Baltimore Black Sox. With the score tied at the end of eight innings, Kansas City scored one run in the top of the ninth to take a 5–4 lead. A walk to Frank Warfield in the Hilldale ninth, together with two errors, allowed Warfield to score and tie the

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game 5–5. Kansas City took the lead once more in the ¡2th, but again the Monarchs allowed Hilldale to tie in the home half of the inning at 6–6. After a scoreless ¡3th, the game was called. Red Ryan for Hilldale and William Bell for the Monarchs were the starting pitchers.42 Attendance, according to the World Series Commission, was 5,503.43 (Coincidentally, a minor league game played the previous day in Baltimore between St. Paul of the American Association and Baltimore of the International League for the “little World Series” was also called for darkness after ¡3 innings with the score tied 6–6.44)

October 6, ¡924 — Hilldale Wins 4–3 in Game Four of World Series Hilldale took a 2–¡ lead in the World Series with the Kansas City Monarchs in Baltimore when they broke a ninth-inning tie by sending one run across the plate for the 4–3 win. Hilldale starting pitcher Red Ryan needed relief from Rube Currie, and Kansas City starter Cli› Bell took the loss despite giving up only four hits.45 This game, according to the World Series Commission report, attracted only 584 fans.46

October ¡¡, ¡924 — Hilldale Wins Game Five of World Series 5–2 Hilldale starting pitcher Nip Winters looked shaky in the first inning, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk, but settled down and gave up just one hit the rest of the way as Hilldale defeated the Kansas City Monarchs 5–2 to take a 3–¡ lead in the World Series at Muehlebach Park in Kansas City. Hilldale got one run back in the fourth inning and threatened to take the lead in the eighth, when they loaded the bases with no outs, but Kansas City starting pitcher Bullet Rogan got solid defensive support and got out of the jam. First, Monarch shortstop Dobie Moore fielded a grounder and got the force at home on pinch runner Phil Cockrell for the first out. Then Lem Hawkins fielded a grounder and threw home to force Judy Johnson for the second out, and Rogan took care of the third out himself by striking out Nip Winters to preserve the 2–¡ Kansas City lead. Rogan and the Monarchs, however, couldn’t withstand another Hilldale rally. In the ninth inning, Rogan hit Otto Briggs with a pitch and then gave up a single to Biz Mackey that was misplayed by Kansas City left fielder Dink Mothel, allowing both runners to advance. With runners on second and third, Rogan got Joe Lewis to hit a grounder to shortstop Dobie Moore, but there was no play at home and Briggs tied the game at 2–2, and Lewis was safe when first baseman Lem Hawkins was pulled o› the bag by Moore’s throw. Hilldale’s Judy Johnson broke it open with a three-run homer* to center field for a 5–2 Hilldale win.47 The Kansas City Star reported that around ¡50 Hilldale fans traveled from Philadelphia to Kansas City to support the team.48

*Frank Young, in the Chicago Defender (¡8 October ¡924), reported that Johnson’s hit was a two-run triple and that he later scored on a base hit by Thomas. All other reports cited here credit Johnson with a home run. Young may have confused this game with Sunday’s game: He reported, in the same Defender article, that Johnson hit a two-run triple in that game.

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October ¡2, ¡924 — Kansas City Wins Game Six of World Series 6–5 On a Sunday at Muehlebach Park in Kansas City, the hometown Monarchs defeated Hilldale 6–5 in a game in which Kansas City regained the lead three times. Hilldale opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with two runs, but the Monarchs scored four runs in their half of the inning to lead 4–2. The first Kansas City run scored on a walk to Newt Allen and singles by Bullet Joe Rogan and Newt Joseph. Singles by Dobie Moore and Hurley McNair, plus a wild pitch by Phil Cockrell, put across two more Kansas City runs and prompted Hilldale to send in Scrip Lee to relieve Cockrell. After an RBI single from George Sweatt, Lee got out of the first inning. Hilldale rebounded and scored twice to tie the game, only to see Kansas City take a 5–4 lead in the fourth. In the sixth, Hilldale again tied the score 5–5, but once again Kansas City had an answer and pulled ahead for good in the eighth when Moore singled and scored on Sweatt’s triple. Kansas City starter William Bell faced one batter in the ninth inning before being relieved by Bill Drake, who closed out the 6–5 Kansas City win. Attendance figures ranged from 8,800 to 9,000.49 Hilldale led the World Series 3–2.

October ¡4, ¡924 — Monarchs Win Game Seven of World Series 4–3 in ¡2 Innings The Kansas City Monarchs tied the series at three wins each with a 4–3 defeat of Hilldale in ¡2 innings at Muehlebach Park in Kansas City. Hilldale opened the scoring in the second inning with two runs, but the Monarchs tied it at 2–2 in the fourth and then took the lead in the eighth when pinch hitter Heavy Johnson drove in Bullet Rogan to make it 3–2, Kansas City. In the Hilldale ninth, Frank Warfield got his club back in the game with an RBI single scoring Judy Johnson to tie the game 3–3. The game remained tied until the bottom of the ¡2th when George Sweatt got things started with a two-out triple o› Hilldale starter Nip Winters but was injured sliding into third. After William Bell came in as a pinch runner for Sweatt, Bullet Rogan hit a grounder to Judy Johnson at shortstop, and Johnson, needing only one out to end the inning, threw o› the mark to first base, allowing Rogan to reach safely and Bell to cross the plate with the winning run. This game had originally been set for October ¡3 but had been rescheduled in order to fit in an exhibition game at Muehlebach Park featuring Babe Ruth.50 The World Series Commission listed attendance for this game at 2,539.5¡

October ¡8, ¡924 — Kansas City Wins Game Eight of World Series 3–2 The Kansas City Monarchs scored three runs in the ninth inning to beat Hilldale 3–2 at Schorling’s Park in Chicago and take a 4–3 lead in the World Series. Kansas City pitcher Bullet Rogan got a one-out single to start the Monarchs rally in the final inning, moved to second on Newt Joseph’s ground out, and took third when Dobie Moore singled. Hurley McNair followed with a two-out RBI single, and Rube Currie then hit Heavy Johnson with a pitch to load the bases and bring up Kansas City catcher Frank Duncan. Duncan came close to ending the Kansas City rally when he popped up behind

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home plate for what seemed to be third out, but Hilldale catcher Louis Santop failed to make the catch and extended Duncan’s at bat. Duncan made the most of the second chance by singling past Biz Mackey at third base, driving in two runs for a 3–2 Monarch win. Both pitchers, Rogan for Kansas City and Currie for Hilldale, threw complete games.52 Years later, after Santop’s death in ¡942, sportswriter Frank Young recalled seeing Santop at Rube Foster’s home after this game, so distraught that he cried.53 If this was the low point of Santop’s career, Frank Duncan considered his game-winning single to be the highlight of his and told readers of the Pittsburgh Courier how badly he felt about his pop-up until he saw the trouble it gave Santop.54 Chicago Defender publisher Robert S. Abbott threw out the ceremonial first pitch of this game while wearing the baseball cap and glove of Bullet Rogan.55

October ¡9, ¡924 — Hilldale Wins 5–3 in Game Nine of World Series In the ninth game of the World Series, Hilldale, with the help of poor fielding by the Monarchs, broke a 3–3 tie in the ninth inning to even the series at four games each at Schorling’s Park in Chicago. With the score tied in the ninth, Hilldale’s Judy Johnson led o› with a double o› Bill Drake, and Clint Thomas reached safely on a sacrifice that moved Johnson to third base and brought Jose Mendez in to relieve with no one out. Mendez started strong by striking out George Johnson and getting George Carr to hit a grounder for the second out, but then made a poor decision by throwing to second on a pick-o› attempt. As Thomas got back safely to second base, Judy Johnson took o› from third and scored to give Hilldale the lead, 4–3. Lem Hawkins then fumbled a grounder by Otto Briggs, and Thomas crossed the plate to make it 5–3. Nip Winters started for Hilldale and threw a complete game. The Monarchs started William Bell before turning to Drake and Mendez in relief.56 Attendance was listed by the World Series Commission as 6,27¡.57

October 20, ¡924 — Monarchs Win World Series The Kansas City Monarchs defeated Hilldale 5–0 in the deciding game of the World Series with one big inning and strong pitching by their manager, Jose Mendez. To oppose the veteran Cuban, Hilldale sent their “submarine” pitcher Scrip Lee to the hill, and for seven innings Lee dominated the Kansas City hitters, not allowing any runs and yielding only one hit, a third-inning single by Frank Duncan. Kansas City’s eighth inning proved to be the turning point of the game when the Monarchs got to Lee for five runs on five hits. Dobie Moore led o› with a single, moved to second on Hurley McNair’s sacrifice, and then scored the first run of the game on Heavy Johnson’s base hit. A walk to Duncan and a single by Mendez loaded the bases, and Newt Allen’s tworun single made it 3–0. Dink Mothel followed with a two-run single of his own, and Kansas City led 5–0, which proved to be more than enough for the win. Hilldale had no response in the ninth, managing only one base runner when Frank Warfield reached on a walk. The story of the game was the pitching performance of Mendez, who threw a complete-game three-hitter and didn’t allow any Hilldale base runner to reach sec-

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ond base.58 Rube Foster later told readers of the Baltimore Afro American that Mendez spoke with him before the game about his intention to pitch, and Foster assured the Cuban pitcher that he was making right the right choice.59 After their discussion, according to the Chicago Defender, Foster sent signs from the bench to Mendez throughout the game.60 O‡cial attendance for the final game of the series was ¡,549.6¡

¡925 January 24, ¡925 — Eastern Colored League Meeting in Philadelphia Eastern Colored League owners met at the YMCA, ¡724 Christian Street, in Philadelphia. Among those in attendance were George Robinson (Wilmington Potomacs), Nat Strong (Brooklyn Royal Giants), Charles B. Johnson and William Weeks (Atlantic City Bacharach Giants), Charles Spedden (Baltimore Black Sox), Alejandro Pompez (Cuban Stars), Ed Bolden (Hilldale), and C.W. Strothers (Harrisburg Giants). Among the business was a plan for a 70-game schedule, the transfer of the Washington Potomacs franchise to Wilmington, Del., and the discussion of league-controlled umpires that would replace the current system in which home teams supplied the umpires.¡

February 2, ¡925 — Negro National League Meeting in St. Louis Owners in the Negro National League met at the Pine Street YMCA in St. Louis to discuss the coming season. It was agreed to play a split season of 50-game halves with opening day on May 2. The Detroit franchise was awarded to Steve Pierce in place of John “Tenny” Blount, who had previously lost the franchise after a disagreement with Rube Foster about the league’s operation. Among those attending were Rube Foster (NNL president and American Giants), J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs), G.B. Keys (St. Louis), R.S. Lewis (Memphis Red Sox), and Joe Rush (Birmingham Black Barons). The NNL for ¡925 would comprise the American Giants, the Kansas City Monarchs, the St. Louis Stars, the Detroit Stars, the Cuban Stars, the Indianapolis ABCs, the Memphis Red Sox, and the Birmingham Black Barons. Owners representing the Cleveland Browns did not attend and were not included in league plans.2

February 27, ¡925 — Bob McClure Throws Perfect Game in Florida Winter League On February 27,* Bob McClure, who would play with the Baltimore Black Sox during the regular season, threw a perfect game for his Florida Winter League club, Poinciana, while leading them to a 2–0 win against the Breakers club in Palm Beach.3 *This date based on “Friday” reference in the Pittsburgh Courier (7 March ¡925).

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Left fielder Kenyon* helped McClure by making two great plays on fly balls by Chaney White and Phil Cockrell that should have been hits, the Pittsburgh Courier said.4 The Breakers had many players from the Hilldale club of the Eastern Colored League.5

March 25, ¡925 — Eastern Colored League Agreement to Use Rotating Umpires The Eastern Colored League met and agreed to rotate the league umpires, instead of allowing them to be assigned by the home clubs. The league selected Philadelphia Public Ledger sportswriter Bill Dallas to supervise the umpires. In addition, the ECL made final the schedule for the ¡925 season after earlier attempts were stalled because the Harrisburg franchise, which shared a park with the Harrisburg club in the New YorkPenn League, had to wait to see what dates were available for their home games.6 The selection of Dallas, who was white, prompted some criticism from the black press,7 but ECL chairman Ed Bolden defended the decision by saying that Dallas was a qualified umpire.8

April 9, ¡925 — Schedule Meeting of the Negro National League The Negro National League met in Indianapolis and agreed on a schedule for the ¡925 season. Among those attending were Rube Foster (NNL president and American Giants owner), J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs), Joe Rush (Birmingham), R.S. Lewis (Memphis Red Sox), L. Derrick (Detroit Stars), G.B. Keys and Richard Kent (St. Louis Stars), and new franchise owners Warner Jewell and John Overton (Indianapolis). Sportswriters Frank Young, Harvey Johnson, A.D. Williams and Marcus Stewart also attended.9

April 25, ¡925 — Hilldale Wins Eastern Colored League Opener 6–2 Over Harrisburg Jesse “Nip” Winters gave up just five hits while leading Hilldale to a 6–2 win over the Harrisburg Giants on opening day of the Eastern Colored League at Hilldale Park in Darby, Pa. Harrisburg pitcher Ping Gardner had a rough start as Hilldale scored twice in the first inning and added four runs in the second before knocking Gardner out of the game. Reliever Daltie Cooper shut down Hilldale the rest of the way, but those six early runs were enough for the Hilldale win. Wayne Carr’s first-inning tworun homer, the first of his three hits for the day, got Hilldale on the board, and Clint Thomas also homered in Hilldale’s four-run second inning.¡0 An estimated ¡5,000 fans attended and saw Hilldale raise their ¡924 ECL championship pennant before the game.¡¡ This was the only ECL game played on this date.† *Possibly Harry Kenyon, who would play for the Detroit Stars in the ¡925 NNL season. † Not clear when Wilmington Potomacs played their opener. In standings published in the May 9 issue of the New York Age, they hadn’t played any games.

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April 26, ¡925 — Lincoln Giants Sweep in Eastern Colored League Opener Seven thousand fans came out to the Protectory Oval in New York and saw the hometown Lincoln Giants sweep a doubleheader from the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants in the Eastern Colored League opener 6–¡ and 4–3. Dave Brown took the mound for Lincoln in the first game and got the win. The Bacharach Giants’ Arthur “Rats” Henderson took the loss. The second game went into extra innings when Robert “Highpockets” Hudspeth hit his second homer of the day in the eighth inning for Lincoln to tie the game 3–3. In the tenth, Lincoln won the game when pinch hitter Rich Gee singled with runners on first and third.¡2 John Taylor of the Lincoln Giants and Roy Roberts of the Bacharach Giants both threw complete games.¡3

April 27, ¡925 — American Giants Win ¡3–6 Over Black Barons in Negro National League Opener The American Giants got four hits each from Cristobal Torriente and Jelly Gardner on their way to a ¡3–6 win over the Birmingham Black Barons in a Negro National League opener before more than ¡¡,000 fans at Rickwood Field in Birmingham. The Giants went ahead to stay with six runs in the sixth inning that made the score 9–4.¡4 American Giants second baseman Bingo DeMoss reportedly fielded ¡5 chances without making an error.¡5

May 2, ¡925 — Negro National League Opening Day Games The Detroit Stars broke a 2–2 tie in the ninth inning with a double steal to defeat the Kansas City Monarchs 3–2 in a Negro National League opening day game at Mack Park in Detroit. Kansas City starting pitcher William Bell walked Turkey Stearnes and Clarence Smith in the ninth inning and, with one out, the two Detroit base runners pulled o› a double steal that brought Stearnes home with the go-ahead run on Kansas City catcher Frank Duncan’s throwing error to third base.¡6 The Birmingham Black Barons, who began their season earlier in the week, spoiled the St. Louis Stars’ NNL opener with a 9–2 win.¡7 Harry Salmon threw a complete game for Birmingham, and the hometown Stars used William Ross and Roosevelt Davis on the mound.¡8 Before an estimated 3,000 fans in Memphis, the hometown Red Sox lost their NNL opener to the American Giants ¡¡–4. Memphis tied the game 3–3 in the sixth inning o› American Giants starter Luis Padron, but Red Sox starting pitcher Bill Spearman¡9 loaded the bases in the seventh and a throwing error followed to let three runs score to give the American Giants the lead. The American Giants also got a homer from Cristobal Torriente. 20 In other action, the Cuban Stars defeated the Indianapolis ABCs.*2¡ *This game information comes from ABCs historian Paul Debono (Indianapolis ABCs [Je›erson, NC: McFarland & Co., ¡997], ¡99), who based his scores for the ¡925 season on Indianapolis Star and Chicago Defender reports.

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May 2, ¡925 — Cuban Stars Lose Opener 6–¡ to Hilldale The Cuban Stars opened their Eastern Colored League season with a 6–¡ loss to Hilldale. Hilldale pitcher Scrip Lee got o› to a shaky start, giving up a run on three walks and a single in the first inning, but settled down after that and finished with a two-hitter. Stars pitcher Martin Dihigo gave up nine hits and took the loss.22

May 3, ¡925 — Baltimore Black Sox Turn Triple Play, Royal Giants Lose Opener The Baltimore Black Sox opened their ECL season with a split of a doubleheader with the Cuban Stars at Maryland Park in Baltimore. The Cuban Stars won the first game 4–3 behind Oscar Levis’s complete-game six-hitter and a home run from their catcher, P. Cardenas. The Black Sox won the second game 3–2. In the opener, Baltimore turned a triple play23 in the fifth inning when, with Bernardo Baro on first base and Alejandro Oms on second, Pelayo Chacon hit a liner to George Britt at first. Britt made the catch and threw to John Beckwith, who caught Bernardo Baro trying to get back to second, and Beckwith threw back to first to retire Alejandro Oms.* The Black Sox had an opening day crowd of around ¡0,000.24 In other action, the Brooklyn Royal Giants lost their opener against the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants at the International League Stadium in Jersey City, N.J.25

May 9, ¡925 — Cli› Bell Throws One-Hitter but Loses Kansas City Monarchs pitcher Cli› Bell allowed just one hit, a double by Cristobal Torriente, but still lost the game as the American Giants manufactured a run in the first inning that proved to be enough for the ¡–0 win at Schorling’s Park in Chicago. American Giants pitcher Luis Padron26 also pitched well and had a one-hitter through eight innings but came close to losing the shutout in the ninth when he gave up singles to Wilber Rogan and Wade Johnston and then walked Newt Allen to load the bases. Padron ended the threat by getting pinch hitter Hooks Foreman to ground out.27

May ¡0, ¡925 —¡8,000 at Schorling’s Park in Chicago A crowd estimated at around ¡8,000,28 believed to be a record for Schorling’s Park,29 came out to see the American Giants defeat the Kansas City Monarchs 3–2 in extra innings† when Cristobal Torriente tripled and scored on Dave Malarcher’s sacrifice fly. Wilber “Bullet Joe” Rogan went the distance for the Monarchs, taking the loss, and the American Giants used three pitchers, starter Eddie “Buck” Miller with George Harney and Frank Stevens in relief.30 The game was interrupted in the sixth inning when a fight broke out after a play at the plate in which Frank Duncan of the Monarchs was accused *The Philadelphia Tribune (9 May ¡925) had George Britt making the final putout, but the Baltimore Afro American (9 May ¡925) said it was Connie Day. † The Philadelphia Tribune (¡6 May ¡925) reported ¡2 innings, but the Chicago Defender (¡6 May ¡925) reported a ¡0-inning game.

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of spiking Giants catcher John Hines. Police were needed to restore order before the game resumed.3¡

May 26, ¡925 — Rube Foster Hospitalized for Gas Inhalation American Giants owner and manager Rube Foster, while in Indianapolis for a series with the ABCs, passed out as a result of gas inhalation from a leaky heating pipe at the house where he was staying at 706 North West Street. Foster was found unconscious in the bathroom by members of his team and taken to see a doctor32 where, it was reported, he regained consciousness at 4 P.M.33 In a interview with the Chicago Defender, Foster said that he no memory of the incident apart from running the water for a bath.34

May 26, ¡925 — Bacharach Giants All Safe on Triple Steal With Oliver Marcelle, Dick Lundy and John Henry Lloyd loading the bases, the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants reportedly pulled o› a successful triple steal in an ¡¡–6 loss to the Wilmington Potomacs at Dobson Park in Philadelphia.35

June 20, ¡925 — Letter Critical of Eastern Colored League Published in Black Press Several of the prominent black weekly newspapers published a letter written by Harrisburg Giants player-manager Oscar Charleston to the Baltimore Afro American in which Charleston called the Eastern Colored League “a farce.” Among Charleston’s complaints was what he viewed as an inconsistent application of the rule that only the first ten games between league clubs would count in the standings. He said this hadn’t been the practice and as a consequence he had protested some games. In addition, he thought the umpires chosen to be part of the rotating system in the ECL were not o‡ciating games properly and cited two games in his letter as examples. In the first game, played between Hilldale and Harrisburg at Hilldale on June ¡3, Charleston said that there were three calls that he believed were so bad that it appeared the umpires were biased in favor of Hilldale. On the following day at Rosemore Park in Lancaster, Pa., Charleston said, Harrisburg was leading Hilldale 6–2 after three innings when it began to rain. When the rain stopped after ¡5 minutes, Charleston said, the umps came out of the Hilldale dugout and cancelled the game although the sun had appeared and it was only around 4 P.M.36 The following week a letter from Hilldale president Ed Bolden was published in which Bolden contended that the three calls that Charleston questioned were actually in Harrisburg’s favor, that the rain in Lancaster lasted more than 30 minutes, and that the game was called o› because the field was unplayable. Bolden closed by saying that if the umpires were challenged in this way the league would su›er.37 The Afro American agreed with Charleston that it was impossible to tell which games counted in the league standings and which were exhibitions and that the paper had tried to record the league games but gave up because of contradictory game reports.38

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June 25, ¡925 — Four Homers in Hilldale Eighth Inning Rally On June 25,* trailing 3–¡ to the Cuban Stars, Hilldale homered four times to score eight runs in the eighth inning on their way to a 9–3 win. All four homers, one each by Frank Warfield, Judy Johnson, Clint Thomas and George Johnson, were hit o› Cuban Stars starting pitcher Juanelo Mirabal.39

June 30, ¡925 —¡9 Runs in First Inning at Harrisburg On June 30,† the Harrisburg Giants and the Baltimore Black Sox combined for ¡9 first-inning runs as Harrisburg defeated the Black Sox ¡6–¡4 at Harrisburg. Each team used four pitchers.40

July 7, ¡925 — Monarchs Win Negro National League First-Half Pennant The first-half schedule of the Negro National League concluded on July 7, the Baltimore Afro American reported, with the Kansas City Monarchs (3¡–9) in first place, followed by the St. Louis Stars (3¡–¡4), the American Giants (Chicago) (26–20), the Detroit Stars (26–22), the Cuban Stars (¡2–¡3), the Memphis Red Sox (¡8–24), the Indianapolis ABCs (¡3–24), and the Birmingham Black Barons (¡4–33). 4¡

July 2¡, ¡925 — Wilmington Potomacs Disband The Eastern Colored League met in Philadelphia to discuss the dissolution of the Wilmington Potomacs franchise by owner George Robinson. Robinson, who had financial di‡culty after moving the club from Washington, D.C., following the ¡924 season, paid his team through July ¡5 and began selling the rights to his players. Two league games played after July ¡5 by the Potomacs were removed from the ECL standings at the meeting.42

August ¡5, ¡925 — One-Hitter by Phil Cockrell Phil Cockrell, Hilldale spitball pitcher, threw a one-hit shutout against the Cuban Stars at Hilldale Park in Darby, Pa. The lone Cuban Stars hit came o› the bat of catcher Jose Fernandez and was nearly fielded by Hilldale infielder Frank Warfield. Cockrell, who had six strikeouts, got run support right away when Hilldale scored three firstinning runs o› Cubans Stars starting pitcher Oscar Levis (also a spitballer).43

August 30, ¡925 — Monarchs Win ¡7–0 The visiting Kansas City Monarchs got at least one hit from everyone in their lineup (22 in all) and beat the American Giants ¡7–0 at Schorling’s Park in Chicago. *Date based on “Thursday” reference in Baltimore Afro American (4 July ¡925) game report. † Date based on “Tuesday of last week” reference in Baltimore Afro American (¡¡ July ¡925) game report.

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Bullet Joe Rogan gave up just six hits for the Monarchs, and the American Giants used five pitchers.44

September 7, ¡925 — Hilldale Wins Eastern Colored League Pennant Hilldale swept a doubleheader* from the Harrisburg Giants to clinch the Eastern Colored League pennant.45 In the first game, Hilldale got a three-hitter from Phil Cockrell and scored twice in the ninth inning to win 4–3 at Hilldale Park in Darby, Pa.46 Final ECL standings were reported with Hilldale (45–¡3) in first place, followed by the Harrisburg Giants (37–¡8), the Baltimore Black Sox (3¡–¡9), the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants (26–26), the Brooklyn Royal Giants (¡3–20), the Cuban Stars (¡5–26), and the Lincoln Giants (7–39).47

September ¡9, ¡925 — Kansas City Wins Game One of Negro National League Championship 8–6 The Kansas City Monarchs, winners of the Negro National League first-half pennant, won the first game of the best-of-nine championship series 8–6 against the second half champion St. Louis Stars, in St. Louis. Wilber “Bullet Joe” Rogan, of the Monarchs and Eggie Hensley of the Stars got the starting assignments, though Hensley needed relief. Newt Allen, Dobie Moore and Frank Duncan all homered for Kansas City,48 and the Chicago Defender noted that the Monarchs benefited more than St. Louis from the left-field streetcar barn and its unique ground rule that turned shallow fly balls into home runs.49

September 20, ¡925 — St. Louis Wins 6–3 in Game Two of Negro National League Championship The St. Louis Stars evened the Negro National League championship series at one game each with a 6–3 win over the Kansas City Monarchs in St. Louis. St. Louis starter Roosevelt Davis50 lasted eight innings before being relieved by Percy Miller, and Monarchs starter Nelson Dean ran into trouble in the fifth inning and was taken out after Mitch Murray’s two-run homer.5¡

September 23, ¡925 — St. Louis Wins 3–2 in Game Three of Negro National League Championship The St. Louis Stars took a 2–¡ series-lead in the Negro National League championship with a 3–2 win over the Kansas City Monarchs in St. Louis.52 Earlier attempts to play this game had been rained out on September 2¡ and 22.53

*The Pittsburgh Courier (¡9 September ¡925) reported that the second game was considered an exhibition.

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September 26, ¡925 — Monarchs Win 5–4 in Game Four of Negro National League Championship The Kansas City Monarchs chipped away at an early St. Louis Stars lead in the fourth game of the Negro National League championship series to win 5–4 in Chicago. The Stars got o› to a fast start with four first-inning runs o› Bullet Joe Rogan, but Rogan settled down and Kansas City fought back. Trailing 4–3 in the eighth, Kansas City catcher Frank Duncan singled to score Rogan with the tying run and singled again in the ninth to score Newt Allen with the game-winner. In addition to his complete game win, Rogan had four hits.54 The Monarchs win tied the series 2–2.

September 27, ¡925 — Stars Win 2–¡ in Game Five of Negro National League Championship Two St. Louis Stars ninth-inning runs spoiled Kansas City Monarchs starter Bill Drake’s shutout bid in Chicago, as the Stars won 2–¡. Jim Taylor’s single scored Willie Bobo with the Stars first run, and Mitch Murray scored the winner after reaching on a walk. It was agreed to reduce the series from nine games to the best-of-seven.55 Appropriately, some Stars fans who made the trip from St. Louis waved pennants that read: “St. Louis Won’t Quit.”56 St. Louis led the series 3–2.

September 28, ¡925 — Monarchs Win Negro National League Championship With a doubleheader sweep of the St. Louis Stars, the Kansas City Monarchs won the NNL championship series four games to three in Chicago and earned the right to play Hilldale in the World Series. Kansas City took the first game 9–3 and got a 4–0 shutout from Bullet Joe Rogan in the second game, which was shortened to eight innings because of darkness.57

October ¡, ¡925 — Hilldale Wins 5–2 in Game One of World Series Rube Currie went the distance in Hilldale’s ¡2-inning win over the Kansas City Monarchs in the first game of the World Series before an estimated 2,000 fans at Muehlebach Stadium in Kansas City. The game was tied ¡–¡ at the end of the ninth, as Monarchs starting pitcher Cli›ord Bell kept pace with Currie. That changed in the ¡¡th, when Hilldale scored once, knocking Bell out of the game, but the Monarchs responded in the bottom half of the inning and tied the game again, 2–2. Hilldale followed with three runs in the top of the ¡2th inning, and this time Kansas City had no answer. The Monarchs played without Bullet Joe Rogan, who accidentally got a needle stuck in his leg which required his hospitalization, and Dink Mothel. Both players would miss the entire series.58 Bill Drake took the loss for the Monarchs, allowing three hits and a hit batter in relief of Bell.59

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October 2, ¡925 — Monarchs Win 5–3 in Game Two of World Series The Kansas City Monarchs tied the World Series at one game each with a 5–3 win over Hilldale in Kansas City. Nelson Dean started for the Monarchs and was relieved by William Bell in the ninth inning, and Hilldale got a complete-game win from Phil Cockrell.60 Kansas City broke a 2–2 tie with three runs in the eighth inning (reportedly without hitting the ball out of the infield) on infield singles by Newt Allen, Frank Duncan and Lem Hawkins, plus a walk, an error and a sacrifice.6¡ Attendance was listed as ¡,5¡9.62

October 3, ¡925 — Hilldale Wins 3–¡ in Game Three of World Series Hilldale needed ¡0 innings and ¡4 hits to defeat the Kansas City Monarchs 3–¡ in the third game of the World Series at Kansas City.63 With the game in a scoreless tie in the eighth inning, Hilldale threatened to score, but Jose Mendez, working in relief of Monarchs starter William Bell, pitched out of a bases-loaded jam. The Monarchs then broke the tie in their half of the eighth on Newt Allen’s two-out RBI single, but the lead was short-lived as Mendez gave up an RBI single to George Carr that tied the game ¡–¡ and sent it into extra innings. In the tenth, Judy Johnson won it for Hilldale with two–RBI single.64 Attendance was listed as ¡,880.65 Hilldale led the series 2–¡.

October 4, ¡925 — Hilldale Wins 7–3 in Game Four of World Series In the last game in Kansas City before the World Series moved to Philadelphia, Hilldale took a 3–¡ series-lead with a 7–3 win over the Monarchs before more than 6,000 fans. Nip Winters went the distance for Hilldale, and William Drake also pitched a complete game and took the loss. The score was close going into the ninth inning, when Hilldale got four insurance runs to lead 7–2.66

October 8, ¡925 — Hilldale Wins 2–¡ in Game Five of World Series Hilldale won the fifth game of the best-of-nine World Series with the Kansas City Monarchs 2–¡ before more than 4,000 fans at the Baker Bowl, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Rube Currie threw a complete game for Hilldale, and Kansas City starter Cli› Bell needed relief from Nelson Dean. George Carr’s solo home run broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning, and Hilldale added another run when Biz Mackey doubled and scored. The Monarchs got one run back in the sixth, but that was all Currie would allow. After this win, Hilldale led the series, 4–¡.67 Among those in the stands were the Homestead Grays and many players from the Eastern Colored League.68

October ¡0, ¡925 — Hilldale Wins World Series In cold weather that kept the crowd down to between 700 and ¡,200 fans, Hilldale won the World Series with a 5–2 defeat of the Kansas City Monarchs at Baker Field in Philadelphia. Both pitchers, Phil Cockrell for Hilldale and William Bell for Kansas City,

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threw complete games. Hilldale scored one run o› Bell in each of the fourth and fifth innings, added two in the sixth, and capped the scoring with Biz Mackey’s seventhinning homer.69 Hilldale won the best-of-nine games series 5–¡.

¡926 January 6–8, ¡926 — Joint Meeting of Eastern Colored League and Negro National League The Eastern Colored League and the Negro National League met at the Christian Street YMCA in Philadelphia for their annual league meetings. In NNL business, the Memphis Red Sox were dropped from the league, and it was agreed to retain the Birmingham Black Barons franchise though its owner Joe Rush had given up the club. The ECL added a team in Newark, which would be known as the Stars and would take the place of the Wilmington Potomacs, who dropped out of the league in the middle of the ¡925 season (see 2¡ July ¡925). In addition, the leagues agreed to a monthly salary cap of $3,000 per club. Attending were Rube Foster (American Giants), J.L. Wilkinson and Q.J. Gilmore (Kansas City Monarchs), G.B. Keys and L.A. Brown (St. Louis Stars), Warner Jewell (Indianapolis ABCs), L.B. Derrick (Detroit), Ed Bolden (Hilldale), Nat Strong (Brooklyn Royal Giants), James Keenan (Lincoln Giants), Alejandro Pompez (Cuban Stars), Charles Spedden (Baltimore Black Sox), and Charles Johnson (Atlantic City).¡

May ¡, ¡926 — Opening Day of the Negro National League Six of the eight NNL clubs opened play on May ¡.* The American Giants defeated the Detroit Stars 7–5 at Schorling’s Park in Chicago. Rube Currie started for the American Giants and was relieved by Webster McDonald, and Harry Kenyon took the mound for Detroit and went the distance, taking the loss. Edgar Wesley homered for Detroit in the sixth inning. In other action, a new franchise, the Cleveland Elites, opened play at their home park, Hooper Field, with an 8–7 win over the Indianapolis ABCs, and the Kansas City Monarchs opened their season with a 7–2 win over the St. Louis Stars in Kansas City. Monarchs third baseman Newt Joseph hit a grand slam in the six-run first inning.2

May ¡–¡3, ¡926 — Opening Day of the Eastern Colored League Four of the eight ECL clubs were scheduled in opening day action on May ¡. The Cubans Stars visited the Baltimore Black Sox and won 7–4. Hilldale and the Atlantic *Not clear when the Dayton Marcos and the Cuban Stars opened play. The Chicago Defender (22 May ¡926) reported the Cuban Stars “debut” in a 6–2 loss to the Monarchs at Muehlebach Stadium in Kansas City, with a May ¡5 dateline.

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City Bacharach Giants went ¡0 innings before doubles by George Carr and Judy Johnson gave Hilldale a 5–4 win at Hilldale Park in Darby, Pa. The Lincoln Giants opened their season on May 2 before more than 6,000 fans at the Catholic Protectory Oval in New York, where Hilldale swept the Giants, ¡4–8 and ¡7–¡.3 The scheduled openers for the three remaining ECL clubs were reported as: Harrisburg Giants against the Bacharach Giants on May 7; the Newark Stars, in their first league game, against the Baltimore Black Sox on May 8; and the Brooklyn Royal Giants vs. Hilldale on May ¡3.4

May 20, ¡926 — Harrisburg Giants Score Six Times in Ninth to Win 8–7 Trailing 6–2 to start the ninth inning, the Harrisburg Giants rallied to score six times o› Hilldale starting pitcher Charlie Henry on their way to an 8–7 win at Hilldale Park. Relief pitcher Henry Gillespie got Harrisburg within one run with a basesloaded triple and then came in to score the tying run when a pick-o› throw by Biz Mackey went astray. Two more runs made it 8–6. Hilldale got one back in the bottom of the ninth, but that was all as Harrisburg held on to win.5 After the Harrisburg ninth inning rally started, fans who had left the ballpark and were making their way to the streetcar heard the roar of the crowd and returned to see Harrisburg’s comeback, the Chicago Defender reported.6

July 5, ¡926 — Kansas City Monarchs Win First-Half Negro National League Pennant The Kansas City Monarchs clinched the first-half pennant* in a series with the Cuban Stars. In the first game of a doubleheader the Monarchs won ¡2–2,7 led by Cristobal Torriente, who went 5 for 5. In the second game, the Monarchs won 5–3. Kansas City (35–¡2) finished ahead of the second-place Detroit Stars (34–¡7).8

July ¡0, ¡926 — Newark Stars Fold The African-American press reported in the July ¡0 editions that Newark Stars manager Andy Harris announced that the club had dropped out of the Eastern Colored League and that the players had been released. The Stars, who played home games at the International League David’s Stadium in Newark, N.J., had a ¡–¡0 record when they disbanded.9

July ¡3, ¡926 — Rube Currie Throws No-Hitter In the second game of a doubleheader, Rube Currie threw a no-hitter as his American Giants beat the Dayton Marcos ¡6–0.¡0 Currie struck out four batters and got early run support when the American Giants scored seven times in the third inning.¡¡ *The Kansas City Call (9 July ¡926) suggested that the Monarchs needed to win only the first game to clinch the first half NNL pennant.

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July ¡9, ¡926 — Dayton Marcos Quit Negro National League On July ¡9,* the Dayton Marcos dropped out of the Negro National League. There were reports that the Cuban Stars would follow the Marcos and drop out also, but the Stars remained in the NNL and finished the season. The following week, however, the Cleveland Elites dropped out of the NNL, leaving the league with six teams.¡2

September 2, ¡926 — Rube Foster Judged to Be Insane Negro National League founder and president Rube Foster was arrested at the end of August after displaying violent behavior. He was ruled by a Chicago judge to be insane and was admitted to an asylum at Kankakee, Ill. In late July, it had been reported that Foster had given up his managerial role with the American Giants and was resting.¡3 In one account of Foster’s mental breakdown, Rube’s wife, Sarah, said that he had been su›ering “delusions” about pitching in the World Series.¡4 George Sweatt, an American Giant outfielder who lived upstairs from the Fosters, recalled hearing Mrs. Foster yelling and, after inquiring about the problem, being told by Mrs. Foster that Rube was acting erratically and that she needed help from the police.¡5 Foster would remain at Kankakee until his death in December ¡930 (see 9 December ¡930). Dr. G.B. Keys, NNL vice president, became NNL president in Foster’s absence.¡6

September 6, ¡926 — Willie Foster Throws One-Hitter In the first game of a doubleheader at Schorling’s Park in Chicago, American Giants pitcher Willie Foster threw a one-hitter and defeated the Indianapolis ABCs 2–¡.¡7

September ¡2, ¡926 — American Giants Win Second-Half Negro National League Pennant The American Giants, who had finished Negro National League play earlier in the week, were pushed into first place and won the second half NNL pennant when the St. Louis Stars defeated the Kansas City Monarchs 9–3.¡8 The Stars scored five runs in the eighth inning and got a complete game from Eggie Hensley.¡9 The Kansas City Monarchs, who won the first-half pennant, would start a playo› with American Giants for the NNL championship on September ¡8.

September ¡8, ¡926 — Kansas City Wins 4–3 in Game One of Negro National League Playo› The Kansas City Monarchs defeated the American Giants 4–3 in the first game of the best-of-nine Negro National League championship series at Muehlebach Stadium in Kansas City. The American Giants, trailing 3–0 to start the sixth inning, rallied to *The Chicago Defender (24 July ¡926) di›ers with other sources cited here and reported that this happened on July ¡8.

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tie the game at 3–3, but the Kansas City Monarchs took the lead back in the bottom of the sixth when Cristobal Torriente doubled o› American Giants starter Willie Foster and came around to score on Dink Mothel’s single. Monarchs starting pitcher Chet Brewer was relieved by Bullet Rogan.20 Attendance was approximately ¡,600.2¡

September ¡9, ¡926 — Kansas City Wins 6–5 in Game Two of Negro National League Playo› The Kansas City Monarchs took a 2–¡ lead in the best-of-nine-games playo› for the Negro National League title against the American Giants with a 6–5 win in Kansas City. Trailing 5–4 in the sixth inning, Monarch Dink Mothel singled, moved up on Newt Joseph’s sacrifice, and then scored on a single by Lem Hawkins to tie the game at 5–5. Hawkins then scored to give the Monarchs a 6–5 lead on Bullet Rogan’s infield single.22 Hawkins got himself into scoring position by taking second on the throw to the plate and then stealing third.23

September 20, ¡926 — Kansas City Wins 5–0 in Game Three of Negro National League Playo› The Kansas City Monarchs made it three wins in a row with a 5–0 win over the American Giants in the NNL playo›s in Kansas City.24 Kansas City jumped to a 3–0 lead in the first inning o› American Giants starter Webster McDonald when Cristobal Torriente singled, Hurley McNair reached on an error, and both scored on a triple by Dink Mothel. Newt Joseph followed with an RBI single scoring McNair with the third run of the inning, which was enough for Monarchs starting pitcher Chet Brewer, who kept the American Giants scoreless and allowed just five hits.25

September 2¡, ¡926 — American Giants Win 4–3 in Game Four of Negro National League Playo› After dropping the first three games of the Negro National League playo› with the Kansas City Monarchs, the American Giants finally won a game 4–3 in Kansas City. With the scored tied at 2–2 in the eighth inning, the American Giants capitalized on walks to George Sweatt and Dave Malarcher when pitcher Rube Currie doubled in both runners for a 4–2 lead. The American Giants used two pitchers, Willie Foster and Currie, and the Monarchs threw Cli› Bell, Nelson Dean and the veteran Jose Mendez. Mendez, who was in his last season in the Negro Leagues, struck out three batters in the ninth inning, after which Kansas City fans gave him a standing ovation, the Chicago Defender reported.26

September 25, ¡926 — Kansas City Wins ¡¡–5 in Game Five of Negro National League Playo› The Kansas City Monarchs took a 4–¡ series-lead with an ¡¡–5 win over the American Giants in Chicago. After this game, the Monarchs needed just one victory in the

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best-of-nine series to win the NNL championship.27 American Giants starter Willie Foster didn’t survive the fourth inning when three errors, a single, and a triple sent reliever George Harney to the mound. Harney managed to get the Giants out of the inning but not before the Monarchs had scored six times.28 Bullet Rogan pitched for the Monarchs.29

September 26, ¡926 — American Giants Win 2–0 in Game Six of Negro National League Playo› Down 4–¡ and facing elimination in the best-of-nine series, the American Giants defeated the Kansas City Monarchs 2–0 behind the two-hit pitching of Rube Currie in Chicago. The American Giants scored one run each in the second and third innings30 on Stanford Jackson’s RBI single and on a fluke play when Jelly Gardner was hit in the head by Newt Allen’s throw while trying to reach third base, and came in to score the second American Giants run when the ball bounded away.3¡ Chet Brewer went the distance, taking the loss for the Monarchs.32

September 26, ¡926 — Bacharach Giants Win Eastern Colored League Pennant The Atlantic City Bacharach Giants won the Eastern Colored League pennant with a record of 34–20,* followed by the Harrisburg Giants in second place, and Hilldale in third. The ECL season had originally been scheduled to end on September ¡5, but the league met late in the year and extended the schedule until September 26 in order to make up cancellations.33 The Bacharach Giants won ¡4 straight league games on their way to the pennant, the Baltimore Afro American reported.34 The ECL champion would meet the American Giants, eventual winner of the NNL playo›, for the interleague championship.

September 28, ¡926 — American Giants Win 4–3 in Game Seven of Negro National League Playo› Originally scheduled for September 27 but rained out, the seventh game of the NNL playo›s went to the American Giants 4–3 over the Kansas City Monarchs.35 The Monarchs, who needed just one win to clinch the NNL title, nearly won the series in the ninth inning when, trailing 2–¡, they scored twice on Lem Hawkins two-out double to take a 3–2 lead. But the American Giants loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth on two walks and an infield single by Dave Malarcher, and Monarchs pitcher William Bell didn’t get any help from his fielders when Hawkins misplayed a Bobby Williams grounder, allowing John Hines to score the tying run, and catcher Frank Duncan’s passed ball brought in George Sweatt with the winning run.36 *The Baltimore Afro American (25 September ¡926) reported the Bacharachs record as 34 –2¡, which was still good enough to win the ECL pennant.

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September 29, ¡926 — American Giants Win Negro National League Pennant The American Giants swept a doubleheader from the Kansas City Monarchs ¡–0 and 5–0 to win the Negro National League championship playo› 5–4.37 Willie Foster, in an iron-man performance, won both games for the American Giants, 38 and his Monarchs counterpart, Bullet Rogan, lost both ends of the doubleheader.39 The second win of the day made it four consecutive wins for the American Giants, who had once trailed 4–¡ in the best-of-nine games series. After winning the NNL, the American Giants would play the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants, winners of the Eastern Colored League in the World Series.

October ¡, ¡926 — 3–3 Tie in Game One of World Series The American Giants and the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants met for the first game of the World Series at Bacharach Park in Atlantic City, but darkness ended the game in the ninth inning with the score tied 3–3. Trailing 3–2 in the seventh, the Bacharach Giants tied it on Luther Farrell’s solo home run but missed an opportunity to take the lead as Dick Lundy was thrown out attempting to steal second base just before Farrell’s shot. Rube Currie of the American Giants and Arthur “Rats” Henderson of the Bacharachs were the starting pitchers. Henderson went the distance, and Currie was relieved by Willie Foster. Press reports estimated the attendance at around 5,000.40 The o‡cial figures listed 3,¡59 customers.4¡

October 2, ¡926 — American Giants Win 7–6 in Game Two of World Series The American Giants took a ¡–0 lead in the World Series with a 7–6 win against the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants at Bacharach Park in Atlantic City. The Chicago club scored all seven of their runs in the second inning, knocking Bacharachs starting pitcher Claude “Red” Grier out of the game. Atlantic City reliever Hubert Lockhart kept the American Giants o› the scoreboard after the seven-run seventh inning, but the damage was done. American Giants starter George Harney was relieved by Webster McDonald.42 O‡cial attendance for the game was listed as ¡,956.43

October 3, ¡926 — Red Grier Throws World Series No-Hitter Atlantic City Bacharachs Giants pitcher Claude “Red” Grier threw a no-hit shutout in the third game of the World Series in Baltimore to even the series ¡–¡. With Grier’s performance and two big innings, the game was never in doubt as the Bacharachs scored four times in the first and added six more runs in the sixth o› American Giants starter Webster McDonald, for the ¡0–0 win. Though Grier kept the American Giants hitless, he walked some batters, but excellent defense from his infield made sure that no runner passed third base.44 Frank Young of the Chicago Defender suggested that Grier’s -

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no-hitter owed a lot to sparkling infield plays by Oliver Marcelle, Dick Lundy and Ramondo Garcia.45 O‡cial attendance for this game was 2,857.46

October 4, ¡926 — 4–4 Tie in Game Four of World Series For the second time in four days, darkness ended a World Series game between the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants and the American Giants after nine innings with the scored tied. The Bacharachs scored all of their runs o› American Giants starter Willie Foster in a four-run fifth inning, and the American Giants manufactured a run in the seventh inning to tie the game 4–4, on two bunt singles and a passed ball by Bacharachs catcher William Jones. Foster and Bacharachs starter Arthur “Rats” Henderson both pitched complete games.47 The o‡cial attendance in Philadelphia was announced at 2,¡2¡.48

October 5, ¡926 — Atlantic City Wins 7–5 in Game Five of World Series The Atlantic City Bacharach Giants took a 2–¡ lead in the World Series by defeating the American Giants 7–5 at the Baker Bowl, home of the National League Philadelphia Phillies. The turning point of the game came in the home fifth, when Atlantic City scored six times, knocking out American Giants starting pitcher Rube Currie for reliever Willie Powell. Alonzo “Hooks” Mitchell went the distance for the Bacharachs.49 O‡cial attendance was reported as ¡,434.50

October 6, ¡926 — Atlantic City Wins 6–4 in Game Six of World Series The Atlantic City Bacharach Giants beat the visiting American Giants 6–4 in Atlantic City to take a 3–¡ lead in the World Series. Starting pitchers were Red Grier for the Bacharachs and Willie Powell for the American Giants. After the game, the clubs left for Chicago, where they would finish the series.5¡ O‡cial attendance was ¡,¡86.52 The Bacharach Giants led the series 3–¡, with two ties.

October 9, ¡926 — American Giants Win 5–4 in Game Seven of World Series The hometown American Giants beat the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants 5–4 to trim the Bacharachs lead in the series to just one game. The American Giants scored three times in the fifth inning, including two on George Sweatt’s triple, to take a 4–¡ lead that held up until the eighth inning, when Atlantic City tied it 4–4 with an RBItriple from Chaney White and a sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the ninth, American Giants shortstop Dave Malarcher singled, stole second, and scored the game-winning run on John Hines’s single.53 Willie Foster of the American Giants and Hubert Lockhart for the Bacharachs were the starting pitchers. Rats Henderson pitched in relief of Lockhart.54 O‡cial attendance was reported at 2,398.55

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October ¡0, ¡926 — Atlantic City Wins 3–0 in Game Eight of World Series Rats Henderson gave up just three hits while leading the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants to a 3–0 win over the American Giants in Chicago in the eighth game of the World Series. Chaney White’s bases-clearing single o› American Giants starting pitcher George Harney drove in all three Bacharach Giants runs. After the game, Atlantic City led the best-of-nine series 4–2, with two ties.56 O‡cial attendance for the game was reported as 3,620.57

October ¡¡, ¡926 — American Giants Win 6–3 in Game Nine of World Series The American Giants defeated the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants 6–3 at Schorling’s Park in Chicago and trimmed the Bacharach Giants series-lead to 4–3. Rube Currie threw a complete game and got the win for the American Giants, and Red Grier took the loss for the Bacharach Giants. Atlantic City, trailing 6–0 to start the eighth inning, rallied to score three times, but that was all Currie would allow.58 The reported attendance was just 905.59

October ¡3, ¡926 — American Giants Win ¡3–0 in Game ¡0 of World Series The American Giants evened the championship series at 4–4 with a ¡3–0 win over the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants at Schorling’s Park in Chicago. Willie Powell went the distance for the American Giants in the shutout-win, and Bacharachs starter Rats Henderson was hit hard in the fourth inning for seven runs before being relieved by Roy Roberts. The American Giants continued to hit and scored four times o› Roberts in the fifth inning.60 Reported attendance was 733.6¡

October ¡4, ¡926 — American Giants Win World Series The American Giants won the deciding game of the World Series against the Bacharach Giants ¡–0 behind the complete-game pitching of Willie Foster at Schorling’s Park in Chicago. This was the third straight win for the American Giants. Foster pitched out of two bases-loaded jams, and the game remained scoreless until the ninth inning, when Jelly Gardner got things started for the American Giants with a single, moved to second base on Dave Malaracher’s sacrifice, and came in to score the game-winning run on James Thompson’s base hit.62 The reported attendance was ¡,089.63

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¡927 January ¡¡–¡3, ¡927 —Eastern Colored League and Negro National League Meeting in Detroit On Monday, January ¡¡, the Eastern Colored League and the Negro National League held their annual meetings and followed these with a two-day joint meeting at the YMCA in Detroit. Among the business at the ECL meeting was the election of a new president, Isaac Nutter, an attorney from Atlantic City, N.J. Nutter’s election was significant because he was the first president in the ECL’s five-year history who was not also a team owner. In other news, Lincoln Giants owner James Keenan reversed an earlier decision not to play in the ECL in ¡927, and his club was readmitted to the league. Keenan was also elected as ECL secretary-treasurer. Present at the joint meeting from the ECL were Ed Bolden (Hilldale), C.W. Strothers (Harrisburg), George Rossiter (Baltimore Black Sox), Nat Strong (Brooklyn Royal Giants), Alejandro Pompez (Cuban Stars), and Jim Keenan (Lincoln Giants). The NNL was represented by G.B. Keys (St. Louis, and temporary NNL president in Rube Foster’s absence), Richard Kent and L.A. Brown (St. Louis), J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs), John Schorling (American Giants), Steve Pierce (Detroit Stars), and Bingo DeMoss (Indianapolis ABCs).¡ Among the accomplishments at the joint meeting was the introduction of a $2,700 monthlysalary cap and the adoption of a plan to use umpires under the direction of the leagues for the ¡927 World Series.2 In addition, the ECL instituted a ¡4-player limit per club.3

January 27 and 28, ¡927 — Independent President Elected at Negro National League Meeting The Negro National League met at the Pine Street YMCA in St. Louis and elected William C. Hueston, a judge from Gary, Ind., as president. After the Eastern Colored League’s election of Isaac Nutter, the two elite black leagues had presidents who for the first time who didn’t have a financial interest in any of the member clubs. Other business included the acceptance of the Memphis Red Sox and the Birmingham Black Barons into the NNL and the transfer of the Indianapolis ABCs franchise to a group from Cleveland that would call the team the “Hornets.” The Indianapolis franchise, whose owner, Warner Jewell, didn’t attend the meeting, had its roster absorbed by the Cleveland franchise with the exception of Bingo DeMoss, who was given the option to sign with any of the league clubs because of his veteran status. The NNL also adopted an agreement with the Negro Southern League according to which the two leagues would respect player contracts and the NSL would get preferential treatment when it came to scheduling exhibition games. In addition to Hueston’s election, R.S. Lewis, an owner of the Memphis Red Sox, was elected vice president, Q.J. Gilmore was reelected secretary-treasurer, and interim–President G.B. Keys was made chairman. Among those present at the meeting were John Schorling (American Giants), J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas

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City Monarchs and proxy for the Cuban Stars), Steve Pierce (Detroit Stars), Richard Kent and L.A. Brown (St. Louis Stars), Bruce Brady (Cleveland), Burt M. Roddy (Negro Southern League president), and Q.J. Gilmore (NNL secretary). After the meeting, the NNL comprised the American Giants, the Kansas City Monarchs, the Detroit Stars, the St. Louis Stars, the Cleveland Hornets, the Memphis Red Sox, the Birmingham Black Barons and the Cuban Stars.4

March 9, ¡927 — Philadelphia Royal Giants Tour Asia A team drawn from Lon Goodwin’s Philadelphia Royal Giants, which had just finished playing in the California Winter League, sailed from Los Angeles for Japan on March 9 to begin a tour of Asia that would last nearly four months.5 The team, including Biz Mackey (Hilldale), Frank Duncan (Kansas City Monarchs), Rap Dixon (Harrisburg Giants), and Andy Cooper (Detroit Stars), along with some Los Angeles-area players, traveled aboard the Japanese ocean liner La Plata.6 Goodwin’s club began play in Tokyo on April ¡ with a 2–0 win against the Mita club. The club remained in Japan until May ¡7 when they traveled to Korea for games from May ¡9 to May 22 before sailing back to the United States.7 The team compiled a record of 26–0–¡ in Japan and Korea,8 and there were reports that the club stopped in the Philippines and Hawaii for additional games before returning to the United States.9 Those players on the trip who were under contract to NNL and ECL clubs and missed the start of the league season because of the tour were expected to face a five-year suspension by the leagues. Before the tour left, Lonnie Goodwin defended the contract jumpers and explained to the press that because salaries had been reduced to unfair levels in the two leagues, the players were justified in accepting more lucrative o›ers.¡0 Goodwin’s club arrived back in Los Angeles on July 8,¡¡ and despite the talk of a lengthy suspension by the ECL and the NNL the players, after a much shorter suspension, returned to their respective clubs to finish the season.¡2

April 23–25, ¡927 — Opening Day of the Negro National League Six of the eight NNL clubs were scheduled to open league play on April 23. Opening at their home field, Schorling’s Park, the Chicago American Giants defeated the Detroit Stars 2–¡, scoring both runs in a two-out first-inning rally o› Detroit starter William Drake. After that Drake settled down and finished with a five-hitter, but the two runs were all the run support Chicago’s Willie Foster would need as he held Detroit to just three hits and one run, on a Turkey Stearnes RBI-triple in the sixth inning. At Memphis, the Kansas City Monarchs beat the Red Sox 6–0 on Bullet Rogan’s threehitter. Steel Arm Tyler started for Memphis but needed relief from Hulan Stamps. On opening day in St. Louis, a game between the hometown Stars and the Cleveland Hornets¡3 was cancelled because of poor weather, and the league opener was played on Sunday April 24. The Stars trailed 6–3 to start the eighth but rallied to score four times on three hits, a walk, and three Cleveland errors for the win, 7–6.¡4 On April 25, the Birmingham Black Barons hosted the Cuban Stars¡5 before an opening day crowd believed

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to be around ¡¡,000. Sam Streeter of the Barons faced Edolfo Diaz in the ¡0-inning 5–4 Birmingham win.¡6 Before opening-day play, it was announced that the NNL would use African-American umpires for league games and that these umpires would be supplied by the home team.¡7 Other league news included reports that the NNL would use a baseball made by Wilson, that the umpires would wear a league uniform, and that home teams would wear white.¡8

May ¡, ¡927 — Opening Day of Eastern Colored League After rain washed out the originally scheduled opening day on April 30, six of the seven ECL clubs played the first of what was scheduled to be a ¡20-game season on May ¡. In New York, the Lincoln Giants swept a doubleheader 7–6 and 6–5 from Hilldale before an estimated 5,000 fans. Hilldale threw Nip Winters in the first game and Phil Cockrell in the second,¡9 and Lincoln sent Connie Rector and Willie Gisentaner to the mound.20At David’s Stadium in Newark, home of the International League Newark Bears, the Cuban Stars hosted the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants.2¡ The Bacharachs swept the Cuban Stars 3–2 and 7–4.22 The Baltimore Black Sox met the Harrisburg Giants, and the two teams split a doubleheader at Westport Park in Baltimore. In the first game, the Black Sox won ¡0–8, and Harrisburg took the second game 6–5 on an Oscar Charleston home run.23 The seventh ECL club, the Brooklyn Royal Giants, were scheduled to open their season on May 5 against Hilldale.24*

May 9, ¡927 — Martin Dihigo Homers Three Times The Cuban Stars played “home” games in several cities in the ¡927 season. In addition to David’s Stadium in Newark, N.J., and other parks in New Jersey, the Cuban Stars also played some home dates in Richmond, Virginia, where they met Hilldale on May 9. The Cuban Stars won ¡2–7, led by Martin Dihigo, who homered three times and singled in four times at bat. Two of his homers were grand slams, and he drove in nine of the Stars’ ¡2 runs.25 Dihigo’s were the only home runs hit that day.26

May ¡5, ¡927 — Laymon Yokely Throws No-Hitter Baltimore Black Sox pitcher Laymon Yokely threw a no-hitter in an 8–0 win over the Cuban Stars27 in the second game of a doubleheader. Yokely also made a relief appearance in the sixth inning of the first game with the score tied at six. The Black Sox went on to win 9–8.28 The no-hitter was Yokely’s second strong start of the new season. He was also impressive a week earlier when he threw a two-hitter against Hilldale and won 4–2.29 Yokely’s pitching motion was described by one reporter as submarine-style.30

*The Philadelphia Tribune (¡5 May ¡927) reported that the Brooklyn Royal Giants opened with an 8-¡ loss to Hilldale at Hilldale Park, Darby, Pa. Not clear from this report if the game was played on May 5.

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May ¡9 and 20, ¡927 — Montalvo Player-Rights Controversy The Negro National League met in Chicago and reasserted its claim to Estaban Montalvo in one of the most publicized player-rights controversies in Negro Leagues history.3¡ The conflict began when Montalvo signed with James Keenan’s Lincoln Giants (ECL) that spring after sitting out the ¡926 season in what Keenan described as a salary dispute with the Cuban Stars (NNL) owner Augustin Molina. Soon after Montalvo’s signing by the Lincoln Giants, the NNL issued protests that the rights to Montalvo were protected under their reserve clause, and they threatened the player with a fiveyear suspension if he didn’t return to the Cuban Stars. Keenan countered by stating that he had not seen Montalvo on the reserve list that spring and therefore had a right to sign the player. When the NNL met in Chicago in May and decided to uphold its claim to Montalvo, NNL president Judge Hueston issued a statement explaining that Montalvo’s rights were still the property of the NNL and that the Lincoln Giants were in violation of an interleague agreement to respect contracts. Initially, ECL President Isaac Nutter supported Keenan’s position but, as pressure grew from the NNL and within the ECL, Nutter sided with the NNL and agreed that it was necessary for Keenan to relinquish his claim to Montalvo. When confronted with this at a June ECL meeting, Keenan refused to comply, and consequently the Lincoln Giants were expelled from the ECL.32 After this, Keenan booked the Lincoln Giants as an independent club and, in what was reported to be their first game after leaving the ECL, Montalvo homered against Santop’s Bronchos33* In August Ed Bolden was made secretary-treasurer of the ECL, a position previously held by Keenan.34

June 2¡, ¡927 — Bacharach Giants Park Is Shut Down It was reported in April that two members of the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants board of directors, Hammond Daniels and John Dykes, were awarded about $7,000 from the club after claiming that they were owed nearly $¡4,000. The Bacharach Giants were believed to have a total $30,000 in debt. The club’s financial problems continued, and by June 2¡, a scheduled game with Hilldale was cancelled and the Bacharachs park was closed after the team failed to pay the property tax. Soon after, a group comprising Tom Jackson, Reginald Weeks, Duncan Weeks and William Weeks took control, incorporated the club and paid the $5,000 in back-property taxes, and the Bacharach Giants resumed play.35 According to one report, the ballpark had been closed by local Congressman Bacharach, who paid the $¡,000 annual lease, and allowed the Bacharachs to play there on the condition that they paid the property taxes.36

June 27, ¡927 — Satchel Paige Ejected A game in St. Louis between the hometown Stars and the Birmingham Black Barons was cut short when a fight broke out in the second inning after Stars catcher Henry Williams was hit by a Satchel Paige pitch. This was the second time that day that Paige *This independent club was run by former Lincoln Giants and Hilldale star Louis Santop.

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had hit a Stars batter; the first was Mitch Murray, and that had also sparked an altercation. After police broke up the melee, umpire Billy Donaldson ejected Paige from the game, but Birmingham refused to continue without him and a forfeit was awarded to St. Louis.37

July 6, ¡927 — American Giants Win Negro National League First-Half Pennant In a game played on the last day of the first half whose winner would claim the NNL first-half pennant, Willie Foster threw a five-hitter to lead the American Giants to a 4–0 win over the Kansas City Monarchs. The Monarchs, who forced this deciding game by winning three of the first four games in the series, sent Bullet Rogan to the mound. The American Giants got a first-inning triple from Dave Malarcher and took a ¡–0 lead and added another in the fifth to make it 2–0. In the sixth inning, the American Giants scored two more runs when John Hines’s hit with Pythias Russ on base was misplayed by Monarch outfielder Wade Johnston.38 Play in the NNL would continue in the second half without the Cleveland Hornets, who reportedly had severe financial problems and couldn’t sustain the league schedule.39

July ¡0, ¡927 — Bacharach Giants Win Eastern Colored League First-Half Pennant The ECL first half concluded, and the standings showed the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants (29–¡7) in first place, followed by the Baltimore Black Sox (29–¡7), the Cuban Stars (24–¡9), the Harrisburg Giants (25–20), Hilldale (¡7–28), and the Brooklyn Royal Giants (¡0–2¡).40 The Lincoln Giants, who started the season in the ECL, had been thrown out of the league (see ¡9 May ¡927).

July 3¡, ¡927 — Joe Strong Throws No-Hitter It took ¡¡ innings for the Baltimore Black Sox to beat Hilldale 2–¡ in Baltimore even though Black Sox pitcher Joe Strong threw a no-hitter. Strong struck out eight of the 35 batters that he faced while giving up just one walk and hitting a batter. Despite his hitless performance Strong was on the losing end of a ¡–0 game until the Black Sox scored once in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie and added another in the ¡¡th for the win. Bill Campbell also pitched a complete game and took the loss for Hilldale.4¡

August ¡4, ¡927 — Homestead Grays’ First Game in New York The Homestead Grays made their first New York appearance at the Catholic Protectory Oval in the Bronx and defeated the Lincoln Giants 8–6 in the fourth of a scheduled five-game series. Lefty Williams pitched for the Grays and was opposed by Willie Gisentaner. The second game of a doubleheader, which was intended to be a tribute for former Lincoln Giants and current Grays pitcher Smokey Joe Williams, was rained

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out. Estaban Montalvo, the player who was the source of the interleague controversy earlier in the season (see ¡9 May ¡927), moved in from his normal outfield position to play first base in the first game.42 Neither club was a‡liated with a league.

August ¡4, ¡927 — Bacharach Giants Defeat Harrisburg 20–5 The Atlantic City Bacharach Giants knocked out 23 hits in a 20–5 win over the Harrisburg Giants at Bacharach Park in Atlantic City. The Bacharachs scored in every inning except the first and put up seven runs in the second inning alone. Harrisburg used three pitchers in the blowout, Daltie Cooper, his brother Sam Cooper, and Oscar Charleston. The Bacharach Giants threw Luther Farrell.43

August ¡4, ¡927 — Willie Powell Throws No-Hitter Only four Memphis Red Sox batters reached first base, three on walks and one on an error, as Chicago American Giants pitcher Willie Powell threw a no-hitter at Schorling’s Park in the 3–0 American Giants win. The Giants got the scoring started with two runs in the second inning.44

September ¡4, ¡927 — Eastern Colored League Season Ends Controversially Soon after the season ended, ECL president Isaac Nutter called a meeting in Philadelphia to consider the argument of Harrisburg Giants owner C.W. Strothers, who believed that his club had won the second-half pennant. Strothers asserted that Harrisburg deserved another win because a forfeited game had not been included in the standings. Strothers did not attend the meeting, Nutter did not recognize the contested forfeit, and Atlantic City was declared ECL second-half champ. The final standings showed that Atlantic City finished at 25–¡8 and Harrisburg at ¡6–¡2.45 It was reported that the Baltimore Black Sox failed to appear for a game in Harrisburg scheduled for September ¡.46 There was no ECL playo› because the Bacharach Giants also won the first-half pennant.

September ¡9, ¡927 — American Giants Win 5–0 in First Game of Negro National League Playo› The Chicago American Giants, with Willie Foster pitching, beat the Birmingham Black Barons 5–0 in the first game of the best-of-seven Negro National League playo› at Rickwood Field in Birmingham.47 Many of the American Giants arrived in Birmingham that afternoon, and the game was delayed until the taxis carrying the players arrived at the field. As a result, this game went only eight innings before being called o› for darkness.48 The American Giants won the NNL first-half pennant and Birmingham won the second half.

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September 20, ¡927 — American Giants Win 5–4 in Game Two Game of Negro National League Playo› Trailing 5–4 in the ninth inning, the American Giants rallied to score six times and win ¡0–5 over the Birmingham Black Barons in the second game of the NNL playo›s.49 A walk and two bunt singles loaded the bases and prompted a pitching change in the American Giant ninth. Robert Poindexter came in to relieve Harry Salmon and gave up a single to Steel Arm Davis to tie the game, and then Poindexter unraveled as William Rogers hit a bases-clearing triple and Pythias Russ took him deep with a tworun homer.50

September 24, ¡927 — American Giants Win 6–4 in Game Three of Negro National League Championship The Chicago American Giants took a 3–0 lead in the best-of-seven NNL championship series with the Birmingham Black Barons with a 6–4 win. Steel Arm Davis got the scoring started for the American Giants with a first-inning homer,5¡ and then, in the third inning, the American Giants manufactured a run when Jim Brown singled, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice by Dave Malarcher. After Davis was intentionally walked, Brown scored on a double steal. In the fourth, the American Giants broke a 2–2 tie with three runs.52

September 25, ¡927 — American Giants Win Negro National League Championship The American Giants made it four straight and won the NNL pennant with a 6–2 win over the Birmingham Black Barons. In the first inning, the American Giants scored four times on four singles and a triple by Larry Brown o› Birmingham starter Sam Streeter, knocking him out of the game. Satchel Paige, who relieved Streeter, quieted the American Giants bats and allowed just two runs the rest of the way, and the Black Barons managed just two runs o› American Giants pitcher Willie Powell.53 The American Giants won the series 4–0.

October ¡, ¡927 — American Giants Win 6–2 in First Game of World Series The American Giants broke a ¡–¡ tie in the third inning with three runs on three hits and a hit batter on their way to a 6–2 win in the first game of the World Series with the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants in Chicago. Doubles by starting pitcher Willie Foster and Jim Brown were the big hits of the inning. William Rogers, who was hit with a pitch by Bacharach Giants starting pitcher Luther Farrell, needed stitches. Both Foster, who allowed ¡3 hits but just two runs, and Farrell went the distance.54 As part of the opening-game ceremony, both teams were featured in a parade.55 The American Giants represented the Negro National League, and the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants represented the Eastern Colored League in the best-of-nine games series.

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October 2, ¡927 — American Giants Win ¡¡–¡ in Game Two of World Series The Chicago American Giants proved too much for the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants as they won the second game of the Worlds Series ¡¡–¡ at Schorling’s Park in Chicago. With a 4–0 lead to start the fifth inning, the American Giants loaded the bases o› Bacharach Giants starter Jess Hubbard, and Larry Brown doubled to knock Hubbard out of the game. Hubert Lockhart came in to relieve, and when the inning ended the American Giants had a 9–0 lead. American Giants pitcher Willie Powell allowed just four hits in his complete-game win.56 The American Giants led the series 2–0.

October 3, ¡927 — American Giants Win 7–0 in Game Three of World Series For the second straight game the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants batters struggled as spitball pitcher George Harney threw a four-hit shutout to lead the American Giants to a 7–0 win in the third game of the World Series at Schorling’s Park in Chicago. The Bacharach Giants started Jess Hubbard on the mound for the second consecutive day and again he needed relief, this time from Roy Roberts and Hubert Lockhart.57 The American Giants led the series 3–0.

October 4, ¡927 — American Giants Win 9–¡ in Game Four of World Series The Chicago American Giants made it four-in-a-row with a 9–¡ win over the Bacharach Giants in the fourth game of the World Series in Chicago. Webster McDonald, a submarine-style pitcher, threw a complete-game six-hitter for the American Giants, and the Bacharach Giants pitcher Luther Farrell had di‡culty, especially in the fifth inning when the American Giants scored five times.58 In that inning, the American Giants loaded the bases on a single by Dave Malaracher, a double by Walter Davis and a walk to Pythias Russ, and scored twice when Dick Lundy’s throw to the plate was knocked away from the catcher by Malarcher, allowing Davis to score behind him. A sacrifice fly sent Russ across with the inning’s third run, and three Bacharach Giants errors and a walk combined for another.59 The American Giants led the series 4–0.

October 8, ¡927 — Luther Farrell Pitches No-Hitter in Game Five of World Series Luther Farrell tossed a no-hitter and led the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants to a 3–2 win over the American Giants in a 6∂-inning World Series game that was shortened because of darkness in Atlantic City. The game was a must-win for the Bacharach Giants, down 4–0. They got the scoring started with three runs on four hits in the second inning o› American Giants starter Willie Foster. Despite not hitting safely all game, the American Giants managed to trim the Bacharach Giants lead, scoring once in the fourth inning when Walter Davis reached on an error, stole second and third,

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and then scored on a throwing error. They got another run in the fifth inning when Larry Brown walked, moved to third on a sacrifice and fielder’s choice and scored on another Bacharach Giants error to make it 3–2. After Farrell retired the side in the top of the seventh, the umpires called the game for darkness despite protests by the American Giants, who wanted play to continue.60 The American Giants led the series 4–¡.

October ¡0, ¡927 — Game Six of World Series Ends in ¡–¡ Tie After Ten Innings After rain postponed the sixth game of the World Series for a day, the Chicago American Giants and the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants played ¡0 innings but couldn’t break a ¡–¡ tie before the game was called for darkness. In the fourth inning, Milton Lewis got the Bacharach Giants on the scoreboard with a solo homer o› of Willie Powell, and in the sixth Jim Brown reciprocated by homering o› Hubert Lockhart to tie the score ¡–¡. Lockhart threw a complete game for the Bacharach Giants, and the American Giants used three pitchers, Willie Powell, Buck Miller and George Harney.6¡ The American Giants led the series 4–¡.

October ¡¡, ¡927 — Bacharach Giants Win 8–¡ in Game Seven of World Series The Bacharach Giants trimmed the American Giants series lead to 4–2 with an 8–¡ win in the seventh game of the best-of-nine World Series. Luther Farrell followed his no-hit performance (see 8 October ¡927) with a complete-game victory. American Giants pitcher George Harney also went the distance but was hit hard in the Bacharach Giants five-run fifth inning.62 Chicago Defender journalist Frank A. Young reported that the game was interrupted and police were needed to quiet an altercation that broke out after Bacharach Giants third baseman Oliver Marcelle asked to inspect the contents of Harney’s pocket and the American Giants pitcher objected. Harney, Young said, was known as a spitball pitcher.63 The American Giants led the series 4–2.

October ¡2, ¡927 — Bacharach Giants Win 6–5 in Game Eight of World Series After trailing 4–0 in the best-of-nine-games World Series to the Chicago American Giants, the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants won for the third straight time, 6–5, to move to within one game of the American Giants.64 The game ended controversially when the umpire allowed a Bacharach Giants run to count in the eighth inning despite protests by the American Giants that the runner, Clarence Smith, had run out of the base path. This run gave the Bacharach Giants a 6–5 lead.65 The American Giants led the series 4–3.

October ¡3, ¡927 — American Giants Win World Series The American Giants broke a three-game losing streak in Atlantic City and defeated the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants ¡¡–4 to win the ¡927 World Series. Hubert

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Lockhart for the Bacharach Giants and Willie Powell for the American Giants were the starting pitchers. Willie Foster and Rube Currie threw in relief for the American Giants, and Luther Farrell came in to relieve Lockhart. The game was called for darkness after eight innings.66 The American Giants won the series 5–3, with one tie.

¡928 February 2¡ and 22, ¡928 — Joint Meeting of Eastern Colored League and Negro National League in Philadelphia The Eastern Colored League and the Negro National League met at the YMCA in Philadelphia to discuss plans for the coming season. Before a joint meeting, the leagues met separately, and the NNL reelected William Hueston as president and Q.J. Gilmore as secretary-treasurer. The ECL readmitted James Keenan’s Lincoln Giants (see ¡9 May ¡927) with the condition that Keenan return Estaban Montalvo to the Cuban Stars of the NNL. With the addition of the Lincoln Giants, the ECL planned to open the ¡928 season with Hilldale, the Baltimore Black Sox, the Brooklyn Royal Giants, the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants, the Cuban Stars and the Lincoln Giants as member clubs. The Harrisburg Giants, no longer a part of the ECL, had its players distributed to ECL clubs. The NNL would open the season with the Chicago American Giants, the Kansas City Monarchs, the St. Louis Stars, the Birmingham Black Barons, the Detroit Stars, the Memphis Red Sox, the Cuban Stars and a new franchise, the Cleveland Tigers. Among those attending the joint meeting were Judge Hueston (NNL president), Isaac Nutter (ECL president), J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs), W.E. Trimble (Chicago American Giants), M.C. Barkin and S.M. Terrell (Cleveland Tigers), James Keenan (Lincoln Giants), Nat Strong (Brooklyn Royal Giants), Ike Washington and Tom Jackson (Atlantic City Bacharach Giants), George Rossiter (Baltimore Black Sox), Alejandro Pompez (Cubans Stars, ECL), Ed Bolden (Hilldale), Q.J. Gilmore (NNL secretarytreasurer), Harry St. Clair and R.T. Jackson.¡ The ECL and the NNL agreed to use umpires under the direction of the leagues and to recognize a team’s right to players under contract with a reserve clause.2

March 8, ¡928 — Eastern Colored League Down to Four Teams One day after Nat Strong reportedly3 pulled the Brooklyn Royal Giants out of the Eastern Colored League, Ed Bolden, who had just been reinstated as president of the Hilldale club after recovering from a nervous breakdown, pulled his team out of the league, leaving only four clubs in the ECL: the Baltimore Black Sox, the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants, the Lincoln Giants and the Cuban Stars.4 In his Pittsburgh Courier column, Homestead Grays owner Cum Posey suggested that Strong, whose Brooklyn Royal Giants did not have a home park, was unhappy with the direction of the ECL

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and anticipated the replacement of the $¡50 guarantee for road teams with a less lucrative 35 percent guarantee.5 While explaining his reasons for dropping his a‡liation with the ECL, Bolden complained that some clubs didn’t adhere to the schedule and said that Hilldale had lost $¡8,500 during the ¡927 season.6

April 28–May 5, ¡928 — Opening Day of Negro National League With several black umpires on the umpiring sta›, including Billy Donaldson, Bert Gholston, Caesar Jamison, Chief Cooper and Robert Boone, and with o‡cial NNL baseballs made by A.G. Spalding Sporting Goods and featuring the name of league President William Hueston, six of the eight Negro National League clubs opened play on April 28.7 In Memphis, the hometown Red Sox scored six runs o› Kansas City Monarchs starter Andrew “Lefty” Cooper in the first inning and held on for a 6–3 win.8 The Detroit Stars got ¡7 hits, including six hits in six at bats from Pu› Martin, and defeated the Cleveland Tigers ¡6–8* at the Luna Bowl in Cleveland. Jack Marshall for Detroit and Frank Stevens for Cleveland were the opening day starting pitchers.9 In other action, the St. Louis Stars defeated the Birmingham Black Barons 7–5 in St. Louis,¡0 with a two-run homer by John Henry Russell in the second inning and two more on back-to-back homers in the sixth by George “Mule” Suttles and Wilson Redus.¡¡ The two remaining NNL clubs, the Chicago American Giants and the Cuban Stars,† were scheduled to open the league season on May 5. The Chicago American Giants scored once in the seventh inning to break a 2–2 tie and held on to win 3–2 against the Birmingham Black Barons. Both pitchers, George Harney of the American Giants and Jim Willis of Birmingham, threw complete games,¡2 and Harney helped himself with an RBI single, driving in Pythias Russ with the go-ahead run.¡3

April 29, ¡928 — Opening Day of Eastern Colored League Contrary to reports that it had collapsed, the ECL opened the season with five clubs: the Lincoln Giants, the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants, the Baltimore Black Sox, the Cuban Stars and the Philadelphia Tigers, and four of the five began league play on April 29. The Lincoln Giants won both ends of a doubleheader with the Bacharach Giants in New York, and the Black Sox swept the Cuban Stars in a doubleheader in Baltimore. The Philadelphia Tigers were scheduled to begin play on May 5.¡4 By June, reports of the league’s instability were confirmed, and Baltimore Afro American sportswriter Bill Gibson reported that the league had folded.¡5

May 20, ¡928 — Willie Foster Throws One-Hitter Willie Foster of the Chicago American Giants gave up just one hit in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cubans Stars in Chicago as the Giants won easily ¡2–0. *One report had the Stars winning ¡5–9 (Baltimore Afro American 5 May ¡928). † The Cuban Stars were scheduled to open the NNL season on May 5 in Memphis (Baltimore Afro American, 28 April ¡928; Kansas City Call, 6 April ¡928). None of the papers cited here published a game report.

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The lone Cuban Stars hit came o› the bat of Bienvenido Jimenez,¡6 a single to center field o› Foster’s first pitch of the game.¡7

June 27, ¡928 — Robert Poindexter Pitches a No-Hitter In the second game of a doubleheader, Birmingham Black Barons pitcher Robert Poindexter threw a no-hit shutout in a seven-inning game against the Chicago American Giants.¡8

June 30–July 4, ¡928 — American Giants Win ¡6-Inning Game In the final series of the NNL first half,¡9* the Cleveland Tigers and the Chicago American Giants battled ¡6 innings before Jelly Gardner stole home, giving the Giants a 7–6 win. With the scored tied in the ¡5th inning, the Tigers scored once to take the lead, but the American Giants tied the game again in the bottom of the inning and then, in the ¡6th, won when Gardner took o› from third on a pitch and was called safe by umpire, and former Chicago Cub, Eddie Stack. This was the second attempt to steal home by the American Giants in that inning; Dave Malarcher was thrown out just before Gardner’s successful steal. Buck Miller pitched all ¡6 innings for the American Giants, and Cleveland used three pitchers.20

July 4, ¡928 — St. Louis Stars Wins Negro National League First-Half Pennant The Fourth of July marked the end of the NNL first-half schedule, and the St. Louis Stars were declared the pennant winners.2¡ The Stars started the season strong, winning their first seven games22 and ¡2 of their first ¡3,23 before finishing the first half with a ¡9–4 win over the Memphis Red Sox.24

July ¡9, ¡928 — Satchel Paige Throws Four-Hit Shutout Birmingham Black Barons pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige defeated the first-half NNL champion St. Louis Stars with a four-hit shutout, retiring the last ¡5 batters in order while leading the Barons to a 3–0 win. Paige struck out nine batters and helped his cause by singling and coming around to score in the Barons two-run third inning. Paige, in both the game report and box score, was referred to only as “Satchel.”25

July 28, ¡928 — Carl Glass Throws Four-Hit Shutout in ¡3 Innings Memphis Red Sox pitcher Carl Glass went the distance, giving up only four hits in a ¡–0 win over the Monarchs in ¡3 innings at Muehlebach Field in Kansas City. Monarchs starter Herb Wilson pitched nearly as well, giving up just six hits in his complete*This game was played in this series, but exact date is unclear.

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game e›ort, but faltered in the ¡3th when he gave up a single to Henry Harris, followed by what proved to be William Lowe’s game-winning triple.26 Kansas City’s chance to tie the game in the bottom of the ¡3th was squashed when Pinky Ward made what the Indianapolis Recorder described as an impressive catch of William Bell’s smash to center field with a man on base.27

July 29, ¡928 — St. Louis Stars Turn Triple Play On July 29 in Detroit,28 the St. Louis Stars pulled o› a triple play, the Indianapolis Recorder reported, in the first inning of their 6–3 win over the Detroit Stars.29

August ¡¡–¡4, ¡928 — Five Solo Homers in 3–2 St. Louis Stars Win In a series between the Chicago American Giants and the St. Louis Stars,30* all five of the runs in the St. Louis Stars 3–2 win were scored on solo home runs, the Kansas City Call reported.3¡

August ¡8, ¡928 — Josh Gibson Signs with the Pittsburgh Crawfords The Pittsburgh Courier reported the signing of Joshua Gibson by the Pittsburgh Crawfords, a semipro club. Gibson, who was beginning a Hall-of-Fame career, was a catcher, but the Crawfords intended to use him at third base, the Courier said.32 In the ¡930s, the Crawfords were developed by Gus Greenlee into one of the elite black baseball teams.

September 9, ¡928 — American Giants Win Pennant The Chicago American Giants (30–¡3) won the NNL second-half pennant, setting up a playo› with the first-half winner, the St. Louis Stars. The Kansas City Monarchs (26–¡4) finished in second place.33 The Monarchs still had a chance to win the second half when they met the American Giants for a series beginning September 834 but, according to a report in the Kansas City Call, the Monarchs needed to win four of the five-game series, and the American Giants ended it early by winning the first two. Willie Foster won the clincher on September 9.35

September 22, ¡928 — American Giants Win 7–3 in Game One of Negro National League Playo› In the first game of the best-of-nine Negro National League championship series the Chicago American Giants defeated the St. Louis Stars 7–3 in Chicago. American Giants pitcher Willie Foster had a shutout broken up in the eighth inning when the Stars scored three times and trimmed the American Giants lead to 5–3, but that’s as *This was the only series between the Stars and the American Giants played in St. Louis, according to the schedule published in the Chicago Defender (28 April ¡928). The exact date of the game is unclear.

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close as the Stars got. Billy Donaldson and Bert Gholston were the umpires.36 The American Giants led the series ¡–0.

September 23, ¡928 — American Giants Win 3–0 in Game Two of Negro National League Playo› Willie Powell struck out eight St. Louis Stars batters and allowed just three hits to lead the American Giants to a 3–0 win in the second game of the NNL playo›. Powell, who didn’t allow more than one hit in an inning, got early run support and led 3–0 by the end of the fifth. Ted Trent also threw a complete game and took the loss for St. Louis. Bert Gholston and Billy Donaldson were the umpires.37 The American Giants led the series 2–0.

September 24, ¡928 — St. Louis Wins 6–4 in Game Three of Negro National League Playo› The St. Louis Stars won their first game in the best-of-nine NNL championship series with the American Giants 6–4 in Chicago.38 Logan “Eggie” Hensley started for St. Louis,39 and Harold Treadwell got the start for the American Giants, with relief from Buck Miller. James “Cool Papa” Bell led the Stars hitters with four hits in five times at bat.40 The American Giants led the series 2–¡.

September 25, ¡928 — St. Louis Wins 5–4 in Game Four of Negro National League Playo› The St. Louis Stars evened the NNL championship 2–2 with a 5–4 win over the American Giants in Chicago. Luther McDonald and Ted Trent combined for the St. Louis win, and Willie Foster went the distance and took the loss for the American Giants. After the game, American Giants pitcher Willie Powell was involved in an altercation with his father-in-law and su›ered a shotgun wound that prevented him from traveling with the team to St. Louis, where the remainder of the series was scheduled to be played.4¡

September 29, ¡928 — American Giants Win 5–3 in Game Five of Negro National League Playo› The Chicago American Giants took a 3–2 lead in the NNL championship with a 5–3 win over the St. Louis Stars in St. Louis.42 The American Giants got o› to a threerun lead in the top of the first, but the Stars fought back, first with a Willie Wells home run and then with two more to tie the game at the end of seven innings. The Giants regained the lead in the eighth on Pythias Russ’s homer and added another run on an RBI sacrifice by American Giant pitcher Willie Foster. Foster and Eggie Hensley of St. Louis both threw complete games.43

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September 30, ¡928 — St. Louis Wins ¡2–7 in Game Six of Negro National League Playo› The St. Louis Stars put together two big innings to beat the American Giants ¡2–7 and tie the Negro National League playo› series 3–3 in St. Louis. Trailing 6–¡ in the fourth inning the Stars scored six times to take a 7–6 lead and then pulled away with five more in the sixth; the key hit was Mule Suttles’s bases-loaded double. Both clubs used two pitchers, Ted Trent and John Williams for St. Louis and Harold Treadwell and Buck Miller for the American Giants.44

October 2, ¡928 — American Giants Win 9–7 in Game Seven of Negro National League Playo› The American Giants took a 4–3 lead in the best-of-nine-games NNL championship with a 9–7 win in ¡¡ innings at St. Louis.45 Mitch Murray, a former St. Louis Star, was a big part of the American Giants o›ense, the Chicago Defender noted, first with a ninth-inning single that moved Jim Brown to third base from where he scored the tying run on a subsequent squeeze play, and then with an ¡¡th-inning two-run homer that landed on the streetcar barn in left field for the 9–7 win. This game was originally scheduled for October ¡ but was rained out.46

October 3, ¡928 — St. Louis Wins Game Eight of Negro National League Playo› St. Louis Stars won the eighth game of the NNL playo› to tie the series 4–4 and force a deciding game in the best-of-nine series.*

October 5, ¡928 — St. Louis Stars Win Negro National League Title The St. Louis Stars won the ninth and deciding game of the NNL championship series with the American Giants 9–2 in St. Louis. The Stars were led by Ted Trent’s complete-game pitching and Willie Wells, who knocked out two homers and a triple. In the sixth inning, the Stars scored four times to take a 7–0 lead. Willie Foster went the distance for the American Giants and took the loss.47 St. Louis won the series 5–4.

October 3¡, ¡928 — Death of Jose Mendez Cuban-born pitcher and former Kansas City Monarch Jose Mendez died in Havana.48

*The St. Louis victory is clear from the context of other game reports and not based on a specific press report. The date of this game was not confirmed — it could possibly have been played on October 4.

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¡929 January ¡5, ¡929 — American Negro League Founded Eastern baseball club owners met at the Citizen’s Republican Club in Philadelphia and founded the American Negro League comprising Hilldale, the Lincoln Giants, the Baltimore Black Sox, the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants, the Cuban Stars and, in its first appearance in an organized baseball league, the Homestead Grays. Ed Bolden (Hilldale) was elected president; James Keenan (Lincoln Giants) was elected vice president; George Rossiter (Baltimore) was made treasurer; and Pittsburgh Courier sportswriter W. Rollo Wilson was appointed secretary of the new league. New York City–based booking agent Nat Strong was invited to the meeting but didn’t attend.¡ In addition to the o‡cers, among those in attendance were Alejandro Pompez (Cuban Stars), Hammond Daniels (Atlantic City Bacharach Giants) and Cumberland Posey Jr. (Homestead Grays).2

February 23, ¡929 — American Negro League Meeting in Philadelphia The ANL met in Philadelphia, and foremost in league business was an agreement to suspend players who failed to report to their clubs, one day for each day missed. This was in response to a trip planned by some ANL players to Honolulu that was not scheduled to end until after the ANL opening day. Owners also agreed to use a system of league-controlled umpires instead of having the home team supply the umpires. The schedule for the ¡929 season was put o›. Among those attending were Ed Bolden and George Mayo (Hilldale), George Rossiter (Baltimore Black Sox), James Keenan and John Henry Lloyd (Lincoln Giants), Alejandro Pompez (Cuban Stars), and Isaac Washington and Ben Taylor (Atlantic City Bacharach Giants). Cumberland Posey, owner of the Homestead Grays, did not attend because he said to be su›ering from an injury sustained in a basketball game.3

March ¡, ¡929 — Schedule Meeting of the American Negro League The schedule for the first half of ANL inaugural season was agreed on by the member clubs at a meeting in Philadelphia. Opening day was set for April 27 with four of the six league-clubs in action while the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants and the Homestead Grays were scheduled to open later. The first half would finish on July 5. Included in the schedule were some home games for the Homestead Grays in Cleveland, necessary because of the Pennsylvania law that prohibited Sunday baseball. In addition, because the Cuban Stars had no home field, their “home” games were scheduled in a variety of ballparks.4

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April 26–29, ¡929 — Opening Day of the Negro National League With one game scheduled on April 26, the seven-team Negro National League opened play with the Birmingham Black Barons visiting the Memphis Red Sox. Four other clubs opened on April 27: the Detroit Stars at the St. Louis Stars, and the Kansas City Monarchs at Chicago to play the American Giants. The Cuban Stars visited Birmingham to round out opening day action on April 29.5 In Memphis, Carl Glass had a no-hitter broken up in the sixth inning by opposing pitcher Harry Salmon but finished with a one-hit shutout to lead the Memphis Red Sox to a 2–0 win over the Birmingham Black Barons. Salmon threw a complete-game seven-hitter and took the loss. In the two games on April 27, the hometown St. Louis Stars beat the Detroit Stars 7–0 behind Logan Hensley’s complete-game seven-hitter,6 and the Kansas City Monarchs beat the Chicago American Giants 7–5 in Chicago. Robert Poindexter got the start for the American Giants,7 and William Bell took the mound for the Kansas City Monarchs.8 On April 29, the Cuban Stars lost their NNL season-opener 6–2 to the Birmingham Black Barons as Satchel Paige threw a complete game seven-hitter, striking out ¡7. Jesus Lorenzo took the loss for the Cuban Stars.9

April 27–May 4, ¡929 — Opening Day of the American Negro League Four of the six American Negro League clubs opened the ¡929 season on April 27. In a game in Norfolk, Va., the Cuban Stars, a team without a regular home field, dropped a ¡0–2 decision to the Baltimore Black Sox and what was being called the “million dollar” infield of Oliver Marcelle, Frank Warfield, Dick Lundy and Jud Wilson. In other action, the visiting Lincoln Giants won 4–3 against Hilldale in Darby, Pa. Martin Dihigo, in his first season with Hilldale, homered in the loss, and the Darby club opened without Biz Mackey, who was said to be playing in Hawaii and facing ANL disciplinary action of a one day suspension for each day missed. On April 28, the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants tied their season opener 8–8 with the Lincoln Giants at the Protectory Oval in New York. The game was called after eight innings because of rain. In one noteworthy performance, the Lincoln Giants’ Dolly Gray, after reaching first base,* stole three straight bases to score. The last ANL club to open the season was the Homestead Grays, on May 4, when they hosted the Bacharach Giants at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh¡0 and won 7–6 with a six-run seventh that featured a bases-loaded double by John Beckwith.¡¡ The ANL used a baseball made by Reach.¡2

June 3, ¡929 — American Negro League Meeting Club owners in the American Negro League met in Philadelphia and agreed to allow those players who had jumped their contracts to rejoin their ANL clubs for league play beginning June 24, which allowed for a suspension of one day for each day missed. Among those players a›ected were Biz Mackey and Ping Gardner, both of Hilldale, and *New York Amsterdam News (¡ May ¡929) reported that Gray singled, and the New York Age (4 May ¡929) reported that he was walked.

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George Carr of the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants. Other business reported included a limit of ¡5 players for each league club beginning June ¡5 and a combined one month suspension and $50 fine for on-field fighting.¡3

July 4, ¡929 — Baltimore Black Sox Win American Negro League First-Half Pennant The Baltimore Black Sox (24–¡¡) won the ANL first-half pennant, followed by the Lincoln Giants (22–¡¡) in second place.¡4 Lincoln had a chance to win the pennant, if they won all four games of a four-game series with the Black Sox in the closing week, the Pittsburgh Courier reported, but the Black Sox clinched the pennant with a win on July 3.¡5

July 4, ¡929 — Kansas City Monarchs Win Negro National League First Half The Kansas City Monarchs (28–¡¡) won the first-half pennant in the Negro National League,¡6 and the second-place St. Louis Stars (28–¡4) were close behind.¡7 Down the stretch, the Monarchs reportedly took two games from the Chicago American Giants, including a 4–0 win on June 29¡8 in which Kansas City Monarchs pitchers Alfred Cooper and Chet Brewer combined for a no-hitter.¡9 St. Louis lost an important game on July 2, ¡0–7 to the Birmingham Black Barons.20

July 7, ¡929 — Fire at Mack Park in Detroit Fire broke out at Mack Park in Detroit, causing the stands to collapse and injuring more than ¡00 people before a scheduled doubleheader between the Kansas City Monarchs and the hometown Stars. The fire was believed to have been started by either a discarded match or cigarette. Gasoline intended to be used to dry out the wet field was present at the park but it was not believed to have contributed to the blaze.2¡ After his playing days were over, the Detroit Stars’ Bobbie Robinson recalled being in the dugout with the rest of the Stars while the Monarchs were taking batting practice when the stands went up in flames.22

July ¡4, ¡929 —¡7 Strikeouts for Satchell Paige Satchell Paige struck out ¡7 Detroit Stars batters while walking one and allowing just two hits as the Birmingham Black Barons won 5–¡ at Mack Park in Detroit. All six of the runs were scored on home runs, beginning with a three-run shot by Poindexter Williams in the first inning to give Paige a quick 3–0 lead. In the sixth, John Jones homered o› Paige to make the score 3–¡, and J. Burdine* added two insurance runs with a ninth-inning clout for the Black Barons.23 *Not clear what Burdine’s full first name was.

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July 2¡, ¡929 — Start of ¡4 Consecutive Hits for Rap Dixon Over a span of four games, Rap Dixon of the Baltimore Black Sox hit safely ¡4 times in ¡4 o‡cial at bats. The streak began on July 2¡, when Dixon went 3 for 3 in each end of a doubleheader against the Homestead Grays and continued on July 28, with five hits in the first game of a twin bill with Hilldale and three more in the second game to bring his total to ¡4. On August ¡, Hilldale pitcher Daltie Cooper did what no other pitcher was able to do in ¡4 previous at bats: He got Dixon out.24 The day before the streak began, Dixon was reportedly hit in the head with a pitch by Homestead Grays hurler George Britt in a game at Pittsburgh, and there was concern that his vision might have been impaired. On the following day in Baltimore, after being encouraged to rest, Dixon began the game on the bench, but in the fourth inning he was inserted into the lineup and the streak began.25 During his unbroken string of hits, Dixon was walked twice, once each by Grays pitchers Sam Streeter and Smokey Joe Williams on July 2¡.26

August 4, ¡929 — Lincoln Giants and Cubans Stars Turn Nine Double Plays The Lincoln Giants turned six double plays and the Cuban Stars turned three for a total of nine double plays for the game as the Lincoln Giants won ¡4–6 at the Catholic Protectory Oval in New York.27

September ¡, ¡929 — Lincoln Giants Score Five Runs on Seven Pitches The Lincoln Giants and Hilldale met for a doubleheader28 at the Catholic Protectory Oval in New York, and Lincoln won both games by identical ¡¡–3 scores.29 In the first game the Lincoln Giants scored five runs on just seven pitches,* the Pittsburgh Courier reported, as Dolly Gray singled on the first pitch, Namon Washington successfully sacrificed Gray to second on the second one, Charles Smith hit a two-run homer on the third pitch, Orville Riggins and John Beckwith hit back-to-back homers, John Henry Lloyd doubled, and on the seventh and last pitch of this streak, Charles Spearman singled to bring Lloyd home with the fifth run.30

September ?, ¡929 — Baltimore Black Sox Win American Negro League Title The Baltimore Black Sox, winner of the first-half pennant in the ANL, also won the second-half title, making a playo› unnecessary and giving them the ¡929 ANL championship. They finished the second half with a 25–¡0 record, ahead of secondplace Hilldale (24–¡5). Down the stretch, the Black Sox defeated Hilldale 3–2 behind *Two game reports di›er on some of the details of this game. The Pittsburgh Courier (5 September ¡929) said the Hilldale pitcher was named Cooper (two players named Cooper, Ray and Daltie, were both pitchers with Hilldale in ¡929), while the New York Age (5 September ¡929) said the pitcher was Porter Charleston, did not mention the seven consecutive pitches, and said the inning featured a single, three homers and a triple.

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the pitching of Laymon Yokely;3¡ this game was reported by the Norfolk Journal and Guide as the pennant clincher.32 ANL Secretary W. Rollo Wilson reported that the season was not a financial success but believed that the league was healthier than some critics suggested because all six league clubs were able, not counting rain outs, to complete the schedule.33

September ?, ¡929 — Kansas City Wins Negro National League Title The Kansas City Monarchs, duplicating the feat of the ANL Baltimore Black Sox, won both halves of their schedule, clinching the second-half pennant in a series with the St. Louis Stars down the stretch.34 Cars around Kansas City were reported to be plastered with bumper stickers reading: “Beat the Stars and win the flag.” The Monarchs final second-half record was reported as 34–6, which put them out reach of the American Giants, who were 23–7 with five games to play.35

¡930 January ¡4–¡6, ¡930 — Negro National League Meeting in Detroit The Negro National League met in Detroit to elect o‡cers and to discuss the composition of the league. William Hueston was reelected as league president; Richard Kent, vice president; Mose Walker, treasurer; and Harry St. Clair, secretary. Applications were made for new franchises, but no decisions were made regarding any changes in the league’s roster of clubs. Among those attending were Hueston, Kent, G.B. Keys (St. Louis Stars), J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs), Mose Walker (Detroit Stars), Martin (Memphis Red Sox),* R.T. Jackson (Birmingham Black Barons), Warner Jewell (Indianapolis), and Tom Wilson (Nashville Elite Giants). Chicago American Giants owner William E. Trimble was unable to attend.¡ In addition, with a minute of silence those attending the meeting remembered Rube Foster, who was su›ering from mental illness and confined to Kankakee asylum (see September ¡926).2

February ¡7, ¡930 — American Negro League Disbands Owners in the American Negro League met in Philadelphia and decided to disband the league. In attendance were Ed Bolden (Hilldale), Jim Keenan (Lincoln Giants), Isaac Washington (Atlantic City), and George Rossiter (Baltimore Black Sox). Alejandro Pompez (Cuban Stars) and Cumberland Posey (Homestead Grays) did not attend the meeting,3 but Posey sent word through ANL Secretary W. Rollo Wilson that he was opposed to playing again in the American Negro League because the Lincoln Giants *There were four Martin brothers involved in baseball, not clear which of the four attended this meeting.

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and Baltimore Black Sox were not agreeable to playing on the road on Sundays, umpires in many cases were sub-par, and some clubs were poorly behaved on the field. 4 Ed Bolden reportedly told the meeting that his objections to playing organized ball in ¡930 centered on a lack of cooperation within the ANL, escalating salaries, and the loss of the lease on Hilldale Park. There were some owners, including George Rossiter and Jim Keenan, who were still interested in playing league ball, but there wouldn’t be enough interest in ¡930 to form a league in the East.5

March 20, ¡930 — Negro National League Meeting in Chicago On March 20,* the Negro National League met in Chicago to arrange the schedule for the ¡930 season.6 In addition, the Nashville Elite Giants were admitted to the NNL.7 Among those in attendance were William Trimble (Chicago American Giants), J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs), Mose Walker (Detroit Stars), W.S. Martin (Memphis Red Sox), Richard Kent and G.B. Keys (St. Louis Stars), Oscar Adams and R.T. Jackson (Birmingham Black Barons), and Tom Wilson (Nashville Elite Giants).8

April 25–28, ¡930 — Negro National League Opening Day Opening the NNL season on April 25, a day before most other clubs, the Cuban Stars played the Memphis Red Sox in Memphis9 and won 5–¡.¡0 On the 26th, the Detroit Stars, behind the five-hit pitching of Ted Shaw, opened their Negro National League season with a 3–0 win over the American Giants in Chicago.¡¡ The St. Louis Stars were scheduled to open on April 26 in Nashville against the Elite Giants, and on the 28th, the Cuban Stars were slated to open the Black Barons season in Birmingham.¡2

May 9, ¡930 — Negro National League Opener for Kansas City Monarchs The Kansas City Monarchs, who had been barnstorming with the their portable lighting system and playing night baseball, were the last NNL club to begin league play. The Monarchs visited Memphis to play the Red Sox¡3 and lost 4–2 to William “Sug” Cornelius. Monarchs pitcher John Markham took the loss.¡4

May ¡0, ¡930 — Opening of Hamtramck Stadium, Detroit The newly constructed Hamtramck Stadium, home of the NNL Detroit Stars, opened with a game between Detroit and the Cubans Stars that ended after ¡3 innings with the Cuban Stars on top 6–4. In the bottom of the ninth, Detroit rallied from a 4–¡ deficit to score three times and force extra innings only to have the Cuban Stars win it in the ¡3th on Ramon Hernandez’s solo home run and an insurance run. The Cuban Stars got a combined six-hitter from three pitchers, Palma, Luis Tiant and Edolfo “Yo Yo” Diaz, and Detroit needed four pitchers.¡5 The formal dedication of the Hamtramck *Date based on Chicago Defender (29 March ¡930).

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Stadium on Sunday, May ¡¡, drew an estimated ¡0,000 fans and featured Ty Cobb, who threw out the first pitch to Hamtramck Mayor Tenerowicz.¡6 The stadium, according to Detroit Stars President Mose Walker, had steel stands which, along with the bleachers, would hold almost ¡2,000.¡7

May ¡2, ¡930 — Early Night Game in Memphis In what was possibly the first o‡cial night game in the Negro National League, the Kansas City Monarchs defeated the Memphis Red Sox 8–4 in Memphis before an estimated crowd of 8,000. This was the fourth of a four-game series.¡8 Earlier in the year, Kansas City Monarchs owner J.L. Wilkinson debuted a portable lighting system, transported by truck, and complete with a generator to power the lights, at exhibition games. Experiments with night baseball had been conducted as early as the ¡880s, and there had been some isolated games played under lights, but it was not until the ¡930s that night baseball became common. In addition to its introduction in the Negro Leagues in ¡930, night baseball made its first appearance that same year in the minor leagues but was not played in the majors until May 24, ¡935, in a game at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.¡9

June 2¡, ¡930 — First Night Game in Chicago In what was believed to be the first night game in Chicago, the Kansas City Monarchs defeated the Chicago American Giants 7–4 at American Giants Park, at 39th and Wentworth in Chicago.20 The crowd, estimated to be around 6,000 fans, sat through a 40-minute delay in the seventh inning when the lighting system blew a fuse.2¡

July 5, ¡930 — Negro Leagues Clubs Make First Appearance at Yankee Stadium In the first appearance of black baseball clubs at Yankee Stadium, the Baltimore Black Sox and the Lincoln Giants played a doubleheader for the benefit of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. The games, which reportedly drew up to 20,000 fans, were promoted by Brotherhood Secretary Roy Lancaster, and New York Yankee President Colonel Jacob Ruppert donated the use of the park. In the first game the Lincoln Giants won ¡3–4 behind the pitching of Bill Holland and Charlie Smith’s two home runs. Jesse “Pud” Flournoy started for the Black Sox but needed relief from Bun Hayes. In the second game, the Black Sox won 5–3 with Laymon Yokely on the mound and got plenty of o›ense from Herbert “Rap” Dixon, who homered twice (three for the day) and drove in four of the Black Sox’ five runs. Lincoln Giants pitcher Connie Rector took the loss. In addition to baseball, the crowd also saw some footraces, including one featuring Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, who ran backward for 75 yards while his competition ran forward for ¡00 yards.22

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July 6, ¡930 — St. Louis Wins Negro National League First-Half Pennant The St. Louis Stars took the Negro National League first-half pennant with a win over the Kansas City Monarchs before an estimated 3,000 fans in Kansas City. St Louis (4¡–¡5) finished ahead of the Monarchs (28–¡3), with the Nashville Elite Giants (¡2–32) in last place.23

August 2, ¡930 — Smokey Joe Williams Strikes Out 27 in ¡2 Innings Homestead Grays pitcher Smokey Joe Williams struck out 27 batters and gave up just one hit in a ¡–0 win over the Kansas City Monarchs in a night game that lasted ¡2 innings at Muehlebach Stadium in Kansas City. Monarchs pitcher Chet Brewer also threw an exceptional game, striking out ¡9 batters while yielding only four hits, but still lost the game in the ¡2th inning when Oscar Charleston walked and scored on a double by Chaney White. The Monarchs’ only hit of the game, a double by Newt Joseph in the eighth, was also their best opportunity to score, but Jake Stephens, according to press reports, made a great catch to rob Turner of a base hit and a possible RBI.* Both Williams and Brewer had reputations for throwing an emery-ball,24 which the Pittsburgh Courier pointed out was even more e›ective under the artificial lighting. In another notable achievement, Brewer struck out ¡0 consecutive batters, beginning with the first out in the seventh and finishing with the first out of the tenth inning. Newly signed Josh Gibson was Smokey Joe Williams’s catcher.25

September ¡3, ¡930 — Start of Negro National League Playo›s, Detroit Stars vs. St. Louis Stars The Detroit Stars (24–7) won the second-half NNL pennant, followed by the St. Louis Stars (22–7), with the Cuban Stars (6–¡2) in last, and were scheduled to play the first-half champion St. Louis Stars in a best-of-seven games playo›.26 In the first game of the Negro National League championship series, St. Louis defeated Detroit, 5–4, at Stars Park in St. Louis before more than 4,500 fans.27 Detroit got o› to a first-inning lead when Turkey Stearnes hit a two-run homer, but the lead was short-lived as Cool Papa Bell homered in the Stars two-run first inning. In the third, Detroit took a 4–2 lead o› St. Louis starter Ted “Double Duty” Radcli›e, and St. Louis responded again in their bottom half with three runs for a 5–4 lead. Nelson Dean went the distance for Detroit, and Ted Trent relieved Radcli›e in the fourth inning.28 After rain postponed the second game of the NNL championship on September ¡4,29 the Detroit Stars defeated St. Louis ¡¡–7 on September ¡5. Two highlights of the game were Turkey Stearnes’ five-hit performance and an eighth-inning triple play turned by the Detroit Stars when Branch Russell’s liner was caught by third baseman *In an interview with historian John Holway, Chet Brewer said that the Monarchs had another opportunity to score in this inning. Joseph had reached third, Brewer recalled, and tried to steal home when the batter, Leroy Taylor, was called out on strikes. Brewer thought it was a bad call by the umpire and that had a ball been called Joseph would have scored with the go-ahead run ( John Holway, Black Diamonds [Westport, Conn.: Meckler Books, ¡989], 28).

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Bobbie Robinson, who then stepped on third, catching Leroy Matlock o› the bag for the second out and threw to Jake Dunn at second to retire Cool Papa Bell and complete the triple play.30 After splitting the next two games,3¡ Detroit took a 3–2 lead in the series with a 7–5 win in Detroit on September 20 despite home runs from Willie Wells and Mule Suttles.32 In the sixth game of the series, St. Louis Stars pitcher Logan Hensley threw a complete game to lead the Stars to a 4–3 win over the Detroit Stars and tie the series 3–3 on September 2¡. St. Louis knocked out ¡5 hits, including three from Willie Wells33 and broke a 3–3 tie in the eighth inning when Dewey Creacy scored from second base on Cool Papa Bell’s two-out single.34 In the deciding seventh game, the St. Louis Stars knocked out ¡9 hits on their way to winning the NNL pennant ¡3–7 behind a complete game from Roosevelt Davis. The Stars scored four times in the first inning and overcame a 7–6 deficit in the fifth inning with four more.35

September 20–28, ¡930 — Lincoln-Grays Series The scheduled ¡0-game series between the Homestead Grays and the Lincoln Giants began at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh with a sweep of a doubleheader by the Homestead Grays, 9–¡ and ¡7–¡6, before an estimated 3,000 fans. On the following day, the Lincoln Giants won the opening game of a doubleheader 6–2, and the Grays won the second game 3–2 in ¡0 innings before more than 8,000 fans at Yankee Stadium in New York. The two clubs moved to Philadelphia for one game each on September 25 and 26. The Grays won the first of these ¡¡–336 in a game in which Josh Gibson hit a ball that was believed to be the longest one ever hit at Bigler Field, and Lincoln won the second game 6–437 to give the Grays a 4–2 lead. The two clubs then moved back to New York and split a doubleheader on September 27. Lincoln rallied in the first game to score four times when relief pitcher Smokey Joe Williams was brought in with the bases loaded and gave up a triple to Julio Rojo, followed by a game-winning RBI single by Connie Rector. In the second game, the Homestead Grays won 7–3 to take a 5–3 serieslead. On September 28, the Lincoln Giants moved to within one game in the series with a 6–2 win at Yankee Stadium behind the pitching of Bill Holland. Lincoln sent Holland to the mound again in the second game, and he kept it close until the eighth inning when the Grays scored four times on their way to winning the game 5–2 and the series 6–4.38 Lincoln Giants owner James Keenan disbanded the club after this season.39

December 9, ¡930 — Andrew “Rube” Foster Dies Rube Foster, Negro National League founder, former pitcher, and one-time owner of the American Giants, died in the hospital at Kankakee, Illinois (see 2 September ¡926). Funeral services were held on December ¡4, and Foster was buried the following day.40 Foster was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in ¡98¡.

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¡93¡ January 23 and 24, ¡93¡— Negro National League Meeting in Chicago The Negro National League met in Chicago at the Vincennes Hotel to discuss the coming season. Time was taken out on Friday to recognize the loss of Andrew “Rube” Foster, who died late the previous year (see 9 December ¡930). In league business, the status of the southern clubs in Memphis, Birmingham and Nashville was questioned,* and there was talk of putting franchises in Louisville and Indianapolis.¡ It was suggested that, in the case of Memphis and Nashville, attendance was too low and traveling expenses were too high to make their retention in the league profitable.2

May 2, ¡93¡— Opening Day of the Negro National League The Negro National League opened the ¡93¡ season in disarray. The poor condition of the league was illustrated by the Kansas City Monarchs, an original league member (see February ¡3, ¡920), who were pulled out of the league by owner J.L. Wilkinson. In addition, the status of the Chicago American Giants continued to be uncertain until opening day,3 and the Cuban Stars were unable to comply with an immigration rule requiring a $2,000 bond, the Chicago Defender said, and were dropped from NNL plans.4 The Chicago American Giants reportedly opened the season with a ¡2–6 victory over the Indianapolis ABCs. In other action the Louisville White Sox won their opening series, three games to two, over the Cleveland Cubs, the Indianapolis Recorder reported, and the Detroit Stars took three straight games from the St. Louis Stars.5 By mid-season the American Giants, who were also known this season as the Columbia Giants, dropped out of the NNL, leaving the league with five clubs: the Indianapolis ABCs, the Detroit Stars, the St. Louis Stars, the Cleveland Cubs and the Louisville White Sox.6

May 29, ¡93¡— Louis Santop on Radio WELK Former Lincoln Giants and Hilldale catcher Louis Santop was scheduled to discuss the history of Negro Leagues baseball on WELK radio station in Philadelphia.7 In addition, a musical performance by Rap Dixon, Frank Warfield, John Henry Lloyd, Chappie Byrd, Biz Mackey and Jim Townes was on the bill, the Baltimore Afro American reported.8

*The Chicago Defender (¡4 March ¡93¡) reported that the Birmingham Black Barons, the Memphis Red Sox and the Nashville Elite Giants joined the Negro Southern Baseball League.

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June 27, ¡93¡— Cleveland Cubs Turn Triple Play The Chicago Defender reported in its June 27 issue, that the Cleveland Cubs turned a triple play in a game against the Louisville White Sox at Hardware Field in Cleveland. The Defender mentioned that Cleveland shortstop Hoss Walker and first baseman Jim West were involved in the play. Cleveland won 7–5.9

July 4, ¡93¡— St. Louis Stars Win First Half, Negro National League The Indianapolis Recorder reported on July 4, that the St. Louis Stars had won the first-half pennant of the Negro National League. The Indianapolis ABCs finished the half in second place, the Recorder said.¡0*

September 5, ¡93¡— Goose Curry Throws No-Hitter Memphis Red Sox pitcher Homer “Goose” Curry threw a no-hitter in the Red Sox 3–¡ win over the Birmingham Black Barons. The game lasted only seven innings, and the one run against Curry was unearned.¡¡

September 7, ¡93¡— Paul Carter Throws No-Hitter Hilldale pitcher Paul Carter threw a no-hitter on Labor Day at Hilldale Park as Hilldale defeated the Baltimore Black Sox 6–0 in the second game of a doubleheader. Baltimore’s lineup included Dick Lundy, Frank Warfield, Crush Holloway, Dave Thomas and Pete Washington.¡2

December 8, ¡93¡— Kansas City Monarchs Barnstorm in Mexico Aboard Pullman cars on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, the Kansas City Monarchs left for a tour of Mexico. Led by Q.J. Gilmore, the club included George Giles, Wade Johnston, Turkey Stearnes, Frank Duncan, Dink Mothel, Newt Allen, Newt Joseph, John Donaldson, Chet Brewer, Henry McHenry and Charles Beverley.¡3

¡932 January 20 and 2¡, ¡932 — East-West League Founded Club owners met at the Majestic Hotel in Cleveland and formed the East-West League. Among those attending were Cum Posey, Charlie Walker, John Roesink, George *Not clear whether there were second-half standings for the NNL — but some sources say that the St. Louis Stars won the NNL championship (Richard Bak, Turkey Stearnes and the Detroit Stars [Detroit: Wayne State University Press, ¡995], p. 250; Robert Peterson, Only the Ball Was White [New York: Gramercy Books, ¡999], p. 269; John Holway, The Complete Book of Baseball’s Negro Leagues [Fern Park, Fla.: Hastings House, 200¡], p. 272).

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Rossiter, John Drew, Lloyd Thompson and L.R. Williams.¡ The league would be composed of clubs in eight cities: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore, Cleveland, Newark, New York and Washington, D.C.2 After the meeting, Homestead Grays owner Cum Posey, a key figure in the operation of the East-West League, wrote that the league was designed to work independently of booking agents, who received up to ¡0 percent of the gate receipts.3 Pittsburgh Crawfords owner Gus Greenlee, who was not in the East-West League’s initial plans, believed that the league was formed partly to prevent him from continuing to sign elite players.4

February 26 and 27, ¡932 — East-West League Meeting in Philadelphia Owners of clubs in the East-West League met in Philadelphia to discuss the coming season.5 Seven of the eight league clubs had been confirmed, and the league announced arrangements with the Al Munro Elias Baseball Bureau to compile and distribute statistics. The East-West League also revealed plans for radio broadcasts of game results. Deposits of $¡,000 per club were made, and it was agreed that umpires would be managed by the league.6

March ¡3, ¡932 — East-West League Meeting in Washington, D.C. The East-West League met in Washington, D.C., and among the business was the creation of the ¡932 schedule. Before the meeting, arrangements had been made for the admission of the Newark Browns to the league as the eighth and final league club. The Browns would play at Sprague Field in Newark, New Jersey, and had signed John Beckwith to be manager of the club.7 Opening day was reportedly scheduled for May 7 with Cleveland visiting the Homestead Grays in Pittsburgh; Cubans at Detroit; Newark at Hilldale; and Washington at Baltimore Black Sox.8

March 26, ¡932 — Negro National League Disbands The March 26, ¡932, issue of the Chicago Defender reported that the Negro National League would not operate for the ¡932 season. The announcement was made by NNL president William C. Hueston, who suggested that the league would attempt to reform and play in ¡933.9* The NNL was founded on February ¡3, ¡920, with Andrew “Rube” Foster as its first president and played ¡2 seasons.

April 29, ¡932 — Opening of Greenlee Field The New York Black Yankees defeated the Pittsburgh Crawfords ¡–0 in the inaugural game at Gus Greenlee’s newly built Greenlee Field in Pittsburgh. The game was scoreless until the ninth inning when Ted Page reached on a fielder’s choice after Bill *A Negro National League was organized for ¡933, but it was essentially una‡liated with this league (see ¡0 January ¡933).

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Riggins’ single. Page then stole second* and scored the game’s only run on Clint Thomas’s base hit to give the Black Yankees the win. Jess Hubbard got the start for New York, and Satchel Paige took the mound for the Crawfords¡0 and took the loss despite a six-hit, ¡0-strikeout performance. Hubbard was slightly better, allowing just three hits. Pittsburgh Courier editor and publisher Robert L. Vann made a speech to commemorate the opening of the park and threw out the first pitch.¡¡ The park was believed to have cost between $75,000 and $¡00,000 to build and could hold 6,000 for baseball games.¡2 It stood for seven seasons before being torn down in December ¡938.¡3

May 7, ¡932 — Opening Day of the East-West League In opening day play of the new East-West League, the Washington Pilots defeated the Baltimore Black Sox 3–0 in Baltimore behind Chet Brewer’s one-hit, eight-strikeout performance. Jesse “Pud” Flournoy took the loss for the Black Sox, and Dick Lundy got the lone Baltimore hit. In other action, Hilldale defeated the Newark Browns at Hilldale Park in Darby, Pa. Porter Charleston got the win for Hilldale, and Kenneth “Ping” Gardner took the loss. In Detroit, the hometown Wolves dropped their opener to the Cuban Stars 4–¡. The Cuban Stars broke the scoreless tie in the fifth inning with three runs and got a complete game from pitcher Luis Tiant, and Detroit started Ted Trent. In addition to Trent, Detroit’s roster included many former players from the now-defunct St. Louis Stars,† including Cool Papa Bell, Willie Wells and Mule Suttles. Elsewhere the Homestead Grays won their opener at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh against the Cleveland Bears¡4 by a score of 2¡–¡.¡5 The E-W League planned to play a 56-game first-half schedule, and league statistics were compiled by the Munro Elias Baseball Bureau.! There were reports early in the season questioning William “Pimp” Young’s ownership of the Cleveland Stars franchise and suggesting that Grays owner Cum Posey was the actual owner. Young sent a letter to the press declaring his ownership, and Posey denied any involvement with the Cleveland club. Similar allegations suggesting that Posey was the owner of the Detroit Wolves circulated.¡6 The Pittsburgh Courier reported that the league umpires would include Bert Gholston, Caesar Jamison, Frank Forbes, Fred Brown, Moe Harris, Andrew Calloway, Ben Taylor and Judy Gans.¡7

May 23 and 24, ¡932 — New York Black Yankees and Pittsburgh Crawfords Join East-West League On May 23 and 24,** the East-West League met and agreed to admit the New York Black Yankees and the Pittsburgh Crawfords into the league beginning with the start the second half on July 4.¡8 *The Pittsburgh Courier (7 May ¡932) reported that Page took third on the steal when Crawfords catcher Bill Perkins’s throw sailed into center field. † Over the winter the St. Louis Stars ownership sold their ballpark with the streetcar barn in the outfield and disbanded the club (Pittsburgh Courier, 25 November ¡939).  The New York Amsterdam News published detailed statistics beginning in late May with batting and fielding averages, and by early June they included pitching statistics. All were presumably compiled by the Munro Elias Baseball Bureau. **This date based on W. Rollo Wilson’s column in the Pittsburgh Courier (28 May ¡932).

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June ¡5, ¡932 — Co-Plan for Hilldale Hilldale players went onto a co-plan system in which they would share in the profits with the club’s ownership rather than draw a regular salary.¡9 This was generally a symptom of a club’s poor financial condition. By the end of July, Hilldale President Lloyd Thompson announced in the press that Hilldale would disband because they were not drawing well enough.20

July 4, ¡932 — Scheduled Start of Second Half of East-West League Second-half play of the East-West League was originally scheduled to begin on July 4, but it was reported that the league collapsed and disbanded before the first half was complete.2¡ Plans to begin play in the second half with six clubs, including the addition of the Pittsburgh Crawfords, didn’t get far. Business had been poor for the EastWest League. In June the Detroit Wolves and the Homestead Grays merged to form one club, the Cuban Stars dropped out of the league and were playing independent ball, and it was believed that the Newark Browns and the Cleveland Stars were close to giving up league play. The E-W attempts to ease the economic problems by reducing the schedule at an early–June meeting in Philadelphia did not prevent the league from collapsing in its first year of play.22 Cubans Stars owner Syd Pollock said that none of the East-West clubs showed a profit.23

July 8, ¡932 — Satchel Paige Throws No-Hitter Satchel Paige threw a no-hit shutout as the Pittsburgh Crawfords defeated the New York Black Yankees 6–0 in the second game of a doubleheader at Greenlee Field in Pittsburgh. Ted “Double Duty” Radcli›e was Paige’s catcher.24

July 24, ¡932 — Frank Warfield Dies in Pittsburgh Washington Pilots player-manager Frank Warfield died in Pittsburgh, where the Pilots had just finished a series with the Pittsburgh Crawfords. Warfield had been ill, but it was not believed to be serious.25 He reportedly died of a cardiac condition.26

July 25, ¡932 — Night Game at Gri‡th Stadium In what the Washington Post described as that city’s first night game,27 the Pittsburgh Crawfords defeated the Washington Pilots 5–¡ at Gri‡th Stadium before an estimated 4,000 fans. William Bell started for the Crawfords, and Webster McDonald, who took over the managerial duties after Frank Warfield’s death (see 24 July ¡932), started for the Pilots but got early relief help from Leroy Matlock.28

August ¡3, ¡932 — First Night Game at Greenlee Field The Pittsburgh Crawfords defeated the barnstorming House of David team 6–3 in the first night game at Greenlee Field in Pittsburgh. William Bell pitched for the

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Crawfords, and Ted Page led Crawfords batters by going 3 for 4 with a home run. Former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher and future Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander came in to relieve for the House of David club in the eighth inning and gave up one run on three hits.29

September ¡8, ¡932 — Midnight Game at Greenlee Field Working around the Pennsylvania laws prohibiting Sunday baseball, the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Homestead Grays started play just after midnight on Sunday at Greenlee Field in Pittsburgh. The Grays won the game 5–¡30 before a crowd reported to be around 3,000.3¡

¡933 January ¡0, ¡933 — Negro National League Founded Club owners met in Chicago to organize the Negro National League, which shared the name of a defunct league that was founded in ¡920 but was essentially a distinct organization. The league comprised the Pittsburgh Crawfords, the Homestead Grays, Cleveland,* the Indianapolis ABCs, the Chicago American Giants and the Nashville Elite Giants. Crawfords owner Gus Greenlee was appointed chairman, though it was suggested that this was an interim position until an election was held.¡ In attendance were Cum Posey (Homestead Grays), Gus Greenlee (Pittsburgh Crawfords), Robert Cole (Chicago American Giants), Tom Wilson (Nashville Elite Giants), Jim Taylor (Indianapolis ABCs), and Benjamin Mason (Cleveland).2

February 5, ¡933 — Heywood Broun Challenges Color Line at Sportswriter Dinner At the annual New York Baseball Writers Association dinner at the Commodore Hotel, New York World Telegram journalist Heywood Broun addressed the room and asked more than 600 players, owners, writers, and major league o‡cials if they would consider dropping the “color line” in major league baseball. In addition to the inequity of segregation, Broun noted that it was clear that there were many deserving black players who would excel on major league clubs and that the inclusion of the black fan base would help to ease the financial di‡culties of the leagues. In response, (New York) Daily News sports columnist Jimmy Powers went around the room to get a feel for how Broun’s suggestion was received. Nearly all of those Powers spoke with, including *Cleveland did not play in ¡933 as it reportedly was unable to get a home park (Chicago Defender, 25 February ¡933).

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National League President John Heydler and Branch Rickey, who was then with the St. Louis Cardinals organization, were in favor of dropping the racial barrier. One notable exception was former New York Giants manager John J. McGraw, prompting many African-American columnists to note with irony that McGraw had long been believed to be one of the strongest supporters of integration in the major leagues.3

February ¡5, ¡933 — Meeting of the Negro National League in Indianapolis The Negro National League met in Indianapolis to elect league o‡cials and finalize the league’s roster of clubs for the ¡933 season. Gus Greenlee was elected chairman; Jim Taylor, vice chairman; William “Dizzy” Dismukes,* secretary; and Robert Cole, was elected treasurer. Among those attending were H.G. Hall, George Mitchell, John Roesink, Cum Posey, A.J. Peebles, Tom Wilson, Gus Greenlee and Jim Taylor. In other business, clubs were placed in Detroit and Columbus.4 Cleveland, which had been previously mentioned in league plans, was dropped from the league because they were unable to arrange for a home park in Cleveland, the Chicago Defender reported.5 In addition, a constitution drafted by Gus Greenlee was adopted, which provided for limits on the number of players each franchise could keep on its roster and placed a cap on player salaries. Nat Strong and Ed Gottlieb would book games east of Pittsburgh for the NNL.6 Grays owner Cum Posey later recalled that, during the organization of this league,† the owners agreed to ban the spitball. Similar to the way that the major leagues phased out the spitball, the NNL agreed to allow those already throwing the pitch to continue to throw it but banned it for any new players entering the league.7

March ¡¡, ¡933 — Schedule Meeting of Negro National League The seven-team Negro National League met in Detroit to arrange the schedule for its inaugural season. Among those in attendance were Gus Greenlee (Pittsburgh Crawfords), Cum Posey (Homestead Grays), A.J. Peebles (Columbus Blue Birds), Robert Cole (Chicago American Giants), Tom Wilson (Nashville Elite Giants), Jim Taylor (Indianapolis ABCs), Dave Malarcher, Bingo DeMoss, Ted Radcli›e, Turkey Stearnes, Russ Cowans and Al Monroe.8

April 29–30, ¡933 — Opening Day of the Negro National League Only two of the seven Negro National League clubs, the Chicago American Giants and the Indianapolis ABCs, were featured in opening day play on April 29 when the American Giants won 7–5 with a five-run fifth inning in Indianapolis. On April 30, the Homestead Grays visited the Columbus Blue Birds for their opener,9 and the Grays *Dismukes resigned as secretary before the season began and accepted the job as manager of the Columbus Blue Birds (Pittsburgh Courier ¡8, 25 March ¡933; New York Age, ¡ April ¡933). † Not clear at which meeting this took place, but Posey suggests that it was brought up during the organizational phase.

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won 5–2 behind Ray Brown’s six-hitter at Neil Park before about 5,000 fans.¡0 Also on April 30, the Pittsburgh Crawfords swept a doubleheader 7–5 and 5–0 from the Elite Giants in Nashville.¡¡ The Detroit Stars were not scheduled to open the season until May 6 at Columbus.¡2 The league was unstable from the beginning of the season. The Detroit Stars had di‡culty with ownership; three names, John Roesink, Levy Tindle and John “Tenny” Blount, were all linked to the Detroit ownership,¡3 but by early May, Gus Greenlee, while en route to a league meeting at Columbus, told the press that the Detroit franchise was no longer in the NNL because Blount couldn’t secure a home park for the club.¡4 At the Columbus meeting in May, the application of the Baltimore Black Sox for league membership was accepted, and it was announced that Indianapolis manager Jim Taylor would move his club to Detroit. To make things more confusing for fans, the Chicago American Giants, whose ballpark had been converted to a dog track, were forced to look for another home field and made arrangements to play at Perry Stadium, in the recently-vacated Indianapolis.¡5

June 5, ¡933 — Satchel Paige Strikes Out ¡5 On ladies’ night at Greenlee Field in Pittsburgh, an estimated 5,000 fans (2,000 of them women) watched Crawfords hurler Satchel Paige strike out ¡5 Chicago American Giants batters on his way to a 3–¡ win. William “Sug” Cornelius started for the American Giants and needed relief from Willie Foster.¡6

June 23, ¡933 — Negro National League Meeting in Pittsburgh The Negro National League met at Greenlee Field in Pittsburgh¡7 and Cum Posey and the Homestead Grays were expelled from the league for using players who were under contract with the Detroit franchise.¡8 Posey, in a letter published in the Pittsburgh Courier, said that he was going to quit the NNL anyway because he was finding it di‡cult to make money playing league ball, partly because Chicago lacked a home park. Instead, Posey said he would barnstorm with the Grays.¡9 In addition, the secondhalf schedule was completed at this meeting.20

July 8, ¡933 — Chicago American Giants Win Negro National League First Half On July 8,* the Chicago American Giants scored three first-inning runs o› Satchel Paige and went on to win 5–3 at Greenlee Field in Pittsburgh and clinch the NNL firsthalf pennant. The standings were reported with the Chicago American Giants (2¡–7) in first place, followed by the Pittsburgh Crawfords (20–8), the Nashville Elite Giants (¡7–¡3), the Baltimore Black Sox (¡0–¡0), the Detroit Stars (¡3–23), and the Columbus Bluebirds (¡¡–24).2¡ *Date based on Pittsburgh Courier (¡5 July ¡933).

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July ¡4, ¡933 — C.W. Strothers Dies in Harrisburg C.W. Strothers, one-time owner of the Harrisburg Giants and a member of the Eastern Colored League from ¡924 to ¡927, died in Harrisburg, Pa. Strothers would be buried in Lincoln cemetery. Beginning in ¡9¡6, Strothers operated a poolroom and restaurant on Strawberry Street in Harrisburg.22

September 9, ¡933 — Willie Foster and Oscar Charleston Make Radio Appearance One day before the first East-West All-Star game, Chicago radio station WGN broadcast interviews with Chicago American Giants pitcher Willie Foster and Oscar Charleston of the Pittsburgh Crawfords.23

September ¡0, ¡933 — First East-West Game, at Comiskey Park in Chicago This was the first East-West All-Star game. It would be an annual event at Comiskey Park in Chicago and was among the highlights of each season, drawing large crowds and generating a lot of press coverage. Roy Sparrow was given credit for the idea by many baseball insiders, including Homestead Grays owner Cum Posey and sportswriters Alvin Moses and William G. Nunn. The arrangements and the financial backing for this first year came from Gus Greenlee (Pittsburgh Crawfords), Tom Wilson (Nashville Elite Giants) and Robert Cole (Chicago American Giants).24 The East scored three runs in the fourth inning to lead 3–¡, but the West came right back in the bottom of the fourth on a three-run homer by Mule Suttles and added three more runs each in the sixth and seventh innings to win the inaugural East-West game ¡¡–7. Willie Foster went the distance for the West, and the East used three pitchers, Sam Streeter, Bert Hunter and George Britt. Clubs were chosen by fans through ballots in the newspapers. John Henry Lloyd managed the East team, and Jim Taylor managed the West. Attendance estimates ranged from ¡5,000 to 20,000 fans.25

October 7, ¡933 — Report from Negro National League Secretary John L. Clark On October 7, a season recap by Negro National League Secretary John Clark was published in the press. Clark said that only three clubs, the Chicago American Giants, the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Nashville Elite Giants remained in the NNL when the league season ended. All other clubs dropped out, including the Baltimore Black Sox* and a combined Akron-Cleveland team, which had both joined mid-season. Second-half standings printed along with Clark’s story had the Crawfords (¡5–7) in first place, followed by the Chicago American Giants (¡4–7), the Nashville Elite Giants *Homestead Grays owner Cum Posey said in his Pittsburgh Courier column (3 March ¡934) that the Baltimore Black Sox dropped out of the NNL after a road trip with stops in Detroit, Columbus and Pittsburgh.

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(¡¡–6), the Columbus Blue Birds (5–8), the Detroit Stars (6–¡0), the Baltimore Black Sox (¡–2), and Cleveland (2–¡0).26 Before this, because of the uncertain status of the Cleveland-Akron franchise, the second-half standings had been questioned, and it was agreed to resolve the question with a five-game playo› between the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Nashville Elite Giants scheduled to begin September 30. The winner was supposed to play the firsthalf pennant winner, the Chicago American Giants.27 Press reports suggest that the Crawfords defeated the Elite Giants to win the second-half playo›, but the details of this and the subsequent championship series between the Chicago American Giants and the Pittsburgh Crawfords are unclear. It was said that the American Giants sent only seven players to a scheduled game in Wheeling, W.Va., and later that the players chose not to play a game in Pittsburgh and consequently the series was forfeited to the Crawfords.28

¡934 January ¡3, ¡934 — Meeting of Negro National League in Pittsburgh The first Negro National League meeting of ¡934 was at Gus Greenlee’s Crawford Grill in Pittsburgh. Greenlee invited representatives of ¡2 clubs, including Ed Bolden (Philadelphia Stars), Joe Cambria (Baltimore Black Sox), Robert A. Cole (Chicago American Giants), Tom Wilson (Nashville Elite Giants), J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs), DeHart Hubbard, Tenny Blount, and Prentice Byrd. In addition it was believed that representatives from teams in Akron, Indianapolis, Columbus and Dayton would attend. Many of those invited did not attend, especially those based on the East Coast, like Philadelphia’s Ed Bolden. Among those listed in attendance were Tom Wilson, Prentice Byrd, Cum Posey (though he had not been invited), Charlie Walker, John Clark and Greenlee. It was suggested that Nashville Elite Giants owner Tom Wilson might move his club nearer to league cities.¡ Homestead Grays owner Cum Posey in his review of the meeting for the Pittsburgh Courier stressed the need of the NNL to work with New York booking agent Nat Strong to ensure a strong schedule.2

February ¡0, ¡934 — Meeting of Negro National League in Philadelphia Club owners attending the NNL meeting at the Citizen’s Republican Club in Philadelphia included Robert Cole, L.R. Williams, Harry Passon, Ed Bolden, Ed Gottlieb, Charles Tyler and Gus Greenlee, who also represented the interests of Tom Wilson. In addition to the owners, journalists W. Rollo Wilson, Orrin C. Evans, Randy Dixon, and Philadelphia Stars manager Webster McDonald sat in on the meeting. At the meeting plans were made to reform the Negro National League into a six-team circuit comprising the Pittsburgh Crawfords, the Nashville Elite Giants, the Chicago Amer-

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ican Giants, and the Philadelphia Stars, along with teams in Cleveland and Newark. The inclusion of Harry Passon’s Philadelphia-based Bacharach Giants was considered, but the objection of Philadelphia Stars owner Ed Bolden resulted in the retraction of Passon’s membership bid. Robert Cole’s appearance was a surprise to some who believed that his Chicago American Giants would not enter the Negro National League in ¡934. On February 9, one day before the meeting, the New York Black Yankees agreed to an associate status with the Negro National League.3 In correspondence with Pittsburgh Courier sportswriter W. Rollo Wilson, James Semler explained that the club’s limited position in the league was a result of the Black Yankees not having a home field and being dependent on booking agent Nat Strong.4 At the February ¡0 meeting the Pittsburgh Crawfords, according to one report, o›ered to trade Cool Papa Bell to the Philadelphia Stars for Rap Dixon. Philadelphia rejected the o›er and countered by substituting Josh Gibson for Bell. Pittsburgh declined.5

March ¡0, ¡934 — Meeting of Negro National League in Philadelphia A meeting of the Negro National League was held at the Citizen’s Republican Club in Philadelphia to elect o‡cers and to consider other clubs for membership. Gus Greenlee was reelected chairman, and in a move that was applauded by the press, Pittsburgh Courier sportswriter W. Rollo Wilson was named commissioner. In other business, the Homestead Grays and the Bacharach Giants were admitted as associates of the NNL6. Those in attendance included Gus Greenlee (Pittsburgh Crawfords), R. Citriano (Baltimore), H.G. Hall (Chicago American Giants), Douglass Smith (of Washington, D.C.), Ed Bolden (Philadelphia Stars), Cum and See Posey (Homestead Grays), Charlie Tyler (Newark Dodgers), Harry Passon (Bacharach Giants), Vernon Green (Baltimore Black Sox), Tom Wilson (Nashville Elite Giants), Jim Taylor, Ed Gottlieb, Dick Lundy, Webster McDonald, Otto Briggs, W. Rollo Wilson, and Randy Dixon.7

March 24, ¡934 — Bulletin from Negro National League Commissioner Wilson Several African-American weekly newspapers published a bulletin issued by Negro National League Commissioner W. Rollo Wilson in which, in his first o‡cial act, he announced that he had settled a dispute between the Philadelphia Stars and the Cleveland Red Sox regarding the rights to A.D. Creacy. Creacy had a contract with Philadelphia, Wilson explained, but he subsequently agreed with the management of the Cleveland club to be their manager. Wilson awarded Creacy to the Stars and declared that a similar o›ense in the future by Creacy would lead to a suspension.8

March 3¡, ¡934 — Second Bulletin from Negro National League Commissioner Negro National League Commissioner Wilson’s second bulletin was announced in the black press. In his ruling on an argument between Gus Greenlee’s Pittsburgh Crawfords and Cum Posey’s Homestead Grays for the rights to Vic Harris and Leroy

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Morney, Wilson decided that the rights to both Harris and Morney belonged to the Pittsburgh Crawfords. His judgment was based on the fact that Posey didn’t produce any documentation to support his case and that since the middle of the ¡933 season (see June 23, ¡933), when Homestead’s a‡liation with the Negro National League was temporarily severed, the rights to Homestead Grays players were not recognized by the NNL. The Grays were reinstated to the NNL as associate members at the March ¡0, ¡934, meeting, but by then the players in question had been signed by Greenlee.9 Posey argued that he possessed the rights because Harris and Morney had finished the previous season with the Grays. A counter argument suggested that the Grays had not met the terms of the players’ contracts.¡0

April 2¡, ¡934 — Negro National League Commissioner Issues Bulletins 3 and 4 Two more bulletins were issued by Negro National League Commissioner W. Rollo Wilson and published in the press. In his third directive to the NNL, Wilson declared that a reserve list would be honored until May 5. After that time any player not under contract would be free to sign with any league club. The fourth bulletin laid out the conditions under which a contract would be considered o‡cial.¡¡

April 22, ¡934 — Debut of Buck Leonard According to Homestead Grays owner Cum Posey, future Hall-of-Famer Walter “Buck” Leonard played the first game of what would be a ¡7-year career with the Homestead Grays. Posey told readers that he had hoped to sign the first baseman during the ¡933 season but was unable to until the spring of ¡934.¡2 In his autobiography, Leonard recalled that while he was playing with the non-league Brooklyn Royal Giants in New York, he was spotted by another future Hall-of-Famer, Smokey Joe Williams, who was then retired from baseball and tending bar in Harlem. Williams recommended Leonard to Posey, who o›ered Leonard a contract over the telephone based on Williams’ assessment.¡3

May 5, ¡934 — Bulletin Five from the Negro National League Commissioner The fifth bulletin issued by Negro National League Commissioner W. Rollo Wilson appeared in the black press. It addressed the question of the rights to two players, Irving “Lefty” Vincent, then playing with the Pittsburgh Crawfords, and Emil Brooks, then with the Cleveland Red Sox. Commissioner Wilson ruled that the Homestead Grays possessed the rights to both players and that they would report to that club after Homestead compensated the Crawfords and Red Sox for some expenses associated with the players.¡4 Grays owner Cum Posey criticized the decision, and by the time the May 26 issue of the Pittsburgh Courier went to press, Posey pointed out, Brooks was still with Cleveland.¡5

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May ¡2, ¡934 — Opening Day of Negro National League In opening day action in the Negro National League, the Pittsburgh Crawfords, with William Bell on the mound, beat the Chicago American Giants and Willie Foster in Chicago. Elsewhere, the Philadelphia Stars defeated the Newark Dodgers ¡2–0 at Passon Field in Philadelphia. The Cleveland Red Sox had been scheduled to play the Homestead Grays, an associate member, in a three-game series in Pittsburgh, with the middle game in Cleveland. However, Cleveland was unable to secure a field for its home portion of the series on May ¡3 and requested that Homestead host that game as well. It was reported that Homestead did not agree with Cleveland’s request, leading to the cancellation of the whole series.¡6 Grays owner Cum Posey denied this in his Pittsburgh Courier column and suggested that he was willing to play the series but that the Red Sox were told by Gus Greenlee to stay in New Orleans, where they had been spring training.¡7 The Nashville Elite Giants weren’t scheduled to open until May ¡9,¡8 when they lost 5–3 to Ted Trent and the Chicago American Giants at Cole’s Park in Chicago.¡9

June 28 and 29, ¡934 — Negro National League Meeting Creates Second-Half Schedule NNL owners gathered for a two-day meeting of the Negro National League at the Roadside Hotel in Philadelphia to create the league schedule for the second half of the season. NNL Commissioner W. Rollo Wilson said that the league was working to create a balanced schedule in which clubs would play the same number of games but that so far it had been impossible. In other schedule news, it was announced that the Nashville Elite Giants would play all of their second half games on the road because travel to Nashville was considered too di‡cult for the other NNL clubs.20 The NNL also agreed to admit the Bacharach Giants and the Baltimore Black Sox to the league2¡ and extended a similar invitation to Cum Posey and his Homestead Grays, but Posey chose to remain an associate member of the NNL, which allowed the Grays to play more independent games.22 NNL Secretary John L. Clark believed that Posey objected to league membership because Clark was serving as secretary of both the NNL and the Pittsburgh Crawfords. Among those attending the meeting were L.R. Williams and Prentice Byrd (Cleveland Red Sox), H.G. Hall (Chicago American Giants), Gus Greenlee (Pittsburgh Crawfords), Ed Bolden and Webster McDonald (Philadelphia Stars), Charles H. Tyler and Dick Lundy (Newark Dodgers), Cumberland Posey and Rufus Jackson (Homestead Grays), Chick Passon (Bacharach Giants), James Semler (New York Black Yankees), and NNL Commissioner W. Rollo Wilson.23

July 4, ¡934 — Fourth of July No-Hitter for Satchel Paige Satchel Paige threw a no-hitter against the Homestead Grays in the first game of a holiday doubleheader to lead the Pittsburgh Crawfords to a 4–0 win.24 In addition to keeping the Grays hitless, Paige struck out ¡7* batters, at least one in each inning, and *Game report in the Baltimore Afro American (¡4 July ¡934) di›ered with other reports and credited Paige with only ¡6 strikeouts.

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allowed only four balls to be hit out of the infield.25 After the game Paige was quoted as saying that he had previously thrown two no-hit games in his career but that he was unaware that he was on the verge of a third no-hitter until late in the game.26 In the second game, the Grays defeated the Crawfords 4–3, and Paige appeared as a reliever.27 Attendance for the two games was said to have exceeded ¡0,000.28

July 4, ¡934 — Chicago American Giants Win Negro National League First-Half Pennant The first-half schedule of the Negro National League ended on July 4 with the Chicago American Giants (¡7–6) in first place,29 followed by the Pittsburgh Crawfords (¡6–¡0), the Philadelphia Stars (¡2–9), the Newark Dodgers (6–5), the Nashville Elite Giants (¡¡–¡3), and the Cleveland Red Sox (2–22).30

August 26, ¡934 — East Wins ¡–0 in East-West Game In the second annual East-West All-Star game at Comiskey Park in Chicago, the East defeated the West ¡–0 when Cool Papa Bell drew an eighth-inning walk o› Willie Foster, stole second, and scored on Jud Wilson’s single. The West threatened to break the scoreless tie in the fourth inning when Mule Suttles tripled and tagged up on Red Parnel’s fly-ball out, but Jimmy Crutchfield’s throw beat Suttles to the plate. In the sixth, the West had a runner on second with no outs when Satchel Paige was brought in to relieve Harry Kincannon. Paige struck out the first batter and then got Turkey Stearnes and Mule Suttles to fly out to the end the inning. Paige pitched the rest of the way, preserving the shutout while striking out five. Stuart “Slim” Jones for the East and Trent for the West were the starting pitchers. Attendance estimates ranged between 20,000 and 25,000.3¡

September 3, ¡934 — Philadelphia Stars Win Negro National League Second-Half Pennant NNL’s second-half schedule ended with the Philadelphia Stars in first place. They would meet the first-half winners, the Chicago American Giants, in an NNL championship playo› series.32

September 9, ¡934 — Four-Team Doubleheader at Yankee Stadium The feature of the second game of an exhibition four-team doubleheader at Yankee Stadium was a pitcher’s duel between Satchel Paige and Slim Jones that ended in a ¡–¡ tie when the game was called because of darkness. The Philadelphia Stars scored o› Paige in the first inning when Jake Stephens walked and scored on a fielder’s choice, giving Jones a ¡–0 lead. The Philadelphia lefthander kept the Crawfords hitless until the seventh inning when Oscar Charleston singled, and managed to protect the ¡–0 lead until the eighth inning when Leroy Morney’s RBI single tied the game at ¡–¡. Paige,

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who struck out ¡2 batters, got into trouble in the ninth inning when he walked the bases full with one out but pitched out of the jam by striking out the next two batters. In the less dramatic first game, the Chicago American Giants defeated the New York Black Yankees 4–3. Attendance estimates ranged widely between ¡8,000 and 30,000.33

September ¡¡, ¡934 — American Giants Win 4–3 in Game One of Negro National League Championship The Chicago American Giants defeated the Philadelphia Stars in the first game of the Negro National League Championship series 4–334 on September ¡¡* in Philadelphia. Slim Jones relieved Rocky Ellis for the Stars in the ninth inning and lost the 3–2 lead when he gave up two runs. Willie Foster went the distance for the American Giants.35

September ¡6, ¡934 — Doubleheader Split in Negro National League Championship After reports of rain-outs in Philadelphia36 the Negro National League championship series moved to Cole’s Park in Chicago, where the American Giants and the Philadelphia Stars split a doubleheader. Ted Trent shut out the Stars and Slim Jones in the first game 3–0 and the Stars won the second game 5–3 behind the pitching of Webster McDonald. Willie Foster took the loss.37 Chicago led the series 2–¡.

September ¡7, ¡934 — American Giants Win 2–¡ in Game Four of Negro National League Championship The Chicago American Giants took a 3–¡ lead in the best-of-seven Negro National League championship series with a 2–¡ win over the Philadelphia Stars in Chicago. William “Sug” Cornelius got the win for the American Giants, and Rocky Ellis took the loss.38

September 27, ¡934 — Stars Win ¡–0 in Game Five of Negro National League Championship The Chicago American Giants and the Philadelphia Stars met in Philadelphia under the lights for the fifth game of the Negro National League championship series.39 The Stars won ¡–0 behind shutout-pitching of Rocky Ellis and trimmed the American Giants series-lead to 3–2.40

September 29, ¡934 — Stars Win 4–¡ in Game Six of Negro National League Championship Philadelphia Stars pitcher Paul Carter threw a four-hitter as the Stars defeated the Chicago American Giants 4–¡ to tie the Negro National League playo› series 3–3.4¡ *Date based on “Tuesday” reference in the Pittsburgh Courier (¡5 September ¡934).

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Two Stars players were allowed to remain in the game after they physically attacked the umpire sta› while disputing a call, prompting the American Giants to protest the game. Later, NNL Commissioner W. Rollo Wilson refused to uphold the American Giants protest.42

September 30, ¡934 — Four-Team Doubleheader at Yankee Stadium In a rematch of the September 9 game, Satchel Paige and the Pittsburgh Crawfords defeated Slim Jones and the Philadelphia Stars 3–¡ before more than 20,000 fans at Yankee Stadium in the first game of four-team doubleheader. In the shortened second game, the New York Black Yankees defeated the Chicago American Giants 3–2. NNL Commissioner W. Rollo Wilson threw the ceremonial first pitch to Bill “Bojangles” Robinson.43 Ticket prices were 55 cents for bleacher seats, $¡ for grandstand, and $¡.50 for a box seat.44

October ¡, ¡934 — 4–4 Tie in Game Seven of Negro National League Championship The Philadelphia Stars scored twice in the eighth inning to tie the seventh game of the Negro National League championship 4–4 with the Chicago American Giants at Passon Field in Philadelphia. The game remained tied and was called after nine innings.45

October 2, ¡934 — Philadelphia Stars Win Negro National League Championship The Philadelphia Stars got a complete-game shutout from Slim Jones and won the deciding game of the NNL championship series 2–0 at Passon Field in Philadelphia. Sug Cornelius started for the American Giants and gave up one run before being relieved by Ted Trent in the seventh. In addition to throwing a shutout, Jones drove in the second Stars run with a seventh-inning single o› Trent to make it 2–0. The Stars won the series 4–3, with one tie.46

¡935 January ¡0, ¡935 — Booking Agent Nat Strong Dies Nat Strong, New York–based booking agent and former owner of the Eastern Colored League Brooklyn Royal Giants, died in New Rochelle, New York. ¡ The Negro National League owners, who were meeting at the ¡35th Street YMCA in New York,

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sent flowers in Strong’s memory.2 Strong’s booking agency was taken over by Max Rosner and William Leuschner.3

January ¡¡ and ¡2, ¡935 — Negro National League Meeting in New York City Owners of the Negro National League met at the ¡35th Street YMCA in New York to make plans for the coming season. Among the business was the addition of the Alejandro Pompez’s New York Cubans to the NNL. The Cubans, along with the Brooklyn Eagles, who had been admitted before the meeting, took the place of the Baltimore Black Sox and the Cleveland Red Sox, who were dropped from the league. Plans were announced for the New York Cubans to play at Dyckman Oval in New York City while the Brooklyn Eagles had made arrangements to play at Ebbets Field, home of the National League Brooklyn Dodgers. The NNL also confirmed their commitment to stage an East-West game in ¡935 and agreed to send an NNL–sponsored club to the Denver Post Tournament.* In addition, provisions were made to fine and suspend players for aggressive behavior directed toward umpires. Among those attending were Ed Bolden and Ed Gottlieb (Philadelphia Stars), H.G. Hall (Chicago American Giants), Gus Greenlee (Pittsburgh Crawfords), Harry Passon (Bacharach Giants), Charles Tyler (Newark Dodgers), Rufus “Sonnyman” Jackson and Cum Posey (Homestead Grays), Ben Taylor and Abe Manley (Brooklyn Eagles), Alejandro Pompez (New York Cubans), and NNL Commissioner W. Rollo Wilson.4 In his address to the meeting, Wilson, who had been criticized during his inaugural season as commissioner in ¡934, noted the success of exhibition games, including the East-West game and two September doubleheaders in New York, but said that the league had not given him enough power to govern the league e›ectively.5

March 8–¡0, ¡935 — Negro National League Meeting in Philadelphia In the most significant business at the NNL meeting in Philadelphia, Commissioner W. Rollo Wilson was removed from o‡ce and the owners elected Ferdinand Q. Morton, five to three, to take his place. It was believed that Cum Posey, owner of the Homestead Grays, led the opposition to Wilson’s reelection. Wilson had ruled against Posey in a league matter in ¡934 and had consequently been criticized by the Grays owner (see 3¡ March ¡934). Pittsburgh Crawfords owner Gus Greenlee, who had been expected to vote for Wilson’s reelection, swung his support in Morton’s favor in return, it was suggested, for support for John L. Clark’s election as secretary. In other business, the schedule for the ¡935 season was created and the Bacharach Giants dropped their association with the league. All clubs posted $500 as a guarantee against forfeits.6 *The NNL didn’t send a club to the Denver Post Tournament in ¡935, but a team drawn from three NNL clubs competed in ¡936 ( Jan Sanford, The Denver Post Tournament, Cleveland: Society for American Baseball Research, 2003, 89, 54 –57). (Also see ¡¡ August ¡936.)

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May 4, ¡935 — Opening Day of Negro National League All eight clubs in the NNL were scheduled to open on May 4, but rain postponed games in Chicago, Newark, and Nashville. Only the Philadelphia Stars and the Homestead Grays managed to get a game in, and the Stars won 4–2 at Greenlee Field in Pittsburgh. Philadelphia scored three first-inning runs, Porter Charleston threw a complete game, and Louis Dula took the loss for the Grays. On May 5, other clubs opened league play as the New York Cubans, despite a complete-game ¡¡-strikeout e›ort from pitcher Martin Dihigo, lost to the Chicago American Giants 4–3 at Shrewberg Field in Chicago. William Cornelius, Willie Foster and Ted Trent combined for the Chicago victory. At Olemar Field in Irvington, New Jersey, the host Newark Dodgers dropped a doubleheader to the Brooklyn Eagles ¡¡–6 and ¡0–¡. The other league opener scheduled for May 4 between the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Detroit Elite Giants at Nashville was rained out. The Elite Giants had played for many years in Nashville, but after opening day it was intended for the club to play with Detroit as its home city.7 However, it was reported in early May that John Roesink lost the lease on Hamtramck Stadium, where the Elite Giants planned to play and, with no other suitable parks available in Detroit,8 Tom Wilson moved the club to Columbus, Ohio, where they began play by the end of May9 with Neil Park as its home field.¡0 The Crawfords opened the season without Satchel Paige, who jumped his contract and signed with a predominantly white semipro club in Bismarck, North Dakota. Joining Paige on the Bismarck club that season were Ted “Double Duty” Radcli›e, Hilton Smith, Quincy Trouppe and Barney Morris.¡¡ In other news, the NNL switched to a baseball made by Wilson after using a Worth ball for the ¡933 and ¡934 seasons. Later, Grays owner Cum Posey noted that the Wilson ball had fewer stitches and was consequently more di‡cult for pitchers to control and that it was more lively than the Worth ball.¡2

May ¡8, ¡935 — Home Opener for Brooklyn Eagles at Ebbets Field The Brooklyn Eagles opened their home season at Ebbets Field with a 2¡–7 win over the Homestead Grays. New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia threw out the ceremonial first pitch and stayed to watch the game.¡3 Double Duty Radcli›e* got the start for the Eagles, and Joe Strong took the hill for the Grays, but both pitchers needed relief help in the high-scoring game that featured nine home runs.¡4 Eagles owner E›a Manley later recalled that there were around 2,000 fans for the opener.¡5

June ¡0, ¡935 — American Giants Win ¡8–¡ Over Philadelphia Stars Turkey Stearnes had four hits, including two triples and a home run, to lead the ¡9-hit Chicago American Giant attack in an ¡8–¡ win over the Philadelphia Stars at *Radcli›e’s stay with the Eagles was short-lived, and he soon jumped to a club in Bismarck, N.D., where he played with Satchel Paige (Kyle P. McNary, Ted “Double Duty” Radcli›e: 36 Years of Pitching and Catching in Baseball’s Negro Leagues [Minneapolis: McNary Publishing, ¡994], ¡00). (Also see ¡¡ September ¡935.)

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Cole’s Park in Chicago. Philadelphia managed just six hits,¡6 and Ossie Brown went the distance on the mound for the American Giants. Willie Wells also had a good day at the plate for the American Giants, going 5 for 6.¡7

July 4, ¡935 — Pittsburgh Crawfords Win Negro National League First Half The Pittsburgh Crawfords, playing without Satchel Paige who jumped to an independent club in Bismarck, N.D., (see ¡¡ August ¡935) won the first half pennant in the Negro National League.¡8 Published standings showed the Crawfords (24–6) in first place, followed by the Columbus Elite Giants (¡8–¡¡), the Brooklyn Eagles (¡6–¡6), the Homestead Grays (¡4–¡5), the Chicago American Giants (¡5–¡7), the New York Cubans (¡¡–¡7), and the Newark Dodgers (9–2¡).¡9

July 29, ¡935 — H.G. Hall Takes Over American Giants According to a report in the Chicago Defender, Robert Cole gave control of the Chicago American Giants to the club’s business manager, H.G. Hall.20

August ¡¡, ¡935 — West Wins ¡¡–8 in East-West Game The third annual East-West game at Comiskey Park in Chicago went ¡¡ innings before the West emerged as ¡¡–8 winners after a three-run homer by Mule Suttles. Slim Jones (East) and Ray Brown (West) started the game, but both teams used several pitchers, five for the West and four for the East. The West tied the game in the sixth with three runs, and at the end of nine innings the game was tied, 4–4. In the top of the ¡0th, the East scored four times to lead 8–4, but the West came back in the bottom half and tied the game at 8–8. The East was held scoreless in the ¡¡th, but the West got things going when Cool Papa Bell drew a walk and moved to second on Sammy Hughes’s sacrifice. Martin Dihigo intentionally walked Josh Gibson, bringing up Mule Suttles. Suttles, who had been walked four times in previous at bats, hit a walk-o› three-run homer for the ¡¡–8 win.2¡ This was the first East-West game for future Hall-of-Famer Walter “Buck” Leonard who later recalled traveling to the game from Newark on an airplane with some teammates. The fare, Leonard remembered, was $44 and the trip, Leonard’s first in a plane, took 3 hours and 59 minutes.22

August ¡¡, ¡935 — Satchel Paige Calls in Fielders In the ninth inning of a lopsided game against the Twin City Colored Giants, Satchel Paige, pitching for a predominantly white semipro club in Bismarck, North Dakota, called in his fielders and attempted to strike out the side in order with just himself and his catcher on the field.* He managed to retire the first two batters on *Maceo Breedlove, who was playing for the Twin City Colored Giants in this game, thought that Bismarck left the first baseman on the field. (Kyle P. McNary, Ted “Double Duty” Radcli›e: 36 Years of Pitching and Catching in Baseball’s Negro Leagues [Minneapolis: McNary Publishing, ¡994], ¡¡2).

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strikes, but Maceo Breedlove got a base hit down the left field line to spoil Paige’s show. Paige followed by striking out the next batter to end the game. Soon after this game, Paige called in his fielders again, this time at the Wichita Tournament.23 Ted “Double Duty” Radcli›e, who was with Paige on the Bismarck club, recalled seeing Paige perform this stunt at least four times.24

August 24, ¡935 — Crawfords Win ¡¡–8 in ¡9 Innings Trailing 7–4 to start the ninth inning, the Pittsburgh Crawfords rallied to score three times to tie their game with the Chicago American Giants 7–7 and force extra innings. Both clubs scored one run each in the ¡¡th to remain deadlocked and then the pitching sta›s threw seven consecutive scoreless innings until the ¡9th, when the Pittsburgh Crawfords scored three times for the ¡¡–8 win at Cole’s Park in Chicago. The Crawfords used three pitchers, Bill Harvey, Harry Kincannon and Bert Hunter, and the American Giants used just two, Luther McDonald and Willie Foster.25 Cool Papa Bell had six hits in ¡0 times at bat for the Crawfords.26

September ¡, ¡935 — New York Cubans Clinch Second-Half Negro National League Pennant With a sweep of the Philadelphia Stars 5–¡ and 8–6, the New York Cubans clinched the second-half pennant of the Negro National League. In the first game, Cubans pitcher Johnny Taylor gave up just six hits, and Martin Dihigo and Rap Dixon homered o› Philadelphia starter Slim Jones in the 5–¡ win. In the second game, Luis Tiant got the start for the New York Cubans, and the Stars sent Paul Carter to the mound.27 The Cubans erased a 5–0 Philadelphia lead in the sixth inning with five runs on their way to the 8–6 win.28 League standings showed the New York Cubans (20–7) in first place, followed by the Pittsburgh Crawfords (¡3–9), and the Philadelphia Stars (¡4–¡0) in third place.29

September ¡3, ¡935 — Cubans Win 6–2 in Game One of Negro National League Championship The New York Cubans won the first game of the NNL championship series with the first half pennant winners, Pittsburgh Crawfords, 6–2 in a night game at Dyckman Oval in New York.30 Frank Blake threw a complete game for the Cubans, and the Crawfords sent Sam Streeter and Ernest “Spoon” Carter to the mound.3¡

September ¡4, ¡935 — Cubans Win 4–0 in Game Two of Negro National League Championship The New York Cubans took a 2–0 lead in the Negro National League championship series with a 4–0 win over the Pittsburgh Crawfords at 44th and Parkside in Philadelphia. John “Neck” Stanley threw a four-hitter, and Clyde Spearman homered to lead the Cubans.32 The Crawfords sent Roosevelt Davis to the mound.33

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September ¡5, ¡935 — Crawfords Win 3–0 in Game Three of Negro National League Championship With a 3–0 win at Dyckman Oval in New York, the Pittsburgh Crawfords trimmed the New York Cubans lead in the NNL championship series to 2–¡. Leroy Matlock for the Crawfords and Johnny Taylor for New York got the starts. The Crawfords got on the board in the first inning on Josh Gibson’s RBI base hit and added another in the fifth when Cool Papa Bell tripled and scored when the Cubans had trouble with the relay from the outfield. Oscar Charleston capped the scoring with a home run in the sixth inning.34

September ¡8, ¡935 — Cubans Win 3–2 in Game Four of Negro National League Championship The New York Cubans won the fourth game of the NNL playo› with the Pittsburgh Crawfords and took a 3–¡ lead in the series.35 The Cubans won the close game 3–2.36 Martin Dihigo got the start, and Clyde Spearman and Lazaro Salazar homered for the Cubans at Greenlee Field in Pittsburgh. The Crawfords started Leroy Matlock and used Spoon Carter and Bert Hunter in relief.37

September ¡9, ¡935 — Crawfords Win 6–¡ in Game Five of Negro National League Championship Facing elimination, the Pittsburgh Crawfords won the fifth game of the NNL championship series 6–¡ over the New York Cubans in Pittsburgh. After the Crawfords win, the Cubans led the series 3–2.38

September 20, ¡935 — Crawfords Win 7–6 in Game Six of Negro National League Championship Under the lights in Philadelphia,* the Pittsburgh Crawfords defeated the New York Cubans 7–6 in the sixth game of the NNL playo› and tied the series 3–3. The Crawfords rallied in the ninth inning on Oscar Charleston’s three-run homer to tie the game 6–6 and then pulled ahead on Judy Johnson’s bases-loaded hit that scored Pat Patterson for the 7–6 win.39 Martin Dihigo, in relief of Johnny Taylor, took the loss, and the Crawfords used three pitchers.40

September 2¡, ¡935 — Crawfords Win Negro National League Championship After trailing 3–¡ in the NNL championship series, the Pittsburgh Crawfords took their third straight game 8–7 to win the best-of-seven series with the New York Cubans *The Philadelphia Tribune (26 September ¡935) reported that this game and the September 2¡ playo› were played at 44th and Parkside in Philadelphia.

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in Philadelphia. The Crawfords scored three times in an eighth inning that featured home runs by Josh Gibson and Oscar Charleston. The Cubans threatened in the ninth and got a two-run homer from Clyde Spearman, but their rally fell one run short. Bill Harvey and Roosevelt Davis did the pitching for the Crawfords. Johnny Taylor and Luis Tiant pitched for the New York Cubans.4¡

September 22, ¡935 — Four-Team Doubleheader at Yankee Stadium According to most estimates, between 20,000 and 27,000 fans came out to Yankee Stadium for a four-team exhibition doubleheader and saw the Nashville Elite Giants defeat the New York Cubans 4–3 in the first game and the Pittsburgh Crawfords drub the Philadelphia Stars ¡2–2 in the nightcap. Shortstop Chester Williams homered twice for the Crawfords.42 In the first game the New York Cubans rallied to score twice in the ninth inning and moved to within one run, but Showboat Thomas was thrown out trying to tag up from second base for the second out, and Marceline Correa grounded out to end the game. Spoon Carter went the distance for the Crawfords, and the Philadelphia Stars used three pitchers.43 The games were not without controversy, as Satchel Paige had been advertised to appear but did not. Grays owner Cum Posey in his Pittsburgh Courier column said that Paige had asked Crawfords owner Gus Greenlee for an advance of $350 to appear in New York, but Greenlee didn’t send the money, Posey said, and Paige didn’t appear.44 Instead, Paige pitched five shutout innings for the Kansas City Monarchs at Comiskey Park, allowing just one hit while striking out eight. After Paige came out of the game, the American Giants scored seven runs o› the Monarchs’ relievers and won 7–¡.45

¡936 January 25 and 26, ¡936 — Negro National League Meeting in Philadelphia The Negro National League met at the Citizen’s Republican Club in Philadelphia. Among the business was the purchase of the Newark Dodgers by Brooklyn Eagles owner Abe Manley, who announced his intention to move his club to Newark and play at the International League stadium there. The application of the New York Black Yankees for NNL membership was put o› until a later meeting, and H.G. Hall of the Chicago American Giants was assured of associate status with the league but also got approval to try to organize western clubs.* Among those attending were Gus Greenlee, Tom Wilson, Alejandro Pompez, Abe Manley, Charles Tyler, Cum Posey, Ed Bolden, H.G. Hall and John Clark. In addition, Raleigh “Biz” Mackey was traded from the Philadelphia *Western clubs did not organize for play until ¡937 (see 20 February ¡937).

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Stars to the Elite Giants. There was some talk that Gus Greenlee had resigned his post as NNL chairman, but nothing o‡cial was announced. Greenlee attended the meeting on Saturday but missed Sunday’s meeting in order to join boxer John Henry Lewis, whom Greenlee managed.¡ In addition, it was reported that Tom Wilson received approval from the league to move the Elite Giants to Washington, D.C.2

March 7 and 8, ¡936 — Negro National League Meeting in New York The main business at the owners meeting of the Negro National League, at the ¡35th Street YMCA in New York City, was the election of o‡cers and the discussion of franchises. Gus Greenlee stepped down as league chairman and was replaced by Philadelphia Stars owner Ed Bolden. In other elections, Abe Manley was named vice chairman; John L. Clark, secretary; Tom Wilson, treasurer; and Ferdinand Q. Morton returned as NNL commissioner for a second season. Press accounts confirmed earlier reports that the Elite Giants would play in Washington, D.C., along with some home games in Baltimore, and that Abe Manley would move the Brooklyn Eagles to Newark. In other business, the New York Black Yankees were turned down for NNL membership, but they were given permission to play exhibition games with league clubs. The league would begin the season with six clubs in ¡936: the Newark Eagles, the Washington Elite Giants, the Philadelphia Stars, the New York Cubans, the Homestead Grays, and the Pittsburgh Crawfords.3

March 22, ¡936 — Negro National League Meeting in Philadelphia Owners in the NNL met in Philadelphia and created a first-half schedule beginning May 9 and ending July 5. Among those attending were Tom Wilson (Washington Elite Giants), Abe Manley (Newark Eagles), Alejandro Pompez (New York Cubans), Seward Posey (Homestead Grays), Oscar Charleston (Pittsburgh Crawfords), and Ed Gottlieb (Philadelphia Stars). In other business the NNL selected a baseball made by Worth as the o‡cial league ball and declared all players of the former NNL Chicago American Giants to be free agents.4 It was noted that the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Homestead Grays were not scheduled to play each other during the first-half schedule, and it was believed that this was the result of a dispute between Gus Greenlee and Cum Posey stemming from Posey’s intention to use Forbes Field as the Grays’ home park instead of Greenlee Field.5

May 9, ¡936 — Opening Day of Negro National League The six-team NNL opened play with a high scoring game at 44th and Parkside in Philadelphia. The hometown Stars held o› a late surge from the Homestead Grays to win ¡4–¡3. Trailing ¡3–9 to start the ninth, the Grays scored four times to tie the game, but Grays pitcher Louis Dula let it slip away in the last of the ninth when he walked Jud Wilson with the bases loaded to bring in the winning run. Samuel “Tommy” Thompson got the opening day start for the Philadelphia Stars. At Ruppert Stadium in

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Newark, the visiting Washington Elite Giants defeated the Newark Eagles 8–6 in a game dominated by home runs. Biz Mackey homered twice for the Elite Giants, who also got one each from Nish Williams,* Jim West and Zollie Wright, and Ray Dandridge homered for Newark. In other action, the Pittsburgh Crawfords met the New York Cubans6 at Hinchcli›e Stadium in Paterson, N.J., where the Crawfords got an opening day home run from Josh Gibson and won ¡9–6.7

May ¡0, ¡936 — Josh Gibson Homers Three Times in Doubleheader The Pittsburgh Crawfords swept a doubleheader from the hometown New York Cubans at Dyckman Oval 8–4 and 6–5 before more than 7,000 fans. Josh Gibson homered three times, twice in the second game, and Oscar Charleston added a homer for Pittsburgh in the first game. In the first game, Satchel Paige struck out ¡2 batters for the Crawfords and faced Chet Brewer. Sam Streeter got the start in the nightcap for the Crawfords and faced Johnny Taylor.8

June 5, ¡936 — Washington Elite Giants Win ¡6–0 The Washington Elite Giants defeated the Pittsburgh Crawfords ¡6–09 at Greenlee Field in Pittsburgh behind a one-hitter by Bill Byrd. In the fourth inning, Williams,† trying to move Cool Papa Bell to second base, laid down a sacrifice bunt that got past Elite Giants first baseman Jim West for the Crawfords’ only hit of the day. The Elite Giants gave Byrd plenty of run support with six runs in the sixth inning and a sevenrun ninth.¡0

June 8, ¡936 — Neck Stanley Throws No-Hitter On June 8! New York Cubans hurler John “Neck” Stanley threw a no-hitter while striking out ¡4 Newark Eagles batters as the Cubans won ¡2–¡ in Newburgh, N.Y. Stanley walked just two batters and one reached on an error. Stanley’s catcher was Frank Duncan.¡¡

June ¡8, ¡936 — New York Black Yankees Admitted to Negro National League The New York Black Yankees, represented by James Semler and William Leuschner, were admitted to the NNL at a league meeting in New York after the club agreed to drop their suits against Abe Manley and Alejandro Pompez.** Only the New York Cubans representatives, Roy Sparrow and Frank Forbes, opposed the move. In other business, the NNL agreed to continue to use the Worth baseball.¡2 *The Baltimore Afro American (¡6 May ¡936) credited Williams with two home runs while other reports gave him only one. † Most likely either Chester or Harry Williams.  Date based on June 8 dateline in Pittsburgh Courier (¡3 June ¡936) game report. **It was suggested that the suits stemmed from player-rights disputes (Chicago Defender, 27 June ¡936).

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July 5, ¡936 — Negro National League First-Half Pennant Contested When NNL secretary John L. Clark released the first-half standings with the Washington Elite Giants (¡4–¡0) in first place followed by the Philadelphia Stars (¡5–¡2), the second-place Stars contested the pennant because some postponed dates between the clubs that could have a›ected the outcome had not been made up. It was also suggested that the two clubs fell short of the agreed upon five-game minimum number of games between clubs. Philadelphia’s demand that the games be made up before awarding the pennant initially received opposition from Elite Giants owner Tom Wilson and manager Jim Taylor. At the end of July, NNL Commissioner Morton notified both clubs that a coming game between them would count in the first-half standings as a makeup game. Philadelphia won the game 7–¡, but Washington successfully protested and Commissioner Morton arranged a makeup series scheduled for September, after which Washington was declared first-half champion¡3 (see ¡7 September ¡936). The Elite Giants’ protest of the 7–¡ Philadelphia win was upheld because many of the club’s players were absent because they were playing in the Denver Post Tournament (see ¡¡ August ¡936).¡4

August ¡¡, ¡936 — Negro National League All Stars Win Denver Post Tournament A team of star players from the Negro National League defeated the Eason Oilers of Enid, Okla., 7–0 behind the shutout pitching of Satchel Paige to win the semipro Denver Post tournament. In addition to Paige, the team featured Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Sammy Hughes, Chester Williams, Felton Snow, Cool Papa Bell, Bill Wright, Jack Marshall, Bob Gri‡th and Ray Brown.¡5 Paige was credited with ¡8 strikeouts¡6 and allowed just two hits.¡7 Apart from the NNL club, those competing were white semipro clubs.¡8

August 23, ¡936 — East Wins ¡0–2 in East-West Game The East won the fourth annual East-West All-Star game at Comiskey Park in Chicago by a lopsided score of ¡0–2. The East led 6–0 after five innings and were never threatened by the West. Leroy Matlock (East) and William Cornelius (West) were the starting pitchers. Satchel Paige came in to start the seventh inning and struck out four while giving up two hits and one run. Attendance estimates ranged from 26,000 to 30,000.¡9

August 26, ¡936 — Stars and Black Yankees Tie 3–3 in ¡8 Innings On August 26,* the Philadelphia Stars and the New York Black Yankees played ¡8 innings in the first game of a doubleheader at Dexter Park in Brooklyn. The game ended *Date based on a “Wednesday” reference in the New York Age (5 September ¡936), and that the game was part of the Elks Convention. The New York Times (26 August ¡936) reported that 20,000 people associated with the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks had convened in Brooklyn.

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with the score tied 3–3. Webster McDonald of the Philadelphia Stars pitched all ¡8 innings, and Roosevelt Davis pitched for the Black Yankees.* McDonald, who normally threw with a submarine motion, added a spitball to his repertoire for this game, the Pittsburgh Courier reported. The game was called o› in order to get in a second game in which one of the clubs would play the hometown Bushwicks.20

September ¡4, ¡936 — Pittsburgh Crawfords Win Negro National League Second-Half Pennant The second half of the Negro National League was scheduled to end on September ¡4.2¡ Standings, for games completed through September ¡3, showed the Pittsburgh Crawfords (¡9–8) in first place, followed by the Newark Eagles (¡4–¡0), the New York Cubans (¡3–¡2), the New York Black Yankees (8–9), the Homestead Grays (¡2–¡4), the Philadelphia Stars (¡2–¡8) and the Washington Elite Giants (7–¡4).22

September ¡7, ¡936 — Elite Giants Win First Half After Make-Up Game After months of dispute (see 5 July ¡936), the first-half pennant in the Negro National League was awarded to the Washington Elite Giants after their 7–5 defeat of the Philadelphia Stars in a make-up game from the first-half schedule. Had the Stars won this game they would have needed to win another game to claim the title; the Elite Giants needed just one win.23 The Elite Giants got an early 7–0 lead, but the Stars battled back with a four-run fourth inning but after that managed to score only one more run.24

September 20, ¡936 — Benefit Game for Boxer Sam Langford Negro National League clubs met at the Polo Grounds in New York for a fourteam doubleheader to benefit former heavyweight boxer Sam Langford. Among the sporting celebrities in attendance were Jack Dempsey, Jack Johnson, Harry Wills and Jesse Owens. The main matchup pitted Satchel Paige and the Pittsburgh Crawfords against the New York Black Yankees and hurler Bill Holland in the second game. Paige threw a five-hit shutout, and Holland was not as e›ective, taking the loss 4–0. In the first game, the Washington Elite Giants broke a ninth inning tie with four runs to defeat the Philadelphia Stars 7–3. Bert Hunter, working in relief of Philadelphia starter Webster McDonald,25 walked the bases loaded in the ninth before giving up a gamewinning grand slam to Homer “Goose” Curry.26

September 2¡, ¡936 — Negro National League Playo› Ends After One Game On September 2¡,† the Washington Elite Giants defeated the second-half NNL pennant winners, the Pittsburgh Crawfords, in the first game of the NNL championship *The Pittsburgh Courier (5 September ¡936) reported that Davis was relieved by Henry McHenry. † Date based on Pittsburgh Courier (26 September ¡936) game report — the Elite Giants won 2-0.

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in Philadelphia. This was the only game played in the series. Many of the players were playing with other clubs, and though there was talk that there would be other games, they were never played. NNL Secretary John L. Clark later wrote that the clubs were considering completing the playo› during spring training in ¡937 while both clubs were in the South, but this, too, failed to materialize.27

¡937 January ¡9, ¡937 — Negro National League Meeting in New York Negro National League club owners met at the o‡ce of league Commissioner Ferdinand Q. Morton, 2352 Seventh Ave., in New York. Morton was reelected and, in other o‡ces, Leonard Williams was elected chairman; Tom Wilson, vice chairman; Abe Manley, treasurer; and Pittsburgh Courier journalist William G. Nunn, secretary. The schedule was set to begin on May ¡5, and it was agreed to close the season on September ¡5. In addition, the Homestead Grays proposed a trade with the Pittsburgh Crawfords that would send $2,500 and two players to the Crawfords in exchange for Josh Gibson and Judy Johnson.¡

February 20–2¡, ¡937 — Founding of Negro American League Franchises for the inaugural season of the Negro American League were established at a two-day meeting in Chicago. The eight-team league would include the Chicago American Giants, the Kansas City Monarchs, the Indianapolis Athletics, the Memphis Red Sox, the St. Louis Stars, the Detroit Stars, the Birmingham Black Barons, and the Cincinnati Tigers. League o‡cials included R.R. Jackson as president and Al Monroe, a sportswriter, as secretary.2 Among those attending were J.L Wilkinson (Kansas City), A.M. Walker (Birmingham), B.B. Martin (Memphis), H.G. Hall (Chicago), James Titus (Detroit), G.C. Watkins (Indianapolis), Henry L. Moore (St. Louis), Ted “Double Duty” Radcli›e, R.R. Jackson and Al Monroe.3 Wilkinson told a reporter that the Monarchs had been profitable in recent years playing independently and that he would enter the NAL only if St. Louis was represented with a strong team.4 Dehart Hubbard, winner of an Olympic gold medal for the long jump in ¡924 and later associated with the Cincinnati Tigers, was given credit by one reporter for writing the NAL constitution and doing much of the organizational work for the league.5*

*A preliminary meeting on ¡0 October ¡936 at the Senate Avenue YMCA in Indianapolis, attended by Joseph Johnson and G.C. Watkins (Indianapolis), H.G. Hall (Chicago American Giants), B.B. Martin (Memphis Red Sox), DeHart Hubbard (Cincinnati Tigers), A.M. Walker (Birmingham Black Barons), A.G. Titus (Detroit), J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs) and Dizzy Dismukes (St. Louis), was reported by the Indianapolis Recorder (¡7 October ¡936).

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March 20, ¡937 — Josh Gibson Traded at Negro National League Meeting At the March 20* Negro National League meeting in New York, the big news was the consummation of the deal proposed at an earlier meeting that sent Pittsburgh Crawford Josh Gibson to the Homestead Grays along with Judy Johnson† in exchange for Pepper Bassett, Henry Spearman, and $2,500. In other business, Gus Greenlee was named president, and Negro American League Secretary Al Monroe relayed the desire of NAL owners to reach an agreement with the NNL to respect player contracts.6 In addition, a 96-game schedule with one pennant winner instead of a split season was agreed to.7

May 8, ¡937 — Opening Day of Negro American League While the o‡cial opening day was reported as May 8, two series, one featuring the Chicago American Giants and the Birmingham Black Barons at Birmingham, and the other between the Kansas City Monarchs and the Memphis Red Sox in Memphis, were scheduled for May 2 because these clubs were already in the South.8 On May 8 at Indianapolis,! the St. Louis Stars scored six runs in the eighth inning on their way to a ¡0–8 defeat of the Indianapolis Athletics. The weekend’s other game,** between clubs who hadn’t opened the season yet, featured the Cincinnati Tigers and the Detroit Stars.9

May ¡5, ¡937 — Opening Day of the Negro National League In opening day play, the Pittsburgh Crawfords swept a doubleheader from the visiting Washington Elite Giants at Greenlee Field in Pittsburgh. The Crawfords won the first game 7–6 and took the second game by another one-run margin.¡0 Bob Gri‡th, who started the opener for the Elite Giants, took a 5–4 lead into the eighth inning, but the Crawfords scored three times in that inning, twice on Oscar Charleston’s home run, to lead 7–5. Barney Morris started the opener for the Crawfords.¡¡ The New York Black Yankees and the Philadelphia Stars opened the ¡937 season at 44th and Parkside in Philadelphia, and the hometown Stars won 8–7.¡2 A three-run rally by the Stars in the ninth inning was the di›erence.¡3 In the day’s other game, the visiting Homestead Grays defeated the Newark Eagles ¡0–3.¡4 The Grays, playing without their injured first baseman, Buck Leonard, got a strong start from Tom Parker, who pitched a complete game, striking out nine batters while also leading the Grays at the plate with a home run and two doubles. Terris McDu‡e started for Newark and pitched a complete game but took the loss.¡5 This season the Eagles featured an infield that Ray Dandridge later described as the “one million-dollar infield,” featuring himself, along with Mule Suttles, Dick Seay, and Willie Wells.¡6 The NNL began play with the same teams from the ¡936 season except for the New *The New York Amsterdam News (27 March ¡937) reported that this meeting spanned March ¡9–2¡. † Johnson retired instead of playing with the Grays in ¡937.  The Athletics played at Perry Stadium this season. **The Chicago Defender (27 February ¡937) listed this game for May 8, while another report (Chicago Defender, 3 April ¡937) listed this game for May 9.

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York Cubans because club owner Alejandro Pompez was reportedly arrested in Mexico on charges stemming from his involvement in the numbers business, a form of illegal gambling.¡7 In other news, several prominent players, including Satchel Paige and eight other members of the Pittsburgh Crawfords, jumped their NNL contracts for more lucrative o›ers to play for clubs in the Dominican Republic, including one run by that country’s president, Rafael Trujillo, who used the club as a public relations tool. Cool Papa Bell, George Scales, Sam Bankhead, Bill Perkins, and Thaddeus Christopher were also among those who signed to play in the Dominican Republic. The players began returning after the Dominican season in late July.¡8

May ¡6, ¡937 — Hilton Smith Throws No-Hitter Against Chicago American Giants Before a reported attendance of ¡6,500,¡9 Hilton Smith threw a no-hitter to lead the Kansas City Monarchs to a 4–0 win against the Chicago American Giants in the first game of a doubleheader in Kansas City. Smith allowed one walk, which gave the American Giants their only base runner, but he was retired in a double play. William “Sug” Cornelius was on the losing end for the American Giants despite allowing just three hits.20 The Monarchs gave Smith an early lead with two runs in the first inning, including one on a double steal.2¡

June ¡0, ¡937 — Josh Gibson Leaves Grays for Dominican Republic The Homestead Grays announced that Josh Gibson would board a plane for Miami on June ¡0 en route to the Dominican Republic, where he would join other NNL players who had left their clubs for more lucrative o›ers (see ¡5 May ¡937).22 Unlike some of the other players, Gibson, who was believed to have been promised at least $300 a week to play in the Dominican Republic, left with the consent of his club’s owner, Cumberland Posey.23

July 4, ¡937 — First-Half Pennant in Negro American League Is Contested After the first half of the NAL split season ended, the Kansas City Monarchs were declared the pennant winners.24 The second-place Chicago American Giants contested the standings based on some protested results,25 and a statement was later issued by NAL President R.R. Jackson in which he outlined the games played and determined that the two clubs finished the first half in a tie, both with ¡8–8 records.26 By the end of the month it was believed that the clubs would have a playo› in September to settle the deadlock27 (see 8 September ¡937).

July 5, ¡937 — Homestead Grays Win First Half Negro National League Pennant The first-half schedule ended on July 5 with the Homestead Grays in first place.28

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August 8, ¡937 — East Wins 7–2 in East-West Game The East came away 7–2 winners before an estimated 20,000 fans in the fifth annual East-West all-star game at Chicago’s Comiskey Park. Buck Leonard got the scoring started with a second-inning home run to put the East up ¡–0. 29 The East added two runs in the fourth, one in the seventh, before capping o› the win with a three-run eighth. The West had just five hits.30

August 9, ¡937 — Denver Post Tournament A team known as Ciudad Trujillo, comprising many of the players who jumped the Negro Leagues to play in the Dominican Republic this season (see ¡5 May ¡937), won the Denver Post Tournament with a ¡¡–¡ win behind pitcher Leroy Matlock in the second game of a doubleheader against the Haliburtons of Duncan, Okla. In the first game, the Haliburtons gave the Ciudad Trujillo club, with Satchel Paige on the mound, its first loss of the tournament, 6–4. It has been suggested that Ciudad Trujillo did not try to win the first game because they did not think that Paige, who joined the team after the tournament started, deserved the $¡,000 bonus given to the winning pitcher in the deciding game. In addition to Paige and Matlock, Ciudad Trujillo featured Cool Papa Bell, Harry Williams, Chet Brewer, George Scales, Pat Patterson and Red Parnell, among others.3¡

September 5, ¡937 — Chicago American Giants Win Second-Half Negro American League With a sweep of a doubleheader against the Memphis Red Sox the Chicago American Giants clinched the NAL second-half pennant. The American Giants won the first game 4–2 and took the second game 5–2.32 Sug Cornelius went the distance in the opener, allowing just seven hits for the American Giants, and the pennant-winners got a combined six-hitter in the second game from Willie Foster and Norman Cross.33

September 8–¡7, ¡937 — Negro American League Playo› With the NAL first-half championship still undecided (see 4 July ¡937) the Kansas City Monarchs and the American Giants began a playo› series in Dayton, Ohio, on September 8,34 and the American Giants won the first game, 5–4.35 The teams met again in Chicago on September ¡2 and played ¡7 innings before the game was called with the teams tied 2–2.36 The Monarchs then took a 2–¡ series lead with a sweep of a doubleheader ¡0–7 and 4–¡, and the series moved to Indianapolis.* The Monarchs won the best-of-seven series on September ¡7 at Muehlebach Stadium in Kansas City when they broke a ¡–¡ tie in the ninth inning on a Frank Duncan walk and a Willard Brown RBI to win 2–¡. Sug Cornelius took the complete-game loss for the American Giants, and *The Indianapolis Recorder (¡¡ September ¡937) announced a game for September ¡5 at Perry Stadium. Based on the context of a seven game series, Kansas City won this game, though it’s not clear what the score was.

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Frank Bradley and Hilton Smith pitched for the Monarchs.37 For observers like the Chicago Defender’s Frank Young, the NAL championship was still unclear because there hadn’t been a playo› between the first- and second-half winners.38

September ¡9, ¡937 — Johnny Taylor Throws No-Hitter Against Satchel Paige At the Polo Grounds, New York Cubans pitcher Johnny “Schoolboy” Taylor, leading a team comprising star players from the Negro National League, including catcher Biz Mackey, threw a no-hitter and won 2–0 against the team that had recently returned from the Dominican Republic, led by Satchel Paige. Paige pitched well, allowing just two runs on eight hits but it was Taylor’s day. In addition to keeping the opposition hitless, he allowed only two walks and didn’t let any base runner move beyond first base. The game was scoreless until the eighth inning when Jim West homered over the left field stands with Henry Kimbro on base to give the NNL all-stars a 2–0 lead.39

September ¡9–26, ¡937 — Grays Win Postseason Series The Homestead Grays and the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League joined forces and won six of seven reported postseason games against a combined team of the Chicago American Giants and Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League.* Among the Monarchs players added to the American Giants were Bill Simms, Frank Duncan, and Ted Strong, and the Grays supplemented their roster with Willie Wells, Ray Dandridge, and Terris McDu‡e of the Eagles. In the first game, the Grays defeated the American Giants 5–2 in Chicago40 before an estimated 6,000 fans.4¡ On September 20, the Homestead Grays-Newark Eagles defeated the Chicago American Giants-Kansas City Monarchs 3–0 before an estimated ¡,700 fans at Perry Stadium in Indianapolis. Grays pitcher Day† struck out ¡7 batters, and Hilton Smith took the loss.42 The clubs met again on September 24 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh and the Grays got a combined shutout from Louis Dula and Ray Brown plus an inside-thepark three-run homer from Ray Dandridge in the eighth inning on their way to a 9–0 win.43 The Grays won two more games on September 25 when they swept the American Giants, ¡3–8 and ¡0–7, at 48th and Spruce in Philadelphia. In the second game, the Grays won with an eighth-inning rally, after trailing 7–4.44 The series moved to Oriole Park in Baltimore on Sunday, September 26, where the clubs split a doubleheader.45!

September 26, ¡937 — Satchel Paige Wins Rematch with Johnny Taylor In a rematch of a September ¡9 game, Satchel Paige and an all-star team comprising players who played in the Dominican Republic defeated Johnny Taylor and a team *In press reports the clubs were most often referred to as the American Giants and the Homestead Grays. † This was most likely Leon Day.  Reporting on this series was not as complete as other series; it is not clear if the series concluded on September 26 or if other games were played.

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of players from the Negro National League 9–4 in the first game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. Paige threw a complete game, allowing just seven hits, and Taylor couldn’t duplicate his earlier performance and gave up seven runs in just five innings before being lifted for reliever Andy Porter. The NNL won a shortened second game ¡–0, with Bill Holland getting the win and Chet Brewer taking the loss. Attendance reports ranged between 20,000 and 35,000.46

December ¡¡, ¡937 — Negro American League Meeting in Chicago Clubs of the Negro American League met at the Appomattox Club in Chicago and reelected R.R. Jackson president; J.B. Martin, vice president; Frank Young, secretary; and J.L. Wilkinson, treasurer. Among the league business was the imposition of a $2,200 monthly salary cap and the decision to consider an o‡cial baseball for league use because, the Chicago Defender noted, NAL clubs had been using a variety of baseball brands, causing di‡culty for pitchers.47

¡938 January 28 and 29, ¡938 — Meeting of Negro National League in Pittsburgh At a two-day meeting in Pittsburgh, owners in the Negro National League decided to remove Ferdinand Q. Morton as NNL commissioner and replace that o‡ce with a committee of three owners, Tom Wilson, Abe Manley and Gus Greenlee, with Greenlee as chairman. Cum Posey was elected secretary-treasurer. In addition, it was agreed that those players who had jumped their contracts in ¡937 and played in the Dominican Republic would be welcomed back to the NNL. Morton had previously called a meeting for January 6 in New York,¡ but Greenlee, Posey and Wilson did not attend.2

February ¡9, ¡938 — Meeting of Negro American League in Chicago Club owners in the Negro American League convened in Chicago at the Appomattox Club to prepare for the ¡938 season. The St. Louis, Detroit and Cincinnati franchises were dropped from the league and the owners settled on a six-club format comprising the Kansas City Monarchs, the Chicago American Giants, the Indianapolis ABCs, the Memphis Red Sox, the Birmingham Black Barons, and the Atlanta Black Crackers. The Jacksonville Red Caps were included as associate members, and their games would not count in the NAL standings. Among those attending were NAL President R.R. Jackson, H.G. Hall (Chicago American Giants), T.R. Strong (Indianapolis ABCs), J.B. and B.B. Martin (Memphis Red Sox), W.B. Baker (Atlanta Black Crackers), Alonzo Mitchell (Jacksonville Red Caps), H.L. Moore (Birmingham Black Barons), J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs), and George Mitchell.3

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March 5 and 6, ¡938 — Meeting of Negro National League in Philadelphia The Negro National League admitted the Washington Black Senators and a club from Bu›alo to the league during a meeting at the Roadside Hotel in Philadelphia. The admission of the Black Senators was made possible when Tom Wilson moved his Elite Giants franchise from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore for the ¡938 season. In other business, the NNL chose umpires, created a schedule, and decided to impose a fine of one month’s salary on each of those players who jumped their NNL contracts to play in the Dominican Republic in ¡937. In addition, Memphis Red Sox (NAL) owner J.B. Martin proposed R.R. Jackson as commissioner for both the NAL and NNL, but there was opposition to the proposal and the idea was tabled.4 One report noted that the Bu›alo club received only associate status and was not a full league member.5

April 23, ¡938 — Report of Cristobal Torriente’s Death The Chicago Defender reported that former Cuban Stars and American Giants player Cristobal Torriente died in New York after an unspecified illness that had kept him hospitalized since July ¡937.6

May ¡3–¡5, ¡938 — Opening Day of the Negro American League The Negro American League season opened with one game on May ¡3, the Birmingham Black Barons at the Atlanta Black Crackers, and on May ¡5 the four other clubs got into league action with the Chicago American Giants at the Kansas City Monarchs and the Indianapolis ABCs visiting the Memphis Red Sox.7 In their only season in the NAL, the Atlanta Black Crackers opened against the Birmingham Black Barons with a 2–0 win behind the shutout pitching of Eddie “Bullet” Dixon.8 Earlier that spring the Atlanta club was reportedly purchased by W.B. Baker from Mike Schaine,9 and for a short time the club was known as the Atlanta Red Sox,¡0 but the name was changed back to the original Black Crackers nickname before the season started. One reported objection to the name, from Negro American League Commissioner R.R. Jackson, pointed out that the NAL already had a club called the Red Sox in Memphis.¡¡ On May ¡5, the Chicago American Giants opened their Negro American League season at Ruppert Stadium (formerly known as Muehlebach) with the hometown Kansas City Monarchs. The Giants won the first game of the doubleheader 4–2, and the Monarchs took the second game 3–0. Starters for the opener were Jess Huston for the American Giants and Hilton Smith for the Monarchs.¡2 Attendance was reported as about 6,000.¡3 At Martin’s Park in Memphis, the hometown Red Sox swept a doubleheader from the Indianapolis ABCs ¡0–0 and 8–7. Willie Je›erson got the win in the opener, and the ABCs pitcher Frank McAllister took the loss. In the second game the Red Sox overcame a 7–3 deficit with five runs in the bottom of the ninth for the win.¡4

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May ¡4, ¡938 — Opening Day of Negro National League All the NNL opening day games scheduled for May ¡4 were rained out, and play began instead on May ¡5.¡5 The Philadelphia Stars and the Baltimore Elite Giants opened the season at Bugle Field in Baltimore. The Elite Giants scored ¡7 runs on ¡2 hits and led ¡0–¡ after six innings in a convincing ¡7–9 win. Robert Gri‡th went the distance for the Elite Giants, and the Philadelphia Stars sent three pitchers to the mound.¡6 In a matchup of the two new NNL franchises, the Washington Black Senators defeated Bu›alo* ¡¡–9 at Gri‡th Stadium in Washington, D.C. The weather was poor and attendance figures ranged from 800 to ¡,000.¡7 In other action, the Homestead Grays and the New York Black Yankees, rained out the day before at Greenlee Field in Pittsburgh, played their first game of the season in Cumberland, Md., where Ray Brown threw a five-hitter, leading the Grays to 2–0 win.¡8 At Ruppert Stadium, the International League park in Newark, N.J., the Newark Eagles defeated the Philadelphia Stars 6–3 behind the seven-hit pitching of Terris McDu‡e. Philadelphia Stars pitcher Theolic Smith took the loss, and Ray Dandridge had a good day at the plate, going 3 for 4.¡9 In Negro National League news, it was reported that the league would use the “Wilson ¡50 CC” baseball for the ¡938 season.20

June 26, ¡938 — Four-Team Doubleheader at Yankee Stadium An estimated ¡5,000 fans turned up at Yankee Stadium to see a four-team doubleheader to aid the Greater New York Fund. In the first game, the Philadelphia Stars beat the Baltimore Elite Giants with a ninth inning rally, and the Pittsburgh Crawfords beat the New York Black Yankees in the five-inning second game behind the pitching of Johnny Taylor.2¡ This was the first New York appearance for the Black Yankees, who still had not secured a field in New York after their previous home, Dyckman Oval, had been razed after the ¡937 season.22

July 4, ¡938 — Memphis Red Sox Win Negro American League First-Half Pennant The Memphis Red Sox won the first game of a doubleheader ¡2–5 with the Kansas City Monarchs in Kansas City and clinched the Negro American League first-half pennant. When the two clubs began the four-game series both the Red Sox and the Monarchs had a chance to win the pennant. Memphis needed only a series split, and the Monarchs needed to win three of four. After splitting the doubleheader on July 3, the Red Sox’ win in the opening game in the July 4 doubleheader was enough to push them over the top.23 The Red Sox collected ¡6 hits, three each from Neil Robinson, Red Longley and Jelly Taylor, and got eight-plus innings of relief from Lefty Wilson, who came in for Robert Madison after Madison faced just two batters.24 The final standings *There were di›ering reports about the Bu›alo nickname. In reports for the May ¡5 game, they were referred to as the “Aces” (Philadelphia Tribune, ¡9 May ¡938) and the “Bisons” (Baltimore Afro American, 2¡ May ¡938). Bu›alo was also referred to as an associate member (see March 5 ¡938).

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were reported with Memphis (2¡–4) in first place and Kansas City (¡9–5) in second place.25*

July ?, ¡938 — Grays Win Negro National League First-Half Pennant The final first-half standings were listed with the Homestead Grays (26–6) in first place, followed by the Philadelphia Stars (20–¡¡), the Newark Eagles (¡¡–¡¡), the Pittsburgh Crawfords (¡4–¡4), the Baltimore Elite Giants (¡2–¡4), the New York Black Yankees (4–¡7) and the Washington Black Senators (¡–20).26†

July ¡4, ¡938 — Frank Bradley Throws Six-Inning No-Hitter On July ¡4,! Kansas City Monarchs pitcher Frank Bradley threw a six-inning nohitter in a 3–0 win over the Birmingham Black Barons in Oklahoma City. The game went 5∂ innings before being called for rain.27

July 28, ¡938 — Josh Gibson Homers Four Times Against Memphis In a night game between the Homestead Grays and the Memphis Red Sox at Mack Park in Zanesville, Ohio, the Grays got a ¡0-run fifth inning and four home runs from Josh Gibson28 on their way to a ¡7–4 win.29** Gibson homered twice in the fifth inning and hit two each o› Red Sox pitchers Cli›ord Allen and Porter Moss. In all, there were nine home runs hit in this game, eight by the Grays (in addition to Gibson, Buck Leonard hit two, while Jelly Jackson and Vic Harris had one each), and one by the Red Sox’ Willie Je›erson. This game was part of a nine-game series in which the Grays went undefeated and Gibson hit a total of nine homers. The tour started with a four-team doubleheader in New York and followed with stops in Indianapolis; Pittsburgh; Dayton, Ohio; Beckley, W.Va.; and Zanesville before finishing in the Pennsylvania towns of Greenburg and Middleton.30††

August 2¡, ¡938 — West Wins 5–4 in East-West Game About 30,000 fans showed up at Comiskey Park in Chicago and saw the West defeat the East 5–4 in the sixth annual East-West game. After West starting pitcher *Before the series the Atlanta Daily World (¡ July ¡938) reported that Memphis had a ¡6–2 record with Kansas City in second place at ¡5–3, which suggests that the final standings would have been Memphis (¡8–4) and Kansas City (¡7–5). While these figures di›ered from the Chicago Defender (9 July ¡938), the implications for the four-game July 4 series were the same. † The last day of the NNL schedule is unclear. Also, the second half NNL schedule in the Baltimore Afro American (9 July ¡938) didn’t include the Bu›alo franchise ! Date based on “Thursday” reference in the Chicago Defender (¡6 July ¡938) game report. **The Atlanta Daily World (5 August ¡938) reported the final score as ¡8–4. †† Later in an article for the Pittsburgh Courier (¡0 April ¡943), Gibson recalled hitting a 5¡3-foot home run against the Memphis Red Sox in Monessen, Pa., during the ¡938 season. It’s not clear if his home run occurred during this series but he did hit a home run on July 24 at Tin Plate Field — the Monessen Daily Independent (2¡, 22, 25 July ¡938) reported — that cleared a ticket o‡ce in center field. Earlier that month Gibson hit another home run, this time against the Pittsburgh Crawfords, in Monessen, which the Daily Independent (5, 2¡ July ¡938) described as the longest homer in the history of Tin Plate Field.

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William Cornelius allowed three runs to give the East a 3–0 first-inning lead, the West responded with one run in the first and then took a 5–3 lead in a four-run third inning. Neil Robinson hit an inside-park-homerun* with two men aboard. The East got one run back in the fifth to make it 5–4, but the West pitching kept them scoreless the rest of the way.3¡

September 5, ¡938 — Grays Win Negro National League Second-Half Pennant The second-half schedule ended on Labor Day with the Homestead Grays in first place.32 It was announced that the top four teams in the league would meet in a playo› series, but the first-place Grays, who had also won the first half, wouldn’t participate, the Philadelphia Tribune said.33

September ¡5, ¡938 — Atlanta Wins Negro American League SecondHalf Title After some confusion and controversy that might have given the Kansas City Monarchs the second half title,34 the season was reviewed by NAL o‡cials and it was decided on September ¡535† that the Atlanta Black Crackers were second-half champs and would play the first-half pennant winners, the Memphis Red Sox, in a series for the league title.

September ¡8, ¡938 — Negro American League Championship Begins, but Is Later Cancelled The Memphis Red Sox, winners of the NAL first-half pennant, won the first game of the championship series 6–¡ with the second-half champion Atlanta Black Crackers at Martin’s Park in Memphis, Tenn. Double Duty Radcli›e threw a complete game for the Red Sox, allowing just five hits, and Neil Robinson provided the o›ense with two home runs. Chin Evans took the loss for Atlanta.36 A second game was played in Memphis on September ¡9 and won by the Memphis Red Sox ¡¡–6, but scheduling conflicts with the Southern League in Atlanta and a late arrival by the Black Crackers for the third game in Birmingham prompted NAL President R.R. Jackson to cancel the remainder of the series.37 Later the NAL decided that Atlanta had not fulfilled its obligation to secure a park for the series and awarded the NAL title to the Memphis Red Sox. 38

September 25, ¡938 — Controversial All-Star Game in New York A game advertised as an all-star contest between the Negro American League and the Negro National League attracted an estimated ¡2,000 fans to the Polo Grounds in *The Chicago Defender (27 August ¡938 in Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: The East-West All-Star Game, ¡933–¡953 [Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡], ¡¡2) suggested that Sam Bankhead may have committed an error on Robinson’s hit but other accounts credited Robinson with a home run. † Date based on “Thursday” reference in the Pittsburgh Courier (¡7 September ¡938).

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New York. Ted Trent, who started for the NAL club, had a no-hitter going into the seventh inning and a 4–0 lead after seven innings, but the NNL rallied to win 5–4 in ¡0 innings when, with the scored tied 4–4, relief pitcher Jack Bruton gave up a basesloaded walk to force in the winning run.39 The game caused some controversy because NAL President R.R. Jackson stated that the game was never approved by the NAL and that the NAL players had been told not to participate. Among the repercussions was the loss by Henry Moore of his Birmingham Black Barons franchise. He had arranged for many of the NAL players to appear.40

December ¡0, ¡938 — Report of Slim Jones’s Death The Chicago Defender reported that Stuart “Slim” Jones was buried in Baltimore after dying of pneumonia.4¡ After making a name for himself in ¡934, Jones developed arm trouble and had lost his e›ectiveness in recent years.42 Homestead Grays owner Cum Posey described Jones as one of the more “colorful” players in Negro Leagues history.43

December ¡¡, ¡938 — Meeting of Negro American League in Chicago The Negro American League met at the Appomattox Club in Chicago and reelected its o‡cers: R.R. Jackson, president; J.B. Martin, vice president; J.L. Wilkinson, treasurer; and Frank Young, secretary. In other business, it was agreed to drop Henry Moore’s Birmingham Black Barons franchise from the league. In addition to the o‡cers, those in attendance included W.S. Martin, B.B. Martin, H.G. Hall, George Mitchell, Ted Strong, William Mitchell and Cum Posey, who proposed that the NAL consider merging with the NNL. Not all league clubs were included in Posey’s proposal, and it was later rejected by NAL President R.R. Jackson.44

¡939 February ¡2, ¡939 — Negro American League Meeting in Chicago Owners in the Negro American League met in Chicago to discuss the coming season. Included in the league business was the movement of the Jacksonville Red Caps franchise to Cleveland, where they would play as the Bears.¡ In addition, it was decided that the Atlanta franchise would move to Louisville and that another franchise would be placed in St. Louis. The league season was scheduled to open on the weekend of May ¡3 with clubs in Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis, Kansas City, Cleveland and Indianapolis.* Among those attending were J.L. Wilkinson and Tom Baird (Kansas City), *It seems that no NAL club played in Louisville and that the Atlanta Black Crackers moved to Indianapolis but didn’t last long before dropping out of the NAL (Paul Debono, The Indianapolis ABCs [Je›erson, NC: McFarland & Co., ¡997], ¡¡6). (See 20 June ¡939.)

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John Hardin and W.B. Baker (Atlanta), A. Mitchell (Jacksonville), B.B. Martin (Memphis); Ted Strong, Abe Saperstein, George Mitchell and Tom Wilson.2

February ¡8 and ¡9, ¡939 — Meeting of Negro National League in Philadelphia Gus Greenlee sent word to the NNL meeting in Philadelphia that he was resigning as chairman of the Negro National League and explained in a letter read by Tom Wilson that the demands of his boxing promotions left him with too little time to administrate the league, though he still intended to operate the Crawfords. The league o‡cers elected for ¡939 were Tom Wilson, president; Ed Bolden, vice president; Abe Manley, treasurer; and Cum Posey and Eddie Gottlieb splitting the secretary’s duties. In other business, Alejandro Pompez returned to the NNL as an associate member. The meeting also observed a minute of silence for the death of Stuart “Slim” Jones, who died earlier that winter (see ¡0 December ¡938).3 In other news, it was reported that the ¡939 schedule was delayed partially because Greenlee was exploring the possibility of playing in either Chicago or in Brooklyn at Ebbets Field.4 The former home of the Crawfords, Greenlee Field, had been razed after the ¡938 season.5

April 8, ¡939 — Greenlee Resigns from Pittsburgh Crawfords In a letter published by the Pittsburgh Courier and addressed to the Pittsburgh Crawfords, Gus Greenlee resigned from the club because, he stated, the Crawfords had no home ballpark and his e›orts to arrange for one in New York City and Brooklyn had been unsuccessful. In addition, he said that unchecked raids by other clubs on his players added to the di‡culty of maintaining a high standard of play for the Crawfords.6 By the end of April, it was reported that a franchise based in Toledo, known as the Crawfords* and featuring many of Greenlee’s former players, had been admitted to the NNL and would play home games at Swayne Field, the Toledo Mud Hens’ ballpark.7 It has also been suggested that Greenlee was in financial di‡culty and couldn’t a›ord the $¡,000 franchise fee and that Philadelphia Stars owner Eddie Gottlieb asked that other owners chip in to help Greenlee stay in the league.8

May ¡3 and ¡4, ¡939 — Negro National League Opening Day Rain reportedly postponed all but one of the NNL opening day games.9 In the only league play on May ¡3, the New York Black Yankees defeated the Toledo Crawfords 6–3 at Swayne Field in Toledo. Bill Holland got the win, and Jimmy Johnson took the loss for the Crawfords.¡0 In other opening day action on May ¡4, the Philadelphia Stars defeated the Newark Eagles 7–5 at Ruppert Stadium in Newark, N.J. Leon Day for the Eagles and Jimmy Carter for the Stars were the starting pitchers. In Baltimore, the *While serving as a base-running coach in ¡965 for the National League New York Mets, former Olympian Jesse Owens told a reporter that he and a partner bought the Pittsburgh Crawfords in ¡939 and moved the club to Toledo and that the club lost over $40,000 (Post Crescent [Appleton, Wis.], 2 February ¡965).

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Homestead Grays swept a doubleheader from the hometown Elite Giants 7–¡ and ¡¡–0. Roy Partlow started for the Grays in the opener, and Baltimore sent Bill Byrd to mound.¡¡* As the season began, several prominent players were reported to be playing in Mexico, including Chet Brewer, Cool Papa Bell, School Boy Gri‡th, Barney Morris, Martin Dihigo and Jimmy Direaux.¡2

May ¡4, ¡939 — Negro American League Opening Day All six Negro American League clubs were scheduled to open league play on May ¡4. The Memphis Red Sox visited the Kansas City Monarchs, the Cleveland Bears swept the Chicago American Giants 5–3 and 5–¡ at Cleveland, and the Indianapolis ABCs met the St. Louis Stars in a night game,¡3 which the ABCs reportedly won 9–6. The game was cut short by umpire Billy Donaldson after eight innings because of rain.¡4

June 4, ¡939 — Mule Suttles Homers Four Times in Doubleheader On June 4, Mule Suttles of the Newark Eagles homered four times against the Homestead Grays during a doubleheader in Bu›alo.¡5 In addition to homering three times in the first game, Suttles also stole home in the ninth inning of the Eagles 20–3 win. Newark won the nightcap ¡4–6.¡6†

June ¡8, ¡939 — Randolph Bowe Throws One-Hitter Randolph Bowe threw a one-hitter in the Chicago American Giants 5–0 defeat of the St. Louis Stars in the second game of a doubleheader.¡7

June 20, ¡939 — Joint Meeting Sends Toledo to Negro American League At a joint meeting of the NNL and the NAL, the Toledo Crawfords were transferred from the NNL to the NAL and took the place of the Indianapolis ABCs, who were dropped from the league. Travel to Toledo, the Pittsburgh Courier noted, was believed to be easier for NAL clubs. The move would not be made until the first half of the season ended on July 4. Among those in attendance at the meeting were H.G. Hall (Chicago American Giants), J.B. Greer (Cleveland Bears), Frank A. Young (NAL secretary), J.L. Wilkinson and Tom Baird (Kansas City Monarchs), Hank Rigney (Toledo Crawfords), Abe and E›a Manley (Newark Eagles), James Semler (New York Black Yankees), Cum Posey and Rufus Jackson (Homestead Grays), R.R. Jackson (NAL president), Tom Wilson (NNL president), Alejandro Pompez (New York Cubans), *First possible game for the New York Cubans was scheduled for May ¡5 at the Philadelphia Stars (New York Amsterdam News, 20 May ¡939). † In his autobiography, Buck Leonard recalled that Suttles’s teammate Willie Wells hit for the cycle in both ends of a doubleheader against the Homestead Grays in June, ¡939. It’s possible that this was the same game (Buck Leonard with James A. Riley, Buck Leonard: The Black Lou Gehrig [New York: Carroll and Graf, ¡995], ¡06).

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Eddie Gottlieb (Philadelphia Stars), and William Leuschner.¡8 The Atlanta Daily World later wrote that the Atlanta Black Crackers, who were playing as the Indianapolis ABCs, were initially pressured to play in Indianapolis and were then dropped when they didn’t fulfill the league’s expectations and when the NAL needed to make space for Hank Rigney’s Toledo Crawfords.¡9 The NAL standings were published on July ¡ and listed Indianapolis as “dropped out.”20

July 4, ¡939 — Kansas City Wins Negro American League First-Half Pennant With a 7–5 win over the Chicago American Giants, the Kansas City Monarchs won the first-half pennant in the NAL.2¡ Standings showed the Monarchs (¡7–7) in first place, followed by the American Giants (¡8–¡¡), the Memphis Red Sox (¡3–¡¡), the Cleveland Bears (9–¡¡), the St. Louis Stars (¡0–¡2) and the now-defunct Indianapolis ABCs (2–9) in last place.22

July 4, ¡939 — Grays Win Negro National League First-Half Pennant The Homestead Grays won the first-half pennant in the Negro National League.23 The Grays (23–7) were followed by the Newark Eagles (¡8–6), the Baltimore Elite Giants (¡2–¡3), the New York Black Yankees (9–¡¡), the Philadelphia Stars (¡6–20), the Toledo Crawfords (3–¡¡), and the New York Cubans (3–¡5).24

July 22, ¡939 — Jake Dunn Homers Twice in One Inning In the Philadelphia Stars ¡8–9 win over the New York Black Yankees in the first game of a doubleheader in Philadelphia, the Stars’ Jake Dunn homered twice in the same inning.25* The Stars scored ¡0 runs in the seventh inning,26 and Dunn went 3 for 4 with four runs scored.27

July 29, ¡939 — Kansas City Monarchs Pitch Combined One-Hitter Willie Hutchinson and George Walker combined to one-hit the Chicago American Giants as the Kansas City Monarchs won 5–0 in Chicago.28 Hutchinson gave up a single to Alex Radcli›e in the sixth inning and was then injured sliding into second base in the Monarchs’ two-run seventh inning. George Walker came in to relieve Hutchinson with a five-run lead and retired the American Giants in order for the final three innings.29

August 6, ¡939 — West Wins 4–2 in East-West Game The West defeated the East 4–2 before an estimated 40,000 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. After heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis threw out the first ball, the *The New York Amsterdam News (5 August ¡939) said it was the seventh inning.

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East started the scoring in the second inning with two runs, and the score stood at 2–0 at the end of the sixth. In the seventh, Neil Robinson got the West on the board with a solo home run and Dan Wilson followed with a two-run shot in the eighth to give the West the lead.30 After his go-ahead homer, Wilson’s teammates carried him over to Louis’s box seat.3¡

August 27, ¡939 — Negro National League Wins All Star Game ¡0–2 at Yankee Stadium A team of all-stars from the Negro National League defeated a Negro American League team ¡0–2 at Yankee Stadium before more than ¡7,000 fans. Raymond Owens started on the mound for the NAL, and Bill Byrd started for the NNL squad. Josh Gibson had a bases-loaded triple for the NNL in the eighth inning.32 Bleacher seats sold for 55 cents, and a grandstand ticket cost $¡.¡0, the New York Amsterdam News reported.33

August 3¡, ¡939 — Kansas City Monarchs Win Negro American League Championship The Chicago Defender reported that the Kansas City Monarchs, winners of the first half, defeated the St. Louis Stars in a postseason series for the NAL championship. The series began with two games in Oklahoma and ended in Kansas City. St. Louis was unable to secure a ballpark in its home city.34

September ¡0, ¡939 — Elite Giants Win Negro National League SecondHalf Pennant The Negro National League season was scheduled to end play on September ¡0.* Final standings for the second half were listed with the Baltimore Elite Giants (¡3–8) in first place, followed by the Homestead Grays (¡0–7), Philadelphia Stars (¡6–¡2), Newark Eagles (¡¡–¡4), and the New York Black Yankees (6–¡0).35†

September 24, ¡939 — Baltimore Elite Giants Win Negro National League Championship In a one-game playo› before more than 8,000 fans at Yankee Stadium for the Negro National League championship, the Baltimore Elite Giants beat the Homestead Grays, 2–0. Baltimore, winners of the NNL second-half pennant, got strong pitching from Jonas Gaines and Willie Hubert who combined for a three-hit shutout, while the Grays sent Roy Partlow to the mound. Partlow went the distance for the Grays, allowing just *Date based on Pittsburgh Courier (¡3 May ¡939). † The Baltimore Afro American (9 September ¡939) didn’t include a second-half record for the New York Cubans but did say they were 5–22 for the season.

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seven hits, but the Elite Giants scored twice in the seventh inning when Bill Wright doubled, Bill Hoskins singled, and Wright came in to score on Jesse Wallker’s infield grounder* and Elite Giants catcher Roy Campanella drove in Hoskins with a single.36 Gaines walked the bases loaded in the eighth but Hubert came in and got Henry Spearman to pop up for the final out to end the Grays threat.37

December 9 and ¡0, ¡939 — Negro American League Meeting in Chicago The Negro American League met in Chicago and elected Memphis Red Sox owner J.B. Martin as president, replacing R.R. Jackson, who was given a new post as commissioner. Martin had been vice president. In other o‡ces, H.G. Hall was elected vice president, J.L. Wilkinson returned as treasurer and Frank Young was reelected secretary. Among those attending were J.B. Martin, W.S. Martin, and B.B. Martin (Memphis Red Sox), H.G. Hall (Chicago American Giants), F.D. Pickering (Cleveland), J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs), Hank Rigney and Stanley Caldwell (Toledo Crawfords), T.H. Hayes Jr. (Birmingham Black Barons), Tom Wilson (Baltimore Elite Giants and NNL president), Cum Posey (Homestead Grays), and Abe and E›a Manley (Newark Eagles). The Manleys, owners of the Negro National League Newark Eagles, proposed Howard Law School Dean William Hastie for joint commissioner of both the NNL and the NAL but the NAL rejected the idea.38 In other news, new owner of the Birmingham Black Barons, Tom Hayes Jr., was given an NAL franchise.39

¡940 February 2, ¡940 — Negro National League Meeting in Philadelphia A meeting of Negro National League owners in Eddie Gottlieb’s o‡ce on Market Street in Philadelphia ended in a disagreement over the issue of who should be league president. Tom Wilson was supported for reelection by Cum Posey and Sonnyman Jackson of the Grays and Ed Bolden and Gottlieb of the Philadelphia Stars. Wilson’s reelection was opposed by Abe and E›a Manley, of the Newark Eagles; Alejandro Pompez of the New York Cubans; and James Semler of the New York Black Yankees. Instead, they proposed C.B. Powell, editor and publisher of the New York Amsterdam News for the post. Powell’s supporters di›ered with Wilson over the continued use of Gottlieb as booking agent for promotions at Yankee Stadium, where Gottlieb received ¡0 percent of the gate for arranging the games.† There was no resolution to the disagreement, which at one point led Cum Posey to leave the meeting, and the election of the presi*The New York Amsterdam News (30 September ¡939) gave the Grays’ Henry Spearman a throwing error on Walker’s grounder, and the Pittsburgh Courier (30 September ¡939) credited Walker with a hit. † Posey noted that Gottlieb received ¡0 percent of the net and added that he saved the NNL money because he was able to get a lower rental rate than others could.

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dent was tabled. Also present at the meeting was NAL President J.B. Martin who reached an agreement with the NNL owners to impose a three-year ban on contract jumpers beginning April ¡ and ending October ¡.¡

February 23 and 24, ¡940 — Negro National League and Negro American League Meeting in Chicago The Negro National League met at the Grand Hotel in Chicago and decided to retain the incumbent o‡cers for another season. Returning to o‡ce were: Tom Wilson, president; Ed Bolden, vice president; Abe Manley, treasurer; Cum Posey, secretary. At the joint meeting of the NAL and NNL at the Grand Hotel, a three-year ban on contract jumpers was formally adopted for all players who failed to report to their league clubs by May ¡. In other business, the East-West game was scheduled for August ¡8, the leagues agreed to play a World Series,* and Abe Saperstein was replaced as NAL booking agent by Tom Baird, of the Kansas City Monarchs. In addition, Jerry Benjamin was sent back to the Homestead Grays after he had jumped his contract in ¡939 to play with the Toledo Crawfords. The issue of installing a commissioner to govern both leagues was proposed but didn’t receive enough support.2

March 23, ¡940 — John Schorling Dies in Chicago John Schorling, former partner of Rube Foster with the American Giants and onetime owner of American Giants Park, at 39th and Wentworth, passed away in Chicago. The cause was pneumonia, the Chicago Daily Tribune said.3

May 5–¡¡, ¡940 — Opening Day of Negro National League In the only game scheduled for May 5, opening day of the Negro National League, the Newark Eagles defeated the New York Black Yankees, 5–2, at Ruppert Stadium in Newark, N.J., before more than ¡0,000 fans. Newark pitcher Jimmy Hill helped his own cause with a three-run homer in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie. Boxer Henry Armstrong, who once held three titles in three di›erent weight classes at one time, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.4 Bud Barbee started for the Black Yankees and got relief help from John “Neck” Stanley, the New York Amsterdam News reported.5 Other clubs began the league season on May ¡¡ with many players absent and playing with clubs in Mexico and with Grays slugger Josh Gibson playing in Venezuela. The Baltimore Elite Giants won a ¡0-inning game, ¡2–¡0, with the Philadelphia Stars at 44th and Parkside in Philadelphia before more than 4,500 fans. Both starters, Roy Welmaker for the Stars, and Willie Hubert, for the Elite Giants, needed relief. At Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, the Homestead Grays got a complete game from pitcher Ray Brown and won the opener 7–3 from the New York Cubans.6

*Despite this, no World Series was played this season (see 8 September ¡940).

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May ¡2, ¡940 — Opening Day of Negro American League In opening day play the Memphis Red Sox swept a doubleheader from the St. Louis Stars, ¡3–8 and 8–7, at Martin’s Stadium in Memphis.7 The Kansas City Monarchs split a doubleheader with the Birmingham Black Barons before an estimated 8,500 fans at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, taking the first game 5–0 on Jack Matchett’s three-hitter and dropping the second game 5–3 as Black Barons pitcher Frank Moody threw a five-hitter.8 In other action, the Chicago American Giants and the Cleveland Bears met at Ponce de Leon Park in Atlanta before ¡,500 fans and Cleveland won the first game, 9–3, while the second game ended in a 4–4 tie.9*

May 30, ¡940 — Randolph Bowe Strikes Out ¡6 In the second game of a doubleheader, Randolph Bowe struck out ¡6 batters while leading the Chicago American Giants to a 4–3 win over the Birmingham Black Barons in ¡2 innings.¡0

June ¡6, ¡940 — Elite Giants Win in ¡6 Innings The Baltimore Elite Giants and the New York Cubans went ¡6 innings† before Bill Perkins’s RBI-single scored Henry Kimbro to give the Elite Giants a 5–4 win before more than 7,500 fans at Yankee Stadium in the first game of a doubleheader. The duration of the game was believed to be around four hours. Each club used only two pitchers; Silvino Ruiz and Johnny Taylor pitched for the Cubans, while the Elite Giants sent Willie Hubert and Nate Moreland to the mound.¡¡ The New York Cubans blew a 4–3 lead in the ninth when George Scales singled, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on Roy Campanella’s single to force extra innings.¡2 In the second game, which lasted seven innings, the New York Black Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Stars, 5–3.¡3

June ¡8, ¡940 — Paige Controversy with Newark Eagles Resolved At a joint meeting of the Negro National League and the Negro American League in New York, it was agreed to resolve a contract dispute between the Newark Eagles and Satchel Paige by granting the rights to Bus Clarkson and Spoon Carter to the Newark Eagles in return for Newark giving up their claim to Paige and recognizing his a‡liation with the Negro American League. Newark’s claim to Paige’s rights dated back to ¡938 when it was said they purchased Paige’s contract from Gus Greenlee for $5,000. Paige never reported to the Eagles and in ¡939 he was signed to play for a barnstorming club, Satchel Paige’s All-Stars, which was believed to be a‡liated with Kansas City Monarchs owner J.L. Wilkinson. This, the Eagles pointed out, was a violation of an interleague agreement to respect each other’s contracts. Clarkson and Carter joined the Newark Eagles in the middle of the ¡940 season and by ¡94¡ Paige was pitching for the Kansas City Monarchs.¡4 *This seems to be an opening day game, though the report did not mention it. † The New York Times (¡7 June ¡940) reported a ¡5-inning game.

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July 4, ¡940 — Monarchs Win Negro American League First-Half Pennant The first-half schedule of the Negro American League concluded on July 4¡5 with the Kansas City Monarchs reportedly in first place.¡6

August ¡8, ¡940 — East Wins ¡2–0 in East-West Game Before more than 25,000 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago, the East all-stars won a lopsided game, ¡2–0,* over the West all-stars. The East built on a 4–0 lead with a four-run sixth inning and added four more runs in the eighth to put the game out of reach. East starting pitcher Henry McHenry and the East relievers threw a combined five-hitter, Buck Leonard reached base five times on three singles and two walks, and the West committed six errors. The West gave the starting assignment to Eugene Bremmer.¡7 Though Satchel Paige was ineligible to participate in the game because he was not playing in either of the leagues, promoter Abe Saperstein explored the possibility of signing Paige to play. Players, who received no payment above their league contracts to play in the all-star game, responded by threatening a strike if Paige was paid to appear in the game.¡8 Paige did not play. During this weekend the Negro National League met to review the status of Josh Gibson, who had been banned from league play for breaking his contract with the Homestead Grays, and had recently returned to the United States. Grays owner Cum Posey petitioned for Gibson’s reinstatement but the NNL refused to lift the ban.¡9

September 8, ¡940 — Monarchs Win Negro American League Pennant The Negro American League season concluded20 with the Kansas City Monarchs in first place.2¡

September 8, ¡940 — Grays Win Negro National League Pennant The Negro National League season concluded on September 8 with a four-team doubleheader at Yankee Stadium with the Homestead Grays as champion. Some reports said that the Grays had clinched the NNL title on September ¡ when they swept a doubleheader, 6–¡ and 6–5, with the Baltimore Elite Giants, while others believed the Grays clinched the league title with a Labor Day split of a doubleheader with the Philadelphia Stars.22 Final standings showed the Grays (28–¡3) in first place, followed by the Baltimore Elite Giants (25–¡4), Newark Eagles (25–¡7), New York Cubans (¡2–¡9), Philadelphia Stars (¡6–3¡) and the New York Black Yankees (¡0–22).23 There would be no postseason series with the NAL champion Kansas City Monarchs and Grays owner Cum Posey suggested that the Monarchs were ducking his club and claimed that the Monarchs had already printed advertisements for a World Series when it seemed that *The Pittsburgh Courier (24 August ¡940) reported that the score was ¡¡–0.

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the Baltimore Elite Giants would win the NNL. The Monarchs changed their minds, Posey said, after the Grays won the NNL pennant.24

December 23, ¡940 — Fire Destroys American Giants Park A fire broke out at American Giants Park, at 39th and Wentworth in Chicago, and destroyed the long-time home of the American Giants.25 The park had originally been the home of the American League Chicago White Sox before that club moved to Comiskey Park and was then used by Rube Foster and John Schorling, and subsequent owners, for the American Giants home ballpark. The American Giants played some games at Comiskey Park in ¡94¡ (see ¡8 May ¡94¡) and by December ¡94¡, the American Giants park had been completely razed.26

December 29, ¡940 — Meeting of the Negro American League The Negro American League met at the Grand Hotel in Chicago and reelected all o‡cers: J.B. Martin, president; H.G. Hall, vice president; J.L. Wilkinson, treasurer; and Frank Young, secretary. In league business, the NAL decided that Cleveland would be dropped as a league city and proposed interleague games with the NNL. Among those attending were W.S. Martin, J.B. Martin, B.B. Martin, H.G. Hall, Mason Fields, Jim Taylor, George Mitchell, J.L. Wilkinson, Tom Baird and Tom Wilson.27

¡94¡ January 3, ¡94¡— Negro National League Meeting in Baltimore The Negro National League met at the York Hotel in Baltimore, where the owners agreed on a 74-game schedule, which included 50 games with NNL clubs and 24 interleague games with the Negro American League. The owners also agreed to lift the three-year ban on contract jumpers, but because NAL approval was necessary nothing definite could be done until the coming joint meeting of the two leagues. In other business, the NNL imposed a $¡0 fine on clubs who failed to submit box scores to the league secretary, and in the annual elections, Tom Wilson was reelected president, Ed Bolden returned as vice president, and in a cost-cutting measure Cum Posey was elected to the newly combined secretary-treasurer o‡ce. Attending were Tom Wilson (Baltimore Elite Giants), Abe and E›a Manley (Newark Eagles), James Semler (New York Black Yankees), Cum and See Posey (Homestead Grays), Alejandro Pompez (New York Cubans), Ed Gottlieb (Philadelphia Stars), Jock Waters, William Leuschner, Douglass Smith, Frank Forbes, and NAL President J.B. Martin.¡

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February 23 and 24, ¡94¡— Joint Meeting of Negro American League and Negro National League The business at the joint meeting of the NNL and NAL in Chicago focused on whether the leagues would retain the three-year ban on contract jumpers. After initial NAL opposition, a compromise was reached that lifted the three-year ban and instead imposed a $¡00 fine. This measure was temporary, and any player who didn’t return to his club by May ¡ faced a five-year ban. In other news, the leagues created their schedules for the ¡94¡ season and agreed to boycott the Ethiopian Clowns, whose owner, Syd Pollock, was accused of using players under contract to league clubs. Attending were Tom Wilson (Baltimore Elite Giants), James Semler and William Leuschner (New York Black Yankees), Abe and E›a Manley (Newark Eagles), Ed Bolden and Ed Gottlieb (Philadelphia Stars), Cum and See Posey (Homestead Grays), Alejandro Pompez (New York Cubans), J.L. Wilkinson and Tom Baird (Kansas City Monarchs), H.G. Hall (Chicago American Giants), B.B. Martin and W.S. Martin (Memphis Red Sox), J.B. Martin (NAL president), J.B. Greer (Jacksonville Red Caps), George Mitchell (New Orleans–St. Louis Stars), and Frank Young.2

May ¡0–¡¡, ¡94¡— Opening Day of the Negro National League In opening day action, the visiting New York Cubans defeated the Philadelphia Stars 6–3, and the Homestead Grays defeated the Baltimore Elite Giants ¡3–¡0 in Harrisburg, Pa.3 In a busy seventh inning the Elite Giants scored four times to take a 6–3 lead only to have the Grays retake the lead in the bottom of the inning on four homers, including two by catcher Robert Gaston, and ¡0 runs.4 On May ¡¡, the two remaining clubs began league play. ¡2,500 fans at Ruppert Stadium in Newark saw the New York Cubans spoil the hometown Eagles opener ¡0–7. And before more than ¡5,000 fans at Yankee Stadium, the New York Black Yankees with Satchel Paige on the mound defeated the Philadelphia Stars 5–3 in the first game of a doubleheader. Paige allowed just five hits, and the Black Yankees broke a 3–3 tie in the eighth inning with two runs, including one on Johnny Hayes’s home run. New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia threw out the ceremonial first pitch.5 The appearance of Paige in a New York Black Yankees uniform was controversial, Chicago Defender journalist Frank Young explained, as Paige was under contract with the Kansas City Monarchs of the NAL.6 The NAL protested to NNL President Tom Wilson, who supported the NAL protest and threatened NNL clubs with suspension for any subsequent use of Paige.7 Paige was not the only player-rights controversy for the ¡94¡ season; once again many players accepted o›ers to play in Mexico. Among them were Josh Gibson, Barney Brown, Willie Wells, Johnny Taylor, Ray Dandridge, Leroy Matlock, Quincy Trouppe, Leroy Morney, Sam Bankhead, Leon Ru‡n, Roy Welmaker, Cool Papa Bell, Ed Stone, and Bert Hunter.8* Gibson’s jump from the Grays to Mexico led Cum Posey to sue Gibson for a reported $¡0,000. The courts ruled in Posey’s favor, the Pittsburgh *Some of these players were under contract with Negro American League clubs.

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Courier reported, but Posey agreed to drop his case if Gibson returned.9 Gibson was back in the Grays lineup for the opening day of the ¡942 season (see 3 May ¡942).

May ¡¡, ¡94¡— Opening Day of Negro American League All six of the NAL clubs opened their season on May ¡¡.¡0 The Kansas City Monarchs swept a doubleheader from the Birmingham Black Barons 9–3 and 5–3, and the Jacksonville Red Caps took two from the New Orleans-St. Louis Stars.¡¡ In other action, the hometown Memphis Red Sox took the first game of a doubleheader with the Chicago American Giants 7–2 and dropped the second 5–2.¡2

May ¡8, ¡94¡— Chicago American Giants Home Opener Satchel Paige, back with the Kansas City Monarchs (see ¡0 May ¡94¡), threw a sixhitter as the Monarchs won the first game of the Chicago American Giants homeopening doubleheader 2–¡ before an estimated ¡0,000 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The American Giants rebounded with a win in the second game. Paige was opposed by William Cornelius, who went the distance for the American Giants,¡3 but lost the game in the third inning when the Monarchs connected for four hits and two runs.¡4

June 27, ¡94¡— Eugene Smith Throws No-Hitter On June 27,* Eugene Smith threw a no-hitter against the New York Black Yankees while leading the New Orleans-St. Louis Stars to a 6–¡ win in Belleville, Illinois. Smith, who also struck out ¡7 batters, gave the Black Yankees the lead in the third inning when he threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded, but the Stars tied it in the bottom of the third and then broke the ¡–¡ tie in the five-run seventh.¡5

July 4, ¡94¡— Monarchs vs. American Giants at Sportsman’s Park In what the Chicago Defender described as the first game between black baseball clubs at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis since ¡92¡, the Kansas City Monarchs got four innings of work from Satchel Paige and defeated the Chicago American Giants ¡¡–2. The crowd of ¡9,¡78 also saw two local semipro clubs in the first game.¡6

July 6, ¡94¡— End of First-Half Schedule in Negro American League and Negro National League Both the Negro American League and the Negro National League closed first half play. In the NNL, the Grays finished in first place with an ¡8–9 record, just ahead of the Newark Eagles at ¡2–7. And in the NAL, the Kansas City Monarchs won the firsthalf pennant.¡7 *Date based on New York Amsterdam News (5 July ¡94¡) game report.

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July 6, ¡94¡— Porter Moss Throws One-Hitter On July 6,* the Memphis Red Sox defeated the Jacksonville Red Caps 2–0 in the first game of a doubleheader at Martin’s Park in Memphis behind Porter Moss’s onehitter. Jones’s† single in the sixth inning spoiled Moss’s no-hit bid.¡8

July ¡4, ¡94¡— Bill Byrd Strikes Out Three Batters on Nine Pitches Baltimore Elite Giants pitcher Bill Byrd threw just nine pitches and struck out the side in the third inning of a 3–2 Elites Giants win over the Memphis Red Sox at Bugle Field in Baltimore, the Afro American reported. In addition to his third inning feat, Byrd also had a no-hitter through eight innings.¡9

July 20, ¡94¡— 27,000 at Yankee Stadium for Four-Team Doubleheader In the first game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, an estimated 27,000 fans watched the Kansas City Monarchs defeat the New York Cubans 7–2. Satchel Paige got the start for the Monarchs, and Dave Barnhill took the hill for the Cubans. Both pitchers needed relief, Paige as a result of being hit by a pitch. In the second game, the New York Black Yankees beat the Philadelphia Stars 3–¡ behind the pitching of Henry McHenry. John “Neck” Stanley started for the Black Yankees.20

July 27, ¡94¡— East Wins 8–3 in Ninth Annual East-West Game The East defeated the West 8–3 before an estimated 50,000 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago on two first-inning runs and a six-run fourth o› relief pitcher Ted “Double Duty” Radcli›e. The East’s big fourth inning was capped by a two-run homer by Buck Leonard that made the score 8–¡.2¡ Homestead Grays owner Cum Posey recalled that two years earlier Radcli›e had struck out Leonard with an o›-speed pitch, and later told Posey that Leonard couldn’t lay o› the pitch. This was the same pitch, Posey said, that Leonard hit out of the park in the fourth inning of this game.22 In his autobiography, Leonard remembered that Radcli›e, before the East-West game, had been saying that Leonard couldn’t hit the slow pitch and admitted that he had trouble with the pitch, but not on this day.23 According to Radcli›e, this was the only home run Leonard ever hit o› him in many years of competition.24!

*Date based on Chicago Defender (¡2 July ¡94¡) game report. † This may have been Ernest “Mint” Jones, who played with Jacksonville and its subsequent franchise moves in the ¡930s and ¡940s.  This game was the first East-West game appearance for the future Hall-of-Famer Monte Irvin, and he recalled it for readers of Sports Illustrated (¡9 July ¡993, ¡06). Then an outfielder with the Newark Eagles, Irvin described the excitement of the train ride to Chicago with East teammates Roy Campanella and Buck Leonard, and said that before the integration of the major leagues the East-West game was a highlight of the season for black baseball players.

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August 3, ¡94¡— Grays vs. Elite Giants at Briggs Stadium In what was described as the first appearance of Negro Leagues clubs at Detroit’s Briggs Stadium since ¡92¡, the Homestead Grays split a doubleheader with the Baltimore Elite Giants before more than 27,000 fans. In the opener, Jonas Gaines threw a shutout for the Elite Giants, and Ray Brown took the loss 6–0 for the Grays. The Grays needed ¡0 innings in the second game to win 8–7. Briggs was the home of the American League Detroit Tigers.25

August ¡4, ¡94¡— Jonas Gaines Strikes Out ¡5 On August ¡4,* Jonas Gaines struck out ¡5 New Orleans–St. Louis Stars batters and allowed just five hits to lead the Baltimore Elite Giants to a 3–¡ win in Hammond, Ind. Gaines’s opposite number, Eugene Smith, who already had thrown a no-hitter this season (see 27 June), stuck out ¡¡ batters and gave up only four hits, but was hurt by Roy Campanella’s fourth-inning home run, and again in the eighth when his pick-o› attempt sailed past third base, allowing another run to score.26

September ?, ¡94¡— End of Negro National League and Negro American League Season Second half NNL standings showed the New York Cubans (6–2) in first place, followed by the Baltimore Elite Giants (¡¡–5), the Newark Eagles (9–8), the Homestead Grays (8–8), the New York Black Yankees (5–8), and the Philadelphia Stars (3–¡¡). 27 In the NAL, the Kansas City Monarchs won the ¡94¡ title.28

September ¡4, ¡94¡— 39,000 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit Before a crowd estimated at more than 39,000, the Kansas City Monarchs swept a doubleheader from the Chicago American Giants ¡¡–4 and 6–2 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Satchel Paige went the distance in the opener, giving up seven hits, striking out four, and adding to the o›ense with a fourth-inning RBI single.29

September 2¡, ¡94¡— Grays Win Negro National League Title In a one-game playo› between the Homestead Grays and the New York Cubans, the Grays rolled to a 20–0 win before more than ¡2,000 fans at Yankee Stadium. Ray Brown allowed just six hits while throwing a complete-game shutout for the Grays, and Cubans starter Dave Barnhill needed relief from Carranza Howard and Blacedo Bernal. The Grays collected ¡9 hits, including three home runs, one each by Ameal Brooks, Buck Leonard and Brown. In addition, Howard Easterling went 4 for 5 for the pennant winners. The Grays also won 5–0 in the exhibition game that followed.30 *Date based on “Thursday” reference in the Chicago Defender (23 August ¡94¡) game report. Based on this it’s possible the game was played on August 2¡, but unlikely given the typical delay in game reports at this time in the black press.

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October 5, ¡94¡— Bob Feller vs. Satchel Paige at Sportsman’s Park Cleveland Indians hurler Bob Feller and a team comprising major leaguers defeated Satchel Paige and his barnstorming club 4–¡ before ¡0,¡24 fans at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. Feller’s club got to Paige for four runs on five hits in five innings’ work, and Feller went five innings but gave up just one run. Among those on Feller’s team were Frank Crepsi of the St. Louis Cardinals and Johnny Lucadello of the St. Louis Browns.3¡ This was the first game of a barnstorming tour featuring Feller and Paige.32

December 27 and 28, ¡94¡— Negro American League Meeting in Chicago NAL owners met at the Grand Hotel in Chicago and heard some demands from NNL President Tom Wilson. Among the NNL resolutions accepted by the NAL was a boycott of the Ethiopian Clowns,33 which showed, Chicago Defender sportswriter and NAL Secretary Frank Young said, that the Clowns didn’t deserve to be included in the Negro Leagues.34 Before the meeting, Homestead Grays owner Cum Posey referred to a September ¡3 NNL meeting and asserted that if the NAL continued to play the Clowns, and if booking agent Abe Saperstein retained his influence over the NAL, the NNL would break o› relations with the western league.35 In other business, the Buckeyes, who would play with both Cincinnati and Cleveland as its home city, was given an NAL franchise.36 Among those attending were Ernest Wright, Wilbur Hayes and DeHart Hubbard, who represented the new Buckeyes franchise, and Tom Wilson (NNL president), J.B. Martin (NAL president), Tom Baird and J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs), R.R. Jackson (NAL commissioner), Frank Young (NAL secretary), Tom Hayes Jr. (Birmingham Black Barons), W.S. Martin and B.B. Martin (Memphis Red Sox), George Mitchell (New Orleans–St. Louis Stars), Jim Taylor, Jesse Johnson, Abe Saperstein, Nate Shires, and R.S. Simmons.37

¡942 February ¡4, ¡942 — Negro National League Meeting in Baltimore At this meeting, which had been postponed because the Negro National League owners were waiting for news about World War II–related restrictions that might a›ect their operation, Tom Wilson (president), Ed Bolden (vice president), and Cum Posey (secretary), were all reelected for the ¡942 season. Abe and E›a Manley, owners of the Newark Eagles, were alone in thinking the league needed a change in leadership and had proposed Joseph Rainey for NNL president. When their proposal was rejected, they left the meeting in protest. In other news, the creation of the ¡942 schedule was put aside for a later meeting. Apart from representatives of all six NNL teams, J.B. Martin, W.S. Martin, and Tom Baird attended.¡ One report said the NNL agreed not to

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play the Ethiopian Clowns or the Havana Cubans, and considered the players from the defunct Negro American League St. Louis Stars to be the property of their former owner, Allen Johnson, and the New York Black Yankees, a club in which he was now a partner. This same report noted that NAL President J.B. Martin told those at the meeting that he considered those players to be property of the NAL and that the issue would be discussed at the next NAL meeting.2

February 2¡, ¡942 — Negro American League Meeting in Chicago The Negro American League met at the Grand Hotel in Chicago. Little was accomplished at this meeting, but it was announced that May ¡0 would be opening day, and it was agreed that all players of the former NAL St. Louis Stars would remain the property of the league. Among those attending were W.S. Martin (Memphis Red Sox), Tom Hayes Jr. (Birmingham Black Barons), Wilbur Hayes and DeHart Hubbard (Cleveland Buckeyes), H.G. Hall (Chicago American Giants), J.B. Greer, Jim Taylor, George Mitchell, Jesse J. Johnson, and J.R. Williams.3

February 28, ¡942 — Negro National League Meeting in Philadelphia After walking out of the February ¡4 Negro National League meeting after a disagreement over the league’s o‡cials, and after suggestions in the press that the Manleys would give up their franchise, the Manleys attended this meeting and remained a league member. Among the business, the NNL owners gave their support to the claims made by Allen Johnson to the rights of his former St. Louis Stars players. Johnson removed the Stars from the Negro American League during the ¡94¡ season, primarily because of what Johnson perceived to be unfair scheduling practices by the NAL booking agent, Abe Saperstein. After leaving the NAL, Johnson became part owner of James Semler’s New York Black Yankees, and stated his intention to bring some of the St. Louis Stars with him for the ¡942 season. In seemingly related business, the NNL adopted a rule that permitted any club leaving the league to take a maximum of ten players, and the rights to the remaining players would remain with the league. In addition, Fred McCrary and Johnnie Craig were signed to be NNL umps for the ¡942 season, and a schedule was established with one game, the Grays at the Newark Eagles, set for opening day, May 3. The rest of the league would begin play on May 9. Also, the league rejected the application of Gus Greenlee for an NNL franchise for his Pittsburgh Crawfords because, as Tom Wilson informed Greenlee via telegram, neither Greenlee nor a representative was present at this meeting and the Pittsburgh Crawfords roster that was submitted to the league included many players already under contract with NNL teams.4

March 7, ¡942 — Negro American League Schedule Meeting in Chicago In addition to creating a schedule for the ¡942 season, the Negro American League owners met in Chicago and named former Chicago Defender employee R.S. Simmons

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as publicity director.* In continuing the business of the February 2¡ meeting, the NAL owners refused to waive the players of the defunct St. Louis Stars franchise and, as it was clear that former Stars owner Allen Johnson still intended to use many of these players for the New York Black Yankees, the NAL invoked a ban on any Negro American League clubs playing Johnson’s new team.5 Among the players believed to be making the switch to the New York Black Yankees, one report said, were Leslie Green, Dan Wilson, Buddy Armour, James Ford, Eldridge Mayweather, Frank McAllister, Tom Parker, Theolic Smith, Eugene Smith, Walter Calhoun, and Charles Boone.6

March 28, ¡942 — Negro Major Baseball League Founded The black press reported the founding of a new league, the Negro Major Baseball League, with former Negro American League o‡cial R.R. Jackson as president. Fritz Pollard Sr. was made vice president, with Russ Cowans as secretary. The league, it was reported, would comprise the Cincinnati Clowns (Bunny Downs, manager), the Chicago Brown Bombers (Bingo DeMoss, manager), the Boston Royal Giants (Burlin White, manager), the Detroit Black Sox (Charley Henry, manager), the Baltimore Black Orioles,† and the Minneapolis–St. Paul Gophers (Jim Brown, manager). Both Cum Posey and Wendell Smith told readers of the Pittsburgh Courier that, despite the appearance of league o‡cials, they believed that the league was actually run by Abe Saperstein, the former booking agent for the Negro American League. Play for the new league was scheduled to begin on May ¡7.7 The league would struggle, and after the season Pittsburgh Courier sportswriter Wendell Smith listed the league among the “Biggest Flops” of ¡942.8

May 3, ¡942 — Opening Day of Negro National League The Newark Eagles hosted the Homestead Grays to open the Negro National League season at Ruppert Stadium. Going into the eighth inning, Newark pitcher Jimmy Hill, helped by a Willie Wells seventh-inning solo homer, had a shutout, and the Eagles led 2–0, but Josh Gibson, after two seasons away from Negro National League competition, hit a three-run homer to take a 3–2 lead. After Gibson’s homer, Leon Day came on in relief and managed to hold the Grays scoreless, but Grays starting pitcher Raymond Brown was able to protect the one-run lead and the Grays won the opener 3–2. Attendance estimates ranged from ¡2,000 to ¡8,000.9 This was the only NNL game on this day; all other NNL teams were scheduled to begin play on May 9.

*Call and Post (5 September ¡942) sportswriter John Fuster later criticized Simmons and the NAL publicity department and said that he had personally asked NAL President J.B. Martin for the won-lost record of the Kansas City Monarchs while that club and Cleveland were battling for first place in the first half of the season. Fuster said that Martin promised to send him the information but that it never came. † One report listed the Baltimore manager as Bill Casey (Pittsburgh Courier, 4 April ¡942).

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May 9, ¡942 — Negro National League Openers In Philadelphia at 44th and Parkside, the Philadelphia Stars hosted the Baltimore Elite Giants in the opening game for both NNL teams. During the pregame ceremony Louis Santop, a former Hilldale star who died in January, was honored with a description of highlights of his illustrious baseball career. Stars’ pitcher Terris McDu‡e gave up ¡0 hits and just two runs, but it was enough for the Baltimore Elite Giants to win 2–¡. Ace Adams started for the Elite Giants and gave up five hits before being relieved by Bill Byrd.¡0 In other action, the Homestead Grays defeated the New York Black Yankees 8–5 in Pittsburgh,¡¡ and the New York Cubans were scheduled to open against the Newark Eagles in Paterson, N.J.¡2*

May ¡0, ¡942 — Home Opener for Baltimore Elite Giants The Baltimore Elite Giants opened their home season with a 9–8 extra-inning win against the Philadelphia Stars at Oriole Park in Baltimore. The Stars scored four times o› Elite Giants starter Andy Porter in the second inning, and Bill Byrd came in to relieve. Henry McHenry and Johnny Fillmore shared the pitching duties for the Stars until the ¡0th inning when, with the score tied 8–8 and one out, Terris McDu‡e was brought in to pitch to Roy Campanella with the bases loaded and Campanella singled, scoring Sammy Hughes with the winning run. The estimated attendance was more than 5,000. This would be the last game this season for the Elite Giants at Oriole Park, as the stadium management was reluctant to book the NNL club because of rowdy fan behavior at the home opener. Subsequent Elite Giants home games were played at Bugle Field.¡3

May ¡0, ¡942 — Opening Day of Negro American League In opening day play, the Kansas City Monarchs swept a doubleheader from the Chicago American Giants 7–4 and 6–0 in Chicago. The Memphis Red Sox also won a twin bill from the Cleveland-Cincinnati Buckeyes ¡¡–2 and ¡5–2, and the Jacksonville Red Caps visited the Birmingham Black Barons¡4 and reportedly split a doubleheader; the Black Barons won the first game 9–6, and Jacksonville won the second game 6–3 at Rickwood Field.¡5

June ¡4, ¡942 — 20,000 Fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit More than 20,000 fans turned out to Briggs Stadium in Detroit, home of the American League Detroit Tigers, and saw the New York Cubans sweep a doubleheader that featured a ¡2-inning complete game win from Dave Barnhill.¡6 In the first game of the twin bill, Barnhill retired the side in nine of the ¡2 innings pitched, allowing just four *Not clear whether this game was played. The Baltimore Afro American (¡6 May ¡942) reported a doubleheader in Newark between the New York Cubans and the Newark Eagles that the two clubs split on May ¡0, which the standings suggested was the first league game of the year for the New York Cubans.

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hits and walking two and striking out ¡¡ Baltimore Elite Giants batters in the 4–2 Cubans win. The Cubans won the second game 4–3.¡7

June ¡8, ¡942 — First Negro Leagues Game to Use Major League Lights The Homestead Grays hosted the Kansas City Monarchs at Gri‡th Stadium in Washington, D.C., before more than 26,000* fans who saw the first use of major league lighting by the Negro Leagues. Satchel Paige got the start for the Monarchs and was relieved by Hilton Smith at the end of the fifth inning with the game in a scoreless tie. Smith and Grays starter Roy Partlow pitched scoreless ball through the rest of regulation to force extra innings. In the top of the ¡0th, Smith helped his cause with an RBI single, scoring Monarchs catcher Jim Greene, but was outdone by his pitching counterpart, Roy Partlow, when the Grays came to bat in the bottom of the ¡0th. Trailing ¡–0 with Smith trying to close out the game for the Monarchs, the Grays’ Sam Bankhead drew a walk but was forced at second on Vic Harris’s fielder’s choice. Matthew Carlisle came in to pinch run for Harris and scored to tie the game at ¡–¡ on Jud Wilson’s base hit. Partlow then won the game in dramatic fashion with a triple, driving in Wilson.¡8 One report described the scene after the game and said that fans rushed onto the field and hoisted Partlow on their shoulders. Among the attendees, according to the Washington Post, was Washington Senators president Clark C. Gri‡th.¡9

July 4, ¡942 — Monarchs Win Negro American League First-Half Pennant On July 4,† the Kansas City Monarchs split a doubleheader with the Memphis Red Sox at Martin’s Park in Memphis to clinch the first-half NAL pennant. The secondplace Red Sox could have won the title if they swept the twin bill but, after winning the first game 7–6 in ¡0 innings, Red Sox pitcher Verdel Mathis allowed six secondinning runs as the Red Sox dropped game two 9–3. 20

July 2¡, ¡942 — Satchel Paige Issues Intentional Walk to Pitch to Josh Gibson Before more than ¡¡,000 fans at Forbes Field, what was believed to be the biggest crowd to date to attend a game featuring black clubs in Pittsburgh, Satchel Paige, pitching with a 4–0 lead for the Kansas City Monarchs, intentionally walked the Homestead Grays’ Howard Easterling in the seventh inning to load the bases and bring Josh Gibson to bat with the potential tying run.2¡ Paige later described what happened next in a Pittsburgh Courier feature, “My Greatest Thrill.”! Walking Easterling was not as dramatic as it might seem, as Paige admitted that he was more familiar with Gibson and more comfortable pitching to him. As he prepared to pitch to Gibson, Paige said, he *Cum Posey in his Pittsburgh Courier (27 June ¡942) column said that as many as 4,000 fans were unable to get tickets. † Date based on Chicago Defender (4 July ¡942).  Paige doesn’t provide a date for this game, but several details suggest that this is the same game.

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was reminded of the poem “Casey at the Bat,” and he struck Gibson out on three straight fast balls.22 One inning later, however, the Grays scored four runs o› Paige to tie the game and went on to win 5–4 in ¡¡ innings when Jerry Benjamin’s base hit o› Paige drove in Ray Brown. Brown had relieved Roy Partlow in the ¡0th inning.23*

July 3¡, ¡942 — Leon Day Strikes Out ¡8 Batters On July 3¡,† Newark Eagles hurler Leon Day struck out ¡8 Baltimore Elite Giants batters.24 In addition to the strikeouts, Day nearly threw a no-hitter, allowing only one hit, a bloop single by Pee Wee Butts to short left field after, Day later said, being jammed with a fastball.25

August 7, ¡942 — Broadcast of Grays vs. Elite Giants, WWDC WWDC was scheduled to broadcast the Homestead Grays and the Baltimore Elite Giants from Bugle Field in Baltimore on August 7, along with another game between the same clubs on August 9, the Baltimore Afro American reported. The Grays won the first game 7–3, led by Josh Gibson’s two home runs. Sunday’s game was rained out.26

August 9, ¡942 — Campanella, Hughes, and Barnhill in Exhibition Game in Cleveland Roy Campanella and Sammy Hughes left the Baltimore Elite Giants just before a series with the Homestead Grays to appear with the Cleveland Buckeyes in an exhibition game for $200 each in Cleveland against a club called the “All Nations.” With them was pitcher Dave Barnhill of the New York Cubans who, unlike Campanella and Hughes, had the permission of his NNL club owner to appear in the game. As a result Campanella and Hughes were fined $250 by Elite Giants owner Tom Wilson, who was also NNL president. Campanella refused to pay the fine, and by end of August he had accepted an o›er to play in Mexico, and Hughes returned to the Elite Giants. Earlier it had been reported that a journalist with the Daily Worker had arranged for a tryout for these three players with the Pittsburgh Pirates to be held on August 4. The tryout never took place.27 Campanella later wrote that the $200 he received for the Cleveland *In a story in The Sporting News (¡8 July ¡98¡) based on the recollections of Buck O’Neil, Buck Leonard and Satchel Paige, Donn Rogosin states that Paige conferred with O’Neil during the seventh inning and told him that he intended to walk both Easterling and Buck Leonard to get to Gibson in order to settle an ongoing dispute over who was better, Paige or Gibson. Before he pitched, Rogosin wrote, Paige told Gibson that it was time to settle the dispute. Buck O’Neil tells a similar story in his autobiography (Buck O’Neil with Steve Wulf and David Conrads, I Was Right on Time [New York: Simon & Schuster, ¡996], ¡32–35) but said it occurred in a ¡942 World Series game and repeated this story for a ¡993 article (The National Pastime, No. ¡3 ¡993). The game referred to by O’Neil was the second game, which was played in Pittsburgh on September ¡0. Paige was not credited with any walks in the box score published in the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph (¡¡ September ¡942) game report, but he was described as striking out Gibson with the bases loaded in the seventh inning. Several aspects of these two games are similar but it seems more likely that the intentional walk took place in the July 2¡ game. † Date based on Baltimore Afro American (8 August ¡942).

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game was more than a month’s salary with the Elite Giants and that Tom Wilson turned down his request to play in the game.28

August ¡6, ¡942 — East Wins 5–2 in East-West Game The East broke a 2–2 tie in the seventh inning and added two more runs in the ninth for a 5–2 win in the East-West game before an estimated crowd of 48,000 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Satchel Paige came in to start the seventh inning and took the loss for West when his outfielder Ted Strong had trouble with Lennie Pearson’s fly ball; Pearson then moved to second on a bunt and scored the go-ahead run on Sam Bankhead’s sacrifice fly. Jonas Gaines (East) and Hilton Smith (West) got the starts, and Leon Day had a memorable performance in relief, throwing 2Ω innings, allowing no hits and striking out five, including the side, to end the game.29

August 30, ¡942 — Roy Partlow Throws No-Hitter In the second game of a four-team doubleheader at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Roy Partlow of the Homestead Grays threw a no-hit shutout in a seven-inning game against the Chicago American Giants as the Grays won 3–0. More than ¡0,000 fans turned out and saw the Kansas City Monarchs defeat the Philadelphia Stars ¡0–5 in the first game of the interleague doubleheader.30

September 7, ¡942 — Grays Win Negro National League Pennant With the NNL season set to end on Labor Day, the Homestead Grays went into the weekend in first place with two games scheduled with the Newark Eagles, and the Baltimore Elite Giants had a five-game series with the Philadelphia Stars. The Grays won both of their games, and the Elite Giants dropped two of five to finish in second place. Final standings showed the Grays (23–¡0) in first, followed by the Elite Giants (24–¡4), the Newark Eagles (¡7–¡7), the Philadelphia Stars (¡8–23), the New York Cubans (8–¡4), and the New York Black Yankees (8–20).3¡ The Grays would play the NAL champion Kansas City Monarchs in a World Series.

September 8, ¡942 — Monarchs Win 8–0 in Game One of World Series The Kansas City Monarchs defeated the Homestead Grays 8–0 in the first game of the World Series at Gri‡th Stadium in Washington, D.C. The Grays threatened only once, in the fourth inning of a scoreless tie, when Sam Bankhead and Howard Easterling singled, but Satchel Paige got Josh Gibson to fly out to center field and ended the inning with the shutout preserved. Paige lasted five innings and was relieved by Jack Matchett, who picked up where Paige left o›, throwing scoreless and hitless ball to combine with Paige for the two-hit shutout. The game remained scoreless until the sixth inning, when the Monarchs scored once and then followed with three runs in the seventh and two more each in the eighth and ninth. Attendance reports ranged from

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22,000 to 25,000.32 A radio broadcast of the game in the D.C. area was reported by the Washington Post.33

September ¡0, ¡942 — Monarchs Win 8–4 in Game Two of World Series The Kansas City Monarchs took a 2–0 lead in the World Series with an 8–4 win over the Homestead Grays at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.34 The Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph reported that Satchel Paige, one inning after he struck out Josh Gibson with the bases loaded, gave up four runs and trailed 4–2, but the Monarchs rallied to score six times in the final two innings for the win. Paige relieved Hilton Smith in the sixth inning. Roy Partlow got the start for the Grays and was relieved by Roy Welmaker. The reported attendance was 5,2¡9.35

September ¡3, ¡942 — Monarchs Win 9–3 in Game Three of World Series A crowd estimated at between 20,000 and 30,000 at Yankee Stadium saw the Kansas City Monarchs knock out ¡6 hits on their way to defeat the Homestead Grays 9–3 for a 3–0 lead in the World Series. The Grays scored two runs o› Kansas City starter Satchel Paige, one of them a home run by Howard Easterling, but the Monarchs responded with nine runs to lead 9–2 at the end of the fifth o› Grays starter Ray Brown. New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia threw out the first ball. The clubs played a second game as an exhibition, which Kansas City won 5–0.36

September 20, ¡942 — World Series Game Protested More than 8,500 fans showed up at Kansas City’s Ruppert Stadium and saw the Homestead Grays defeat the Kansas City Monarchs 4–¡ in the fourth game of the World Series, but the game was protested by the Monarchs and eventually thrown out of the series standings. Trailing 3–0 in the best-of-seven series, the Grays had four new players on their roster, including starting pitcher Leon Day of the Newark Eagles, who pitched a complete game five-hitter* while striking out ¡2 in the Grays 4–¡ win. The Monarchs protested the use of these players, who also included Ed Stone and Lennie Pearson of the Eagles and James “Bus” Clarkson of the Philadelphia Stars, but the Grays insisted that the Monarchs’ co-owner, Tom Baird, had agreed because the Grays roster had been significantly reduced because of injury and the induction of at least one player, Dave Whatley, into the U.S. Army. After the game, Kansas City Monarchs secretary Dizzy Dismukes commented that the Monarchs had lost to an all-star team and not the Grays. On the following day, representatives of the two clubs met with Negro American League secretary Frank A. Young and agreed to throw the game out and revert the series to a 3–0 Kansas City series lead.37 *Most accounts credit Day with a five-hitter, but at least one, The Sporting News (24 September ¡942), reported a four-hitter.

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September 29, ¡942 — Monarchs Win World Series In a game originally scheduled for September 27 at Wrigley Field in Chicago but cancelled because of poor weather, the Kansas City Monarchs and the Homestead Grays met in the fourth game of the World Series before a crowd of more than ¡4,000 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, and the Monarchs completed the series sweep, winning the game 9–5 and taking the series 4–0. The Grays scored early o› Monarchs starter Jack Matchett, led 5–2 after three innings, and had two runners on base in the fourth inning when Satchel Paige came in to relieve and struck out Robert Gaston to end the inning. Paige had arrived late to the ballpark and explained that he had been caught for speeding and fined $20 around Lancaster, Pa., while driving to Philadelphia. Paige pitched hitless and scoreless ball the rest of the way for the Monarchs, and the Monarchs o›ense scored twice in the seventh and added three more in the eighth for the 9–5 win. Fred McCrary, Frank Forbes, and Phil Cockrell were the umpires. Josh Gibson came out of the game in the third inning.38 It was later reported that the Grays catcher required medical attention after passing out in the dugout.39

December 27 and 28, ¡942 — Negro American League Meeting in Chicago The Negro American League met at the Grand Hotel for a two-day session. In league business, the Buckeyes announced that they would play all home games at Cleveland, and the Cincinnati Clowns were admitted to the NAL. In other news, J.B. Martin was reelected president, J.L. Wilkinson returned as treasurer, and R.S. Simmons replaced Frank Young, who didn’t want to be considered for reelection, as secretary.40 In addition, there was also a change in the vice president’s o‡ce with Ernest Wright taking H.G. Hall’s place. It was also reported by the Chicago Defender that former NAL President R.R. Jackson, who was serving as commissioner for the league, had died just before the league met.4¡

¡943 January 23, ¡943 — Negro National League Meeting in Philadelphia The Negro National League met at the Quaker City Elks Lodge in Philadelphia to prepare for the ¡943 season. In league elections, Tom Wilson was reelected president, Ed Bolden returned as vice president, and the secretary-treasurer position, which had been held by Cum Posey, was made into two positions with Posey as secretary and Abe Manley as treasurer. The NNL also discussed O‡ce of Defense Transportation restrictions on travel and agreed that clubs would hold spring training in the North. In addition, opening day was set for May ¡5. Among those attending were Tom Wilson and

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Vernon Green (Baltimore Elite Giants), Cum and See Posey, Rufus Jackson (Homestead Grays), James Semler and George Mitchell (New York Black Yankees), Alejandro Pompez (New York Cubans), Ed Bolden and Ed Gottlieb (Philadelphia Stars), Abe and E›a Manley (Newark Eagles), J.B. Martin (NAL president), Williams Leuschner, Douglass Smith and Frank Forbes.¡

February ¡8, ¡943 — Philadelphia Phillies Purchased by Bill Cox Bill Veeck in his ¡962 autobiography, Veeck — as in Wreck, said that he had planned to purchase the National League Philadelphia Phillies and break the “color line” in major league baseball by signing a team of players from the Negro Leagues, including Satchel Paige, Roy Campanella, Luke Easter, and Monte Irvin. Veeck said that Phillies owner Gerry Nugent accepted his o›er to buy the National League club but that the deal was never made because he told Major League Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis about his plans and Landis used his influence to prevent the sale. After this, the Phillies were turned over to the National League when Nugent declared bankruptcy and NL President Ford Frick sold the club to Bill Cox for half of what Veeck was willing to pay.2 Some recent research* questions Veeck’s claim and asserts that the only source for the story of Veeck’s plans to buy the Phillies and sign Negro Leagues players came from Veeck himself.3 While this research has cast significant doubt on Veeck’s claim, it did not include some sources that, while far from conclusive, maintain the possibility that there is some substance to Veeck’s claims.†

March 28, ¡943 — Schedule Meeting of Negro American League Negro American League owners met at the Grand Hotel in Chicago and set opening day for May ¡6. In other league news, press reports indicated that the O‡ce of Defense Transportation limits on the use of private buses would remain in e›ect and that it was believed by NAL President J.B. Martin that the league might not be able to play for the ¡943 season under those conditions. Among those attending were J.B. Martin (NAL president, Chicago American Giants), Ernest Wright (Cleveland Buckeyes), J.L. Wilkinson and Tom Baird (Kansas City Monarchs), T.H. Hayes Jr. and W.S. Welch (Birmingham Black Barons), William Margolis (representing Syd Pollock’s Cincinnati Clowns), W.S. Martin and B.B. Martin (Memphis Red Sox) and R.S. Simmons.4 Earlier, Martin and NNL Secretary Cum Posey met with an ODT representative at Washington Senators owner Clark Gri‡th’s o‡ce and appealed the ODT ruling.5

*David J. Jordan, Larry R. Gerlach, and John P. Rossi, “Bill Veeck and the ¡943 Sales of the Phillies: A Baseball Myth Exploded,” The National Pastime, ¡998. † These sources include a Philadelphia Independent story (¡4 August ¡954) in which Abe Saperstein is quoted and a Philadelphia Tribune column by sportswriter Randy Dixon (29 September ¡956) in which Dixon repeated the story. Also, Neil Lanctot (in Negro League Baseball: The Rise and Ruin of a Black Institution [Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004], 444) mentions a story in the Chicago Defender (26 February ¡949) in which Frank A. Young quotes Veeck.

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April ¡¡, ¡943 — Negro National League Meeting in Philly The Negro National League met in Philadelphia and agreed to play the ¡943 season despite the O‡ce of Defense Transportation ban on private bus use. The league planned to use public train and bus travel but also announced its intention to lobby for the repeal of the ban. In other league news, it was announced that George Mitchell and Allen Johnson would operate an NNL franchise known as the Harrisburg–St. Louis Stars. Mitchell had previously left his partnership with New York Black Yankees owner James Semler.6

May ¡5 and ¡6, ¡943 — Opening Day of Negro National League Before an estimated 4,000 fans at 44th and Parkside in Philadelphia, the visiting Newark Eagles scored twice in the ¡¡th inning to win 4–2 over the Philadelphia Stars. Barney Brown for the Stars and Bob Williams for the Eagles got the opening day starts, but both needed relief.7 In the ¡¡th, the Eagles scored twice though no Eagle batter hit safely; three Stars errors coupled with a walk gave the Eagles the win.8 Though it had been reported that the Baltimore Elite Giants would open the season against the Homestead Grays at Pittsburgh on May ¡5 and that, on the same day, the New York Cubans would face the New York Black Yankees,9 press reports suggest that these four clubs opened play on May ¡6. The Homestead Grays swept a doubleheader 2–¡ and 7–0 with the Baltimore Elite Giants at Gri‡th Stadium in Washington, D.C., in front of more than 9,000 fans. Josh Gibson had five hits for the day, including four doubles. In other action, more than 8,000 fans turned up at Yankee Stadium and saw Dave Barnhill strike out ¡4* New York Black Yankee batters in the New York Cubans ¡2–2† win in the first game of a doubleheader. The second game was called because of darkness with the score tied 5–5.¡0 The seventh NNL club, the Harrisburg–St. Louis Stars, was scheduled to open the season at Newark vs. the Eagles on May 2¡.¡¡

May ¡6, ¡943 — Opening Day of Negro American League All six NAL clubs opened play on May ¡6. At Ruppert Stadium in Kansas City, the hometown Monarchs swept a doubleheader from the Chicago American Giants 2–0 and ¡–0 before more than 8,000 fans. In the opening game Satchel Paige threw five innings of two-hit ball and was relieved by Booker McDaniels, who closed out the game allowing just one hit. William Cornelius took the loss, going the distance for the American Giants. Elsewhere, the Cleveland Buckeyes split a doubleheader with the Memphis Red Sox at Memphis. The Red Sox won the opener 2–0 on Porter Moss’s five-hitter, and Cleveland won the second game 2–¡. In other action, at Crosley Field in Cincinnati the Birmingham Black Barons and the hometown Clowns ¡2 split a doubleheader. The Clowns took the opener 4–3 in ¡0 innings, and the Black Barons won the second game 6–5, also in ¡0 innings. The score was tied 2–2 after nine innings, and in the top of the *The Pittsburgh Courier (22 May ¡943) di›ered with other reports and credited Barnhill with ¡3 k’s. † The New York Times (¡7 May ¡943) reported the score as ¡0–2, but several other sources reported ¡2–2.

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¡0th inning, Birmingham scored four times, and the Clowns followed with a three-run rally in the bottom of the inning that fell one run short.¡3

June 4, ¡943 — Satchel Paige Strikes Out ¡7 Homestead Grays owner Cum Posey reported that Kansas City Monarchs hurler Satchel Paige struck out ¡7 of his Homestead Grays in a game on June 4.¡4

June 6, ¡943 — Jimmy Hill Throws Seven-Inning No-Hitter Newark Eagles hurler Jimmy Hill threw a no-hit shutout in the second game of a doubleheader with the New York Black Yankees.¡5 The Eagles won the seven-inning game 3–0.¡6

June 2¡, ¡943 — Record Crowd in Philadelphia Satchel Paige’s appearance at Shibe Park in Philadelphia with the Kansas City Monarchs attracted 24,¡65, which was believed to be the largest crowd for a black baseball game in that city. The Philadelphia Stars, behind the complete-game pitching of Barney Brown, defeated the Monarchs 8–5. Satchel Paige pitched the first three innings for the Monarchs and gave up two runs on five hits.¡7 Philadelphia sportswriter W. Rollo Wilson criticized the Monarchs for not pitching Paige more than three innings and said that Paige should have remained in the game and should have come out only if the Stars hitters knocked him out.¡8 Shortened appearances like this were not unusual for Paige late in his career.

July 4, ¡943 — Birmingham Black Barons Win Negro American League First-Half Pennant With a 5–¡ win over the Chicago American Giants at Rickwood Field, Gready McKinnis and the Birmingham Black Barons won the NAL first-half pennant, the Pittsburgh Courier reported.¡9

July 5, ¡943 — Grays Win Negro National League First-Half Pennant The Homestead Grays won the first-half pennant in the Negro National League.20 Final standings had the Grays (¡7–4) in first, followed by the New York Cubans (¡3–6), the St. Louis–Harrisburg Giants (5–4), the Newark Eagles (5–4), the Philadelphia Stars (¡¡–¡6), the Baltimore Elite Giants (9–¡5), and the New York Black Yankees (2–¡¡).2¡

July ¡8, ¡943 — Satchel Paige Honored at Wrigley More than ¡9,000 fans turned up for a four-team doubleheader at Wrigley Field in Chicago in honor of Satchel Paige. Paige, who was on loan to the Memphis Red Sox

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for the exhibition, didn’t let the crowd down, throwing five innings of no-hit shutout ball while striking out seven batters in a ¡–0 win against the New York Cubans. Porter Moss relieved Paige to start the sixth inning and preserved the shutout while allowing just two hits. New York Cubans pitcher Dave Barnhill was unlucky to have faced Paige and Moss and took the loss despite throwing a three-hitter, walking none, and allowing just one run on a second-inning homer by Neil Robinson.22 Paige received $2,000 for his appearance.23

July 25, ¡943 — New York Cubans Turn Triple Play The New York Cubans swept a doubleheader from the Birmingham Black Barons at Rickwood Park in Birmingham ¡¡–3 and 2–¡, and the highlight of the day was a triple play by the New York Cubans.24 In the first inning of the opening game, with Leroy Morney and Tommy Sampson on base, Horacio Martinez caught Clyde Spearman’s line drive for the first out, threw to Javier Perez for the second out, and Perez completed the triple play by throwing to Rogelio Linares, catching the runner o› base.25*

August ¡, ¡943 — West Wins East-West Game, 2–¡ Trailing 2–0 in the ninth, and down to their last out, the East rallied with a home run by Buck Leonard, and singles by Josh Gibson and Howard Easterling, but relief pitcher Porter Moss got pinch hitter Vic Harris to fly out, ending the threat and giving the West a 2–¡ win in the East-West game before 5¡,723 fans at Comiskey Park. Before the last-minute rally, the East had managed only one hit o› West pitchers Satchel Paige, Gready McKinnis, and Theolic Smith. The East scored their first run in the second inning o› Dave Barnhill, when Tommy Sampson’s single drove in Neil Robinson, and added another in the fourth, when Willard Brown singled, stole second, moved to third on an infield out, and scored on Buck O’Neil’s infield grounder, giving the West a 2–0 lead. Paige, who threw three hitless innings, striking out four, and walking just one, got the win. Barnhill took the loss.26

August 2¡, ¡943 — Alvin Gipson Strikes Out 20 Batters Birmingham Black Barons pitcher Alvin Gipson struck out 20 Philadelphia Stars batters in a 5–¡ Black Barons win at 44th and Parkside in Philadelphia.27 Gipson reportedly struck out the side in four of the nine innings, including the ninth, the Philadelphia Tribune reported, and whi›ed Stars’ second baseman Marvin Williams five times.28 Following Gipson’s pitching feat, fans rushed onto the field to congratulate the pitcher.29

September 2, ¡943 — First Night Game at Comiskey for Black Clubs In what was described as the first night game between black baseball clubs at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Memphis Red Sox hurler Verdel Mathis tossed a complete*Linares was known mostly as a first baseman, and Perez was probably playing second base on this day.

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game shutout against the hometown American Giants in a 2–0 Red Sox win. More than 9,000 fans saw a scoreless pitcher’s duel through the fifth inning between Mathis and American Giants pitcher Gentry Jessup, but in the sixth Red Longley’s two-run single got the Red Sox on the board with what proved to be the game’s only scoring.30 .

September 6, ¡943 — Chicago American Giants Win Negro American League Second-Half Pennant The Chicago American Giants defeated the Memphis Red Sox in the second game of a doubleheader to win the second-half NAL title, the Chicago Daily Tribune said.3¡ They would play the first half champs, Birmingham Black Barons, for the NAL pennant.

September 6, ¡943 — Grays Win Negro National League Pennant The second half of the NNL season concluded with the Homestead Grays (9–3) in first place,32 followed by the Newark Eagles (9–4), New York Cubans (4–3), Philadelphia Stars (8–9), Baltimore Elite Giants (5–6) and the New York Black Yankees (0–¡0), the Afro American reported.33 The Grays were also first-half champs.

September 9, ¡943 — All-Star Game at Gri‡th The South all-stars defeated the North all-stars, 6–4, before more than 5,000 fans at Gri‡th Stadium in a game to benefit the Lend-A-Hand Club of Washington D.C. Edsel Walker gave up four runs on four hits in the first inning but that was all the runs the North would score for the day. The South scored twice in the first and broke the 4–4 tie in the seventh inning on Sam Bankhead’s RBI. Most, if not all, players were selected from NNL clubs.34

September ¡3–¡9, ¡943 — Birmingham Black Barons Win Negro American League Playo› After a rain-out at Comiskey Park in Chicago on September ¡2, the first game of the Negro American League championship series between the Birmingham Black Barons, and the Chicago American Giants, was played on the September ¡3 in Toledo, Ohio where the Chicago American Giants won, 3–2. On September ¡4, the Birmingham Black Barons evened the series at one game each with a ¡6–5 win in Columbus, Ohio. The clubs moved to Dayton, Ohio for the third game of the best-of-five series on the ¡5th, and the American Giants won 5–4. The fourth game, played in Montgomery, Ala. on September ¡7th, went to the Black Barons, 4–¡, tying the series at 2–2. In the fifth and deciding game at Rickwood Park in Birmingham on the ¡9th, Black Barons pitcher Johnny Huber gave up a lead-o› single to Ralph Wyatt that proved to be the only hit of the day for American Giants as the Black Barons won the game, ¡–0,

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and the NAL championship, 3–2. American Giants starter Gentry Jessup allowed just four hits but the Black Barons manufactured a run in second inning when Piper Davis was hit by a pitch, moved to third base on Leonard Lindsay’s single and came in to score the game’s only run on a sacrifice fly.35 The series had originally been scheduled as a best-of-seven, but after the first game was rained out, it was agreed to shorten the series to a best-of-five.36

September 2¡, ¡943 — Black Barons Win 4–2 in Game One of World Series Negro American League champion Birmingham Black Barons took the first game of the World Series, 4–2, over the NNL Homestead Grays at Gri‡th Stadium, in Washington D.C. An estimated 4,000 fans were on hand as Alfred Saylor went the distance for the Black Barons, allowing just five hits.37 The Grays scored once in the first inning when Cool Papa Bell tripled and Buck Leonard followed with a sacrifice fly, but Saylor didn’t allow the Grays another base runner until the ninth inning.38

September 23, ¡943 — 5–5 Tie in Game Two of World Series The second game of the World Series went ¡2 innings before being called o› because of a midnight curfew with the score tied, 5–5, at Bugle Field in Baltimore. The Homestead Grays tied the score in the ninth inning39 and nearly went ahead but Sam Bankhead was thrown out at home by Birmingham Black Barons outfielder Lester Lockett after tagging up from third on a Vic Harris fly ball.40

September 24, ¡943 — Grays Win 4–3 in Game Three of World Series The Homestead Grays tied the World Series at one game each with a 4–3 win in ¡¡ innings over the Birmingham Black Barons before more than 7,000 fans at Gri‡th Stadium, in Washington D.C. The Grays scored three runs in the second inning o› Black Barons starter John Markham and didn’t score again until the ¡¡th when Cool Papa Bell singled with the bases loaded driving in Vic Harris for the 4–3 win. Roy Partlow started for the Grays and had relief help from Ray Brown4¡ in the sixth inning; Brown pitched the rest of the way allowing no hits and walking only one batter.42

September 26, ¡943 — Grays Win 9–0 in Game Four of World Series Before an estimated 6,000 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago, the Homestead Grays won the fourth game of the World Series, 9–0, over the Birmingham Black Barons. Johnny Wright threw a complete-game shutout for the Grays, allowing just five hits.43 Gready McKinnis and Johnny Huber did the pitching for the Black Barons, the Chicago Daily Tribune reported, and the Grays scored six times in the fifth.44 The Grays led the series 2–¡, with one tie.

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September 27, ¡943 — Porter Moss Throws No-Hitter Memphis Red Sox pitcher Porter Moss threw a no-hitter while shutting out the Cincinnati Clowns, 5–0, in an exhibition game in Memphis, Tenn., the Sporting News reported.45

September 28, ¡943 — Black Barons Win ¡¡–¡0 in Game Five of World Series The Birmingham Black Barons survived an eighth inning grand slam from the Homestead Grays’ Josh Gibson and held on to win ¡¡–¡0 at Red Bird Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.46 The Black Barons knocked out Grays reliever Roy Partlow in a five-run seventh, while Alvin Gipson and Al Saylor did the pitching for Birmingham.47 The series was now tied 2–2 with one tie.

September 29, ¡943 — Grays Win 3–2 in Game Six of World Series John Wright threw a complete-game six-hit shutout to give the Homestead Grays a 3–2 lead in the World Series with the Birmingham Black Barons in Indianapolis. The Grays put together a five-run seventh inning on their way to an 8–0 win.48 The Black Barons started Gready McKinnis on the mound and used John Markham in relief.49

October 3, ¡943 — Black Barons Win ¡–0 in Game Seven of World Series Facing elimination, John Markham threw ¡¡ innings of shutout ball as the Birmingham Black Barons won, ¡–0, in extra innings to tie the World Series with the Homestead Grays, 3–3. Roy Partlow threw a complete game for the Grays but took the loss in the ¡¡th when Ed Steele connected with an RBI single following a triple by Lindsay.* Ragtime composer W.C. Handy, who was among the estimated ¡0,000 fans at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, made a speech in the pregame ceremonies.50

October 5, ¡943 — Grays Win World Series Trailing 4–2 to start the eighth inning, the Homestead Grays scored four times, including twice on a Sam Bankhead single, to take a 6–4 lead in the deciding game of the World Series with the Birmingham Black Barons. In the ninth, the Grays added two insurance runs on their way to winning 8–4. In the eighth, Buck Leonard got things started with a two-out walk and Josh Gibson and Howard Easterling connected for singles bringing in the first of the inning’s four runs. An estimated 4,000 fans came out to the World Series game in Montgomery, Alabama.5¡

*Birmingham’s roster included two players named Lindsay, James and Leonard. Not clear who tripled in this game.

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¡944 January 5, ¡944 — Negro National League Meeting in New York During the ¡943 season, the St. Louis Stars, while a member of the Negro National League, received permission from the league to barnstorm in the middle season with a team organized by former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dizzy Dean with the condition that they wouldn’t play in league cities. This condition was not met, and NNL President Tom Wilson suspended the club.¡ When the NNL met at the Hotel Theresa in New York on January 5, the status of the Stars was at the top of the list of league business. After the NNL ban in ¡943, the Memphis Red Sox, a member of the Negro American League, played the St. Louis Stars, which was a violation of an interleague agreement. NAL President J.B. Martin, who was present at the meeting, maintained that the NAL was unaware of the ban at the time the games were played. The NNL agreed to lift the ban on the Stars, so that NAL clubs could schedule games with them, if the club settled its financial debts with the league. In addition Tom Wilson was reelected president; Ed Bolden returned as vice president, and Cum Posey and Abe Manley were voted in as secretary and treasurer, respectively. Among those attending were James Semler and Curtis Leak (New York Black Yankees), Abe and E›a Manley (Newark Eagles), Ed Gottlieb and Ed Bolden (Philadelphia Stars), Rufus Jackson, Cum Posey and See Posey (Homestead Grays), Tom Wilson and Vernon Green (Baltimore Elite Giants), Alex Pompez (New York Cubans), J.B. Martin (NAL president), William Leuschner, Frank Forbes, B.B. Martin, Syd Pollock, and W.S. Welch.2 In other business, it was agreed to use a ball made by Wilson for league play, and Pittsburgh Courier sportswriter Wendell Smith proposed that he serve as o‡cial NNL statistician.3

March 3 and 4, ¡944 — Negro National League Schedule Meeting in New York The Negro National League met in a two-day session at the Hotel Theresa in New York to create the schedule for the ¡944 season. In addition, the NNL announced its controversial plan to use Al Munro Elias as the o‡cial league statistician instead of accepting the previous o›er proposed by Pittsburgh Courier sportswriter Wendell Smith.4 Sportswriter Don DeLeighbur* regarded the selection of Elias, who was white and who DeLeighbur believed would be paid $5,000 for the season, as an insult to Smith and black journalists in general.5 NNL Secretary Cum Posey responded that Elias was chosen because of experience and low cost; Elias would be paid $425 for the season, Posey said.6 Among those attending were Tom Wilson (NNL president and Baltimore Elite Giants), Alejandro Pompez (New York Cubans), James Semler (New York *The Call and Post (25 March ¡944) suggested that this was a pseudonym for sportswriter Dan Burley.

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Black Yankees), Ed Gottlieb and Ed Bolden (Philadelphia Stars), Cum Posey and See Posey (Homestead Grays), E›a Manley and Abe Manley (Newark Eagles), and Vernon Green (Baltimore Elite Giants).7

March 5 and 6, ¡944 — Negro American League Schedule Meeting in Chicago The Negro American League met in a two-day session in Chicago to draft the ¡944 schedule. In addition it was announced that the Cincinnati Clowns franchise would play in Indianapolis for the ¡944 season.8 It was also reported that the NAL had hired the “Howe News Bureau” to compile statistics.9 Attending were J.B. Martin (NAL president), W.S. Martin and B.B. Martin (Memphis Red Sox), Tom Hayes Jr. (Birmingham Black Barons), Tom Baird and J.L. Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs), Ernest Wright (Cleveland Buckeyes), Abe Saperstein and, representing the Negro National League, Tom Wilson and Alejandro Pompez.¡0

May 6 and 7, ¡944 — Opening Day of the Negro National League Rain in Washington, D.C., cancelled the New York Black Yankees vs. Homestead Grays on opening day, but in Philadelphia the hometown Stars began league play with a 5–4 win over the Baltimore Elite Giants. On May 7, the Newark Eagles and the New York Cubans, scheduled to start the season at Ruppert Stadium in Newark, N.J., were also rained out. In other action, weather was good enough in Washington, D.C., on May 7 for the Grays and the New York Black Yankees to get in a doubleheader, which the Grays won 5–4 and 7–3.¡¡ From press reports it seems that the Newark Eagles did not begin league play until May ¡4, when they swept a doubleheader from the Philadelphia Stars 5–4 and ¡¡–6 at Ruppert Stadium in Newark.¡2 The Baltimore Afro American suggested that, after the rain-out, the New York Cubans didn’t play until May ¡7, when they lost to the Newark Eagles 3–2 in Norfolk, Va., despite getting a four-hitter from hurler Luis Tiant.¡3* As in previous years, the NNL had problems with players who broke their league contracts and signed with clubs in the Mexican league. Pittsburgh Courier columnist Wendell Smith interviewed shortstop Willie Wells, who had jumped his contract with the Newark Eagles, and Wells told Smith that playing in Mexico was more lucrative than playing in the United States and that he was judged solely on his ability.¡4

May 7, ¡944 — Opening Day of the Negro American League The Kansas City Monarchs and the Memphis Red Sox began the Negro American League season at Russwood Park in Memphis, Tenn., before an estimated crowd of 4,500. The Monarchs won the first game of the doubleheader 3–2, and the hometown Red Sox took the second contest 3–¡. At Comiskey Park in Chicago, the Birmingham *Date based on “Wednesday” reference in Baltimore Afro American (27 May ¡944).

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Black Barons swept a doubleheader from the American Giants 5–3 and 7–2 before more than 6,000 fans. Alfred Saylor went the distance for the Black Barons, and Gentry Jessup took the loss for the American Giants. In other action, the Indianapolis Clowns swept a doubleheader from the Cleveland Buckeyes in Louisville, Ky.,¡5* at Parkway Field.¡6

June 4, ¡944 — Dan Bankhead Strikes Out ¡4 While on leave from the U.S. Army,¡7 Dan Bankhead struck out ¡4† New York Black Yankee batters in the second game of doubleheader before an estimated ¡2,000 fans at Yankee Stadium. Bankhead and the Birmingham Black Barons won this game easily, ¡3–0, making it a sweep after winning the first game 9–0 over the Philadelphia Stars on Alvin Gipson’s two-hitter.¡8 Double Duty Radcli›e was the Birmingham catcher for both games.¡9

June 7, ¡944 — Double Duty Radcli›e Throws One-Hitter The Birmingham Black Barons defeated the Indianapolis Clowns 2–¡ in ¡0 innings behind the one-hit pitching of Ted “Double Duty” Radcli›e at Portsmouth, Va. The sole Clowns hit came in the ninth inning.20

June 8, ¡944 — Birmingham Scores Nine Runs in ¡0th Inning to Win ¡8–9 After letting a 9–3 lead in the eighth inning slip away, the Birmingham Black Barons came back in the ¡0th to score nine runs to defeat the Homestead Grays ¡8–9 at Gri‡th Stadium in Washington, D.C., before an estimated 7,000 fans. The Grays scored four times in the eighth inning and twice in the ninth to force extra innings before Birmingham put the game away in the ¡0th.2¡ The Black Barons had a total of ¡9 hits, including five triples.22

June ¡0, ¡944 — Josh Gibson Hospitalized Philadelphia Tribune sportswriter W. Rollo Wilson, in his June ¡0 column, reported that Homestead Grays slugger and catcher Josh Gibson had been admitted to Gallinger Hospital in Washington, D.C., after an arrest for “disorderly conduct.” Earlier, the Grays management tried to convince Gibson to see a doctor about his nervous condition and alcohol abuse, Wilson wrote, but Gibson refused.23

*The Chicago Defender (¡3 May ¡944) reported the scores as 5–¡ and 5–2, while the Pittsburgh Courier (¡3 May ¡944) reported 5–2 and 5–3. † The New York Times (5 June ¡944) reported that Bankhead struck out ¡7.

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June ¡¡, ¡944 — 25,000 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit An estimated 25,000 fans watched the Birmingham Black Barons and the New York Cubans split a doubleheader at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Birmingham won the first game 8–5, with Jonas Gaines getting the start, and the New York Cubans sent Barney Morris to the mound in the nightcap.24*

June ¡8, ¡944 — Indianapolis Clowns Walk O› Field and Forfeit Protesting an umpire’s decision, manager Jesse “Hoss” Walker refused to send his Indianapolis Clowns out after the seventh inning and consequently forfeited the second game of the doubleheader to the hometown Red Sox before more than 8,000 fans in Memphis.25 With the Clowns leading 5–3, the Red Sox got a hit from Jim Ford, and Neil Robinson was safe on an infield grounder when the throw to first base went into the outfield. Ford came around to score, and Robinson followed to tie the game when the throw from the outfield reportedly hit the first base coach in the back, prompting Walker’s protest.26 Memphis Red Sox owner B.B. Martin told Wendell Smith of the Pittsburgh Courier that he suggested to Walker that the Clowns finish the game and file a protest after the game but Walker refused.27 Walker was fined $50 by the NAL, and the Clowns received a $250 fine, the Pittsburgh Courier reported.28

July 2, ¡944 — Satchel Paige’s First Appearance at Ebbets Field The Kansas City Monarchs, with Satchel Paige pitching, lost 3–2 in ¡¡ innings to the New York Cubans in what was Paige’s first career appearance at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Paige went the distance,† striking out ¡5 batters while allowing just five hits, but the New York Cubans tied the game 2–2 with an unearned run in the ninth inning and won when Pat Scantlebury doubled and scored on Horacio Martinez’s single. Vic Greenridge started the second game for the New York Cubans. In the first game, the Philadelphia Stars beat the New York Cubans 8–6.29

July 2, ¡944 — Newark Eagles Protest Grays Use of Pitcher In a tight pennant race the Newark Eagles beat the Homestead Grays ¡¡–7 in the first game of a doubleheader at Ruppert Stadium in Newark but lost the controversial second game. The Grays use of pitcher Roy Partlow in the second game prompted a protest by the Newark Eagles because Partlow was under contract to the Philadelphia Stars. NNL President Tom Wilson upheld the Eagle’s protest and ordered the game, which would determine the first-half NNL pennant winner, to be replayed (see ¡8 August ¡944). The standings after the doubleheader had the Grays in first place at ¡5–8 and the Eagles in second at ¡3–9.30 Newark won the first game on Terris McDu‡e’s *The Michigan Chronicle (¡7 June ¡944) reported this score as 5–¡; the Pittsburgh Courier (¡7 June ¡944) reported 5–2. † All sources cited here say Paige threw a complete game except the New York Times (3 July ¡944), which reported, in apparent error, that Paige left the game in the sixth inning with the scored tied ¡–¡.

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¡0th inning grand slam, and Buck Leonard hit four home runs, two in each game of the doubleheader.3¡

July 4, ¡944 — Birmingham Black Barons Win First-Half Negro American League Pennant The first half of the NAL season ended on July 4 with the Birmingham Black Barons, who had already clinched the first-half pennant, playing the Cleveland Buckeyes. The NAL standings showed Birmingham (24–9) in first place, followed by the Indianapolis Clowns (¡8–¡3), the Cleveland Buckeyes (20–20), the Memphis Red Sox (20–23), the Kansas City Monarchs (¡2–¡9), and the Chicago American Giants (¡0–20).32

August 6, ¡944 — Satchel Paige Throws Shutout at Briggs Stadium Kansas City Monarchs pitcher Satchel Paige defeated the Chicago American Giants and pitcher Gready McKinnis 2–0 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.33 Paige was dominant, striking out eight and allowing just three hits and a walk in the first game of the doubleheader. The game was scoreless until the ninth inning, when Kansas City scored twice on three singles and a fielder’s choice. Attendance was reported as 26,689.34

August ¡3, ¡944 — West Wins 7–4 in East-West Game Before more than 46,000 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago, the West all-stars defeated the East 7–4 when they broke a 2–2 deadlock with five runs in the fifth inning, capped by Double Duty Radcli›e’s two-run homer. Before the game, two player protests were lodged. Satchel Paige demanded that the leagues give a portion of the gate receipts to a charity that would help the war e›ort.* It was believed in the press that the NAL agreed to Paige’s request but that the NNL refused and Paige did not participate in the game. The other protest came from the players on the East team, who threatened to strike if they weren’t paid additional money. The league acquiesced and paid members of both teams.35

August ¡8, ¡944 — Grays Win Negro National League First-Half Playo› In a replay of a protested game at Ruppert Stadium in Newark between the Newark Eagles and the Homestead Grays (see 2 July ¡944), the Grays won 8–4 and were awarded the NNL first-half pennant. The Grays trailed 4–¡ until the sixth inning, when they scored three runs to tie and then took the lead with one more in the seventh. The Grays added three more runs in the ninth, including one on a Josh Gibson home run. Terris McDu‡e got the start for the Eagles, and Johnny Wright took the hill for the victorious Grays.36 *Journalist Frank Young doubted Paige’s motives (Chicago Defender, ¡2 August ¡944 in Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase [Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡], 229-23¡), and The Sporting News (¡0 August ¡944) reported that NAL President J.B. Martin said that Paige’s demands came only after he was not given the percentage of the gate that he wanted.

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August 27, ¡944 — 28, 000 at Yankee Stadium Approximately 28,000 fans turned up for a three-team doubleheader at Yankee Stadium and saw the New York Cubans defeat the Birmingham Blacks Barons 4–3 and, in the second game, saw Satchel Paige and Booker McDaniels combine for a 4–2 win over the New York Cubans. Paige threw five innings before being relieved by McDaniels37 and gave up just five hits, and McDaniels kept the Cubans hitless the rest of the way.38 In the opener, the Black Barons tied the game 3–3 in the top of the ninth only to have their pitcher, Alvin Gipson, walk a batter with the bases loaded in the bottom half of the ninth to force in the winning run.39

September 3, ¡944 — Black Barons Win Negro American League Second-Half Title The Birmingham Black Barons duplicated their first-half pennant with an 8–0 win over the Indianapolis Clowns at Wrigley Field that gave them the second-half title as well. Al Saylor pitched shutout ball for the Black Barons. The second-place Chicago American Giants lost to the Cleveland Buckeyes.40

September 4, ¡944 — End of Negro National League Season On the final day of the season the New York Cubans swept a doubleheader with the Homestead Grays at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, but only one of these games counted in the standings. Philadelphia Stars owner Ed Bolden protested to Negro National League President Tom Wilson that both games should have counted because both games of the doubleheader had originally been league games and were changed later. In addition, Bolden said the Grays and the Cubans had postponed games that hadn’t been rescheduled. Despite Bolden’s protests the Grays were awarded the second-half pennant.4¡ Final standings for the second half were reported with the Grays (¡2–5) in first place, followed by the Philadelphia Stars (¡5–7), the Baltimore Elite Giants (¡5–¡0), the New York Cubans (6–6), the Newark Eagles (8–¡5), and the New York Black Yankees (2–¡5).42

September ¡7, ¡944 — Grays Win 8–3 in Game One of World Series More than ¡2,000 fans came out to Rickwood Park in Birmingham to see the first game of the best-of-seven World Series between the NNL champion Homestead Grays and the NAL champion Birmingham Black Barons. The Grays won the opener 8–3 behind the pitching of Roy Welmaker and home runs by Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard and Dave Hoskins. Gibson’s homer in the fourth inning o› Black Barons starting pitcher Johnny Markham broke the ¡–¡ tie and gave the Grays the lead for good. Before the game, five members of the Black Barons were involved in a car accident, and four, Tommy Sampson, Pepper Bassett, Leandy Young and Artie Wilson, were injured, leaving the Black Barons short-handed for the series. Johnny Britton, the fifth player in the accident,43 played in the first game with eye protection.44

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September ¡9, ¡944 — Grays Win 6–¡ in Game Two of World Series The Homestead Grays took a 2–0 lead in the World Series with a 6–¡ win over the Birmingham Black Barons in front of an estimated 8,000 fans at Pelican Stadium in New Orleans. The game was close until the ninth inning, when the Grays scored four times. Edsel Walker for the Grays and Al Saylor for the Black Barons did the pitching.45

September 2¡, ¡944 — Grays Win 9–0 in Game Three of World Series The Homestead Grays made it three straight with a convincing 9–0 win over the Birmingham Black Barons at Rickwood Field in Birmingham. The Grays put up four runs in the fifth inning, and Ray Brown threw a one-hitter for the Grays, giving up only a second-inning single to Ted “Double Duty” Radcli›e.46 With the series at 3–0, the Grays needed to win one more game for the title.

September 23, ¡944 — Black Barons Win 6–0 in Game Four of World Series Down 3–0 and facing elimination in the best-of-seven World Series, the Birmingham Black Barons scored four times in the sixth inning and got a three-hitter from Johnny Huber on their way to a 6–0 win at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Spoon Carter got the start for the Grays and was relieved by Edsel Walker.47 After the game, the Grays led the series, 3–¡.

September 24, ¡944 — Grays Win World Series With a 4–2 win over the Birmingham Black Barons at Gri‡th Stadium in Washington, D.C., the Homestead Grays won the World Series 4–¡. An estimated ¡0,000 fans showed up at Gri‡th and saw the Grays score three times in the first inning on three hits and two walks o› Al Saylor, including a two-run single from Jud Wilson that put the Grays ahead 3–0. That was all Roy Welmaker needed as he went the distance for the Grays, allowing just eight hits.48

October ¡, ¡944 — North-South All-Star Game in New Orleans Two teams of all-stars met at Pelican Stadium in New Orleans, and the team representing the North won 6–¡. Satchel Paige, pitching for the South, gave up ¡3 hits over five innings, and the North got six solid innings of three-hit pitching from Terris McDu‡e. The game was promoted by Allen Page,49 and attendance was reported as ¡2,¡65.50

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December ¡5 and ¡6, ¡944 — Joint Meeting of Negro American League and Negro National League in New York The Negro National League and the Negro American League held separate meetings and then gathered for a joint meeting over two days at the Hotel Theresa in New York. In league business, both presidents, J.B. Martin in the NAL and Tom Wilson in the NNL, were reelected. In other business, Gus Greenlee’s application for an NNL franchise was turned down,5¡ and the NNL agreed to use the Wilson baseball for the ¡945 season. It was also reported that the St. Louis Stars returned some players belonging to NNL clubs and that the NNL di‡culties with the Stars franchise were resolved.52 (See January 5 ¡944.)

¡945 January ¡9 and 20, ¡945 — United States Baseball League Formed John Shackleford was elected president of the newly formed United States Baseball League at a meeting in Detroit. Preparations for the league had been made at an earlier meeting in Pittsburgh, and it was planned to have franchises in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, and possibly other cities. Among those involved with the league were Gus Greenlee, whose application for an NNL franchise was rejected earlier (see ¡5 December ¡944), Webster McDonald, George Mitchell, Ben Linton, John Hardin, and Bingo DeMoss.¡ At the meeting, Gus Greenlee was elected vice president, and journalist Russ Cowans was appointed secretary.2 Later, Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey gave support and rented Ebbets Field to the league. The USBL opened play on May 20 with the Pittsburgh Crawfords, the Brooklyn Brown Dodgers, the Philadelphia Hilldales, the Toledo Rays, the Chicago Brown Bombers, and the Detroit Giants.3 The USL never attained the quality of play of the NAL or the NNL and lasted for two uneven seasons. Elite players continued to play with the two more established leagues and the USL had di‡culty attracting fans. Today it is best known for its a‡liation with Rickey, whose role with the league has never been clearly defined. Apart from renting Ebbets to the USL, it has been suggested that Rickey was a financial backer of the Brooklyn Brown Dodgers, and some asserted ironically that Rickey was attempting to delay integration in the major leagues by creating a more stable league for black players. Others see Rickey’s involvement as a way for him to freely scout black players without exposing his intention to integrate the major leagues.4

April 7, ¡945 — Showboat Thomas and Terris McDu‡e Try Out with Brooklyn Dodgers Newark Eagles pitcher Terris McDu‡e and New York Cubans first baseman Dave “Showboat” Thomas received a tryout by the National League Brooklyn Dodgers at

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their spring training site at Bear Mountain, N.Y. The players arrived at the Dodgers camp uninvited on April 6, along with sportswriter Joe Bostic, and requested a tryout. After speaking with Harold Parrott and Bob Finch from the Dodgers front o‡ce, Bostic spoke with General Manager Branch Rickey, who eventually agreed to take a look at the players on April 7. Rickey was not impressed with either player, and neither was signed.5 Veteran sportswriter W. Rollo Wilson criticized the selection of McDu‡e and Thomas, who were both in their mid-thirties and past their baseball prime, and suggested that players like Roy Campanella, Ray Dandridge and Ray Brown might have made a better impression on the Dodgers.6 Bostic later said that it was di‡cult to find players willing to be confrontational and go with him to the Dodgers camp.7

April ¡5, ¡945 — Meeting of Umpire’s Association On April ¡5,* the Negro Professional Umpire’s Association met in Philadelphia to plan the ¡945 season. The o‡cers of the organization, founded in ¡944, were Fred McCrary, president; Mark Challower, secretary; and Bert Gholston, treasurer. Among the goals of the association was to establish professional standards and improve the earning power of umpires in the black leagues, the Tribune said. Among those at the meeting were Phil Cockrell, Herbert Crawford, Crush Holloway, J. Roland Rhodes, Rocky Hilson, Eugene Hudson, Ducky Kemp, Francis Greenfield, Will Bishop and Jimmy Fuller.8

April ¡6, ¡945 — Boston Red Sox Try Out Three Black Players Jackie Robinson, recently signed by the Kansas City Monarchs, along with Sam Jethroe of the Cleveland Buckeyes and Marvin Williams of the Philadelphia Stars, tried out for the American League Boston Red Sox organization at Fenway Park. Instrumental in arranging the tryout were Pittsburgh Courier sportswriter Wendell Smith, who accompanied the players to Boston, and Isadore Muchnick, a Boston city councilman who was threatening not to issue licenses for Sunday baseball to the Red Sox and the National League Boston Braves if black players were not given tryouts.¡0 None of these players were signed by the Red Sox. Robinson later became the first modern black player to be signed by a major league team when he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization (see 3 November ¡945). Jethroe also signed with the Dodgers (see 8 July ¡948) but was later traded to the Boston Braves and made his debut with them in ¡950. Williams never appeared in the majors.

April 26, ¡945 — Major League Commissioner Vows Support for Black Players The newly elected major league commissioner, a senator from Kentucky, A.B. Chandler, met with members of the black press, including Ric Roberts of the Pittsburgh *Date based on “Sunday” reference in Philadelphia Tribune (2¡ April ¡945).

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Courier, in Washington, D.C., after a Senate meeting and expressed support for e›orts to integrate the major leagues. Chandler replaced Kenesaw Mountain Landis as commissioner after Landis’s death in November, ¡944.9

May 5 and 6, ¡945 — Negro National League Opening Day The Philadelphia Stars opened the NNL season at home on May 5 and trounced the Baltimore Elite Giants ¡3–0; all other clubs opened on May 6. At Ruppert Stadium in Newark, the hometown Eagles won their opener 3–0 from the New York Cubans. In other action, the Homestead Grays got a first-inning three-run homer from Josh Gibson o› New York Black Yankees starter John “Neck” Stanley and went on to beat the Black Yankees ¡3–3. Dave Hoskins also homered for the Grays.¡¡

May 6, ¡945 — Bill Byrd Hits Pinch-Hit Grand Slam Bill Byrd broke a 2–2 tie in the ninth inning with a pinch-hit grand slam as the Baltimore Elite Giants defeated the Philadelphia Stars 6–2 in the first game of a doubleheader. Philadelphia won the second game 8–5.¡2

May 6, ¡945 — Negro American League Opening Day All six Negro American League clubs played on opening day. At Ruppert Stadium in Kansas City, the hometown Monarchs defeated the Chicago American Giants 6–2. ¡3 In March, it was announced in the press that the Monarchs had signed Jackie Robinson.¡4 Dizzy Dismukes has been given credit for signing Robinson to a Monarchs contract,¡5 and Monarchs pitcher Hilton Smith later said that he recommended Robinson to the Monarchs.¡6 Elsewhere, the visiting Cleveland Buckeyes took the first game of the opening day doubleheader at Rickwood Field in Birmingham with the Black Barons 4–0 behind the pitching of Gene Bremer, but dropped the second game.¡7 In other action, the Memphis Red Sox were scheduled to play the Indianapolis Clowns at Memphis.¡8

June ¡7, ¡945 — Rent Increase at Wrigley Follows Altercation At a doubleheader at Wrigley Field in Chicago between the Memphis Red Sox and the Indianapolis Clowns, Red Sox third baseman Jimmy Ford attacked an umpire and the police were needed to stop the fight. Ford was fined $50 by the NAL President J.B. Martin, the Defender said,¡9 but the repercussions of the fight, many in black press suggested, led to an increase in Wrigley’s rental fee to $5,000 or ¡5 percent of the gate, whichever was higher. The press was critical of Ford and believed that Negro American League clubs wouldn’t be able to a›ord the new rate increase.20

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July 4, ¡945 — End of First Half in Negro National League and Negro American League The first-half schedules of the Negro National League and the Negro American League ended on July 4 with the Homestead Grays (NNL) and the Cleveland Buckeyes (NAL) in first place.2¡ The final first-half NNL standings had the Grays (¡8–7) in first, followed by the Philadelphia Stars (¡4–9), the Baltimore Elite Giants (¡3–9), the Newark Eagles (¡¡–9), and the New York Cubans (3–¡¡).22*

July 29, ¡945 — West Wins 9–6 in East-West Game By the end of the third inning of the East-West game at Comiskey Park in Chicago, the West had scored eight times, and the East was still waiting for its first hit. West starting pitcher Verdel Mathis threw three innings of no-hit shutout ball, East starter Tom Glover was lifted in the four-run second inning, and reliever Bill Ricks was yanked in the four-run third. The East o›ense was quiet until the ninth, when it scored five times to trim the West’s lead but came up short, losing 9–6. The crowd of more than 30,000 saw Jackie Robinson make his first and only East-West game appearance. Neither Satchel Paige nor Josh Gibson played; Paige could not agree with the promoters on a price for his appearance,23 and Gibson had been suspended by the Homestead Grays.24

August 5, ¡945 — Don Newcombe Throws One-Hitter On August 5,† Newark Eagles pitcher Don Newcombe gave up just one hit against the Baltimore Elite Giants in the 8–¡ Eagles win in the first game of a doubleheader, the New Jersey Afro American reported. Newcombe walked four batters and gave up one run in the first inning, the Afro American said, and Bill Wright was the only Elite Giants batter to hit safely.25

August ¡2, ¡945 — Ray Brown Throws Seven-Inning Perfect Game On August ¡2,! in a seven-inning 7–0 win against the Chicago American Giants, Homestead Grays pitcher Ray Brown faced the minimum 2¡ batters and retired them all for an abbreviated perfect game. This was the second game of a doubleheader before an estimated 7,000 fans at Gri‡th Stadium in Washington, D.C.26

August 26, ¡945 — Gready McKinnis Throws One-Hitter Before an estimated 4,000 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Gready McKinnis threw a one-hit shutout as the hometown American Giants defeated the Kansas City Monarchs ¡5–0. The American Giants knocked out 2¡ hits.27 *This report didn’t include the New York Black Yankees. † This date based on New Jersey Afro American (¡¡ August ¡945).  Date based on game report in the Philadelphia Tribune (¡8 August ¡945).

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September 3, ¡945 — Homestead Grays Win Negro National League Second-Half Pennant The Homestead Grays finished in first place in the second half of the Negro National League. The Grays also won the first-half title and would face the Cleveland Buckeyes of the Negro American League in a World Series.28 The second-half standings were reported with the Grays (¡4–6) in first, followed by the Baltimore Elite Giants (¡2–8), the Newark Eagles (¡0–9), the Philadelphia Stars (7–¡0), and the New York Black Yankees (4–9).29

September 3, ¡945 — False Report That American Giants Won Negro American League Pennant After the Chicago American Giants swept a doubleheader with the Cleveland Buckeyes at Comiskey Park, it was reported that the Giants had clinched the NAL secondhalf pennant, setting up a playo› with the Buckeyes for the NAL championship.30 The American Giants title was possible because it was believed that the Buckeyes, who had a better second-half record, didn’t play the 30 games necessary to qualify. However, a second look at the schedule revealed, the Call and Post said, that the Buckeyes had actually played exactly 30 games (22–7-¡), and consequently they were awarded the second half title.3¡

September ¡3, ¡945 — Buckeyes Win 2–¡ in Game One of World Series Before a crowd reported to be around 8,00032 at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, the hometown Buckeyes beat the Homestead Grays 2–¡ in the first game of the World Series. Both pitchers, Roy Welmaker of the Grays and Willie Je›erson of the Buckeyes, pitched shutout ball through the sixth inning. In the seventh, a triple by Quincy Trouppe and a single by Johnny Cowan got the Buckeyes on the board with one run, and they added another in the eighth for a 2–0 lead. The Grays got something going in the ninth when Josh Gibson drove in a run, but Je›erson got Sam Bankhead to ground into a game-ending double play and end the Grays’ threat.33

September ¡6, ¡945 — Buckeyes Win 3–2 in Game Two of World Series Trailing 2–0 to start the seventh inning, the Cleveland Buckeyes scored twice, once on Willie Grace’s solo homer, to tie the game 2–2 and then won it in the ninth when Buckeyes starting pitcher Gene Bremer hit a deep fly ball* with the bases loaded to score Quincy Trouppe, giving the Buckeyes the 3–2 win. Bremer’s drive inspired some of the estimated ¡0,000 fans at League Park in Cleveland to rush onto the field, where they carried Bremer around on their shoulders in celebration. Johnny Wright went the distance for the Grays.34 *The Call and Post (22 September ¡945) called this a “fly,” and the Pittsburgh Courier (22 September ¡945) said it was a double.

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September ¡8, ¡945 — Buckeyes Win 4–0 in Game Three of World Series The scheduled third game of the World Series was rained out at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh on September ¡7 and played instead on the ¡8th at Gri‡th Stadium in Washington, D.C., where the Cleveland Buckeyes took a 3–0 lead in the best-of-seven series with a 4–0 win.35 Buckeyes pitcher George Je›erson threw a three-hitter in what the Baltimore Afro American reported to be the first shutout the Grays had su›ered since Kansas City Monarchs pitcher Jack Matchett did it in ¡942. Roy Welmaker took the loss for the Grays.36 An estimated 6,000 fans were reported to be in attendance.37

September 20, ¡945 — Buckeyes 5–0 Win to Clinch World Series Title The Cleveland Buckeyes completed the four-game World Series sweep of the Homestead Grays with a 5–0 win at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Buckeyes pitcher Frank Carswell allowed just four hits in his complete-game shutout win.38 Pittsburgh Courier sportswriter Wendell Smith believed the Buckeyes sweep of the Grays to be one of the most dramatic upsets in Negro Leagues history.39

October 23, ¡945 — Jackie Robinson Signs with Montreal Royals Jackie Robinson became the first modern-day black player* to be signed by a major league organization when he joined the Montreal Royals of the International League, a farm club of the National League Brooklyn Dodgers. Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey was not present at the signing but had arranged for Robinson to join the club. Initially the Kansas City Monarchs, for whom Robinson had played in ¡945, protested that they had not been compensated for the loss of their player but later withdrew their opposition. Robinson played with Montreal for the ¡946 season and then became the first modern-day black player to appear in the major leagues (see ¡0 April ¡947).40

December ¡2 and ¡3, ¡945 — Joint Meeting of Negro American League and Negro National League in Chicago The Negro National League and the Negro American League met on December ¡2 and ¡3 at the Grand Hotel in Chicago, where they agreed to adopt league constitutions and institute contracts modeled on the major leagues in addition to stressing penalties for players who jumped their contracts. In other business, the NAL elected J.B. Martin, president; Ernest Wright, vice president; J.L. Wilkinson, treasurer; and Frank Young, secretary. The NNL delayed their elections because of the absence of NNL Secretary Cum Posey.4¡

*Several black players appeared for clubs in organized baseball in the ¡9th century.

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¡946 February 9, ¡946 — Press Announces Signing of John Wright Homestead Grays pitcher John Wright was reported on February 9 to have signed with the Montreal Royals of the International League, a farm team of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Wright went to spring training with the Dodgers and began the ¡946 season with Montreal but was soon released by the club, and by ¡947 he was back with the Homestead Grays in the Negro National League.¡

February 20 and 2¡, ¡946 — Negro National League Meeting in New York The Negro National League met in a two-day session at the Hotel Theresa in New York. Among the league business was the election of o‡cers; Tom Wilson was elected president, Alejandro Pompez was made vice president, Cum Posey was elected secretary, and Abe Manley was named treasurer. In other business, NAL President J.B. Martin attended and rea‡rmed that the leagues would continue to cooperate, Gus Greenlee applied for an NNL franchise in Montreal, and another application was made for a club in Brooklyn.2 No action was taken on either of these applications.3

March 28, ¡946 — Cumberland Posey Dies in Homestead Homestead Grays owner and NNL Secretary Cumberland Posey died at Mercy Hospital in Homestead, Pa. He left his share of the club to his wife, Ethel, who would run it with Posey’s longtime partner, Rufus “Sonnyman” Jackson. 4

April 4, ¡946 — Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe Sign with Dodger Organization Don Newcombe and Roy Campanella were signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers organization and sent to join Nashua in the New England League, a farm club of the Dodgers. Before this, Newcombe played with the Newark Eagles, and Campanella with the Baltimore Elite Giants.5 Campanella started his ¡0-year Hall-of-Fame career with the Dodgers in ¡948, and Newcombe, who also played ¡0 big-league seasons, joined the Dodgers in ¡949 and was named rookie of the year.

May 5, ¡946 — Negro National League Opening Day The highlight of opening day play in the NNL was the no-hit shutout thrown by Newark Eagles pitcher Leon Day before 8,5¡4 fans at Ruppert Stadium in Newark, N.J. Barney Brown of the Philadelphia Stars threw a solid six-hitter and had the Eagles shut out until the sixth inning, when Clarence Israel tripled and scored on Larry Doby’s

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single to break the scoreless tie. Doby, moving on Lennie Pearson’s infield grounder, scored the Eagles’ second run of the inning when he slid and beat the tag on a close play at the plate. The call was controversial, and Stars catcher Bill Cash and manager Homer Curry were thrown out for arguing the umpire’s decision. Those two runs were enough for Day, who allowed only three base runners, one on a walk and two on errors, while leading the Eagles to the 2–0 win. In other action the Homestead Grays and the Baltimore Elite Giants split a doubleheader; the Grays won the opener 9–8 and the Elite Giants took the second game 8–7. The two other NNL clubs, the New York Cubans and the New York Black Yankees, were rained out. Opening day had been scheduled for May 4,6 but those games were rained out.7

May 5, ¡946 — Opening Day of Negro American League The six-team Negro American League opened play when the Cleveland Buckeyes swept a doubleheader from the visiting Birmingham Black Barons 2–¡ and 7–2 at League Park. Elsewhere, playing before an estimated ¡2,000 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago, the American Giants and the Kansas City Monarchs split a doubleheader. The American Giants won the opener 9–2 behind the pitching of Gentry Jessup but dropped the second game 4–3. In other action the Memphis Red Sox hosted the Indianapolis Clowns,8 and the Red Sox won the first game 3–0. The Clowns took the second 3–2 before a crowd estimated at about 9,000.9 The Cleveland Buckeyes opened the season with a white pitcher, Eddie Klep, on the roster. Klep, who was from Erie, Pa., went south with the Buckeyes for spring training and, according to reports, was barred from playing in Birmingham.¡0 Klep was released by the Buckeyes on June 2.¡¡

May 6, ¡946 — Negro National League Places Five-Year Ban on Contract Jumpers The Negro National League met in Philadelphia and agreed to impose a five-year ban on players who jumped their league contracts to play in Mexico.* Among the players a›ected by the ban were Bill Wright, Ray Dandridge, Ed Hunter, Johnny Taylor, Ed Stone, Terris McDu‡e, Ray Brown and Tom Glover.¡2

May ¡2, ¡946 — American Giants and the Clowns Remain Tied After 20 Innings The Chicago American Giants and the Indianapolis Clowns battled for 20 innings at Comiskey Park in Chicago before the game was called for darkness, still tied 3–3. An estimated ¡0,000 fans watched the American Giants tie the game in the ninth inning *Not clear when the Negro American League adopted a similar policy, but they reinstated the policy before the ¡947 season (see 25 February ¡947).

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when Jim McCurrine tripled home Edward “Pep” Young to make it 3–3, and then saw American Giants pitcher Gentry Jessup and Clowns pitcher Eddie “Peanuts” Davis throw ¡¡ scoreless innings each. Both Jessup, who struck out ¡¡, and Davis, who whi›ed eight batters, threw all 20 innings.¡3

May ¡4, ¡946 — Roy Partlow Signs with Brooklyn Dodgers Organization Philadelphia Stars pitcher Roy Partlow was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers organization and joined the Montreal Royals, where Jackie Robinson had previously been assigned. After the signing of Robinson and John Wright, Partlow was the third AfricanAmerican player signed by the Dodgers organization.¡4 Partlow never appeared in the major leagues and was released by the Dodgers before the ¡947 season.¡5

June 30, ¡946 — Newark Eagles Clinch Negro National League First-Half Pennant By sweeping a doubleheader from the second-place Philadelphia Stars, the Newark Eagles clinched the NNL first-half pennant. The Eagles’ Leon Ru‡n broke a scoreless tie in the first game with a solo homer o› Stars pitcher Bill Ricks, and the Eagles went on to win 3–0. In the second game, the Eagles led 6–0 when the game was called because of rain. The first-half schedule was scheduled to conclude on July 4.¡6 Through June 30, the New York Amsterdam News reported, Newark (23–9) led the NNL, followed by the Philadelphia Stars (¡5–¡¡), the New York Cubans (¡2–¡0), the Homestead Grays (¡5–¡5), the Baltimore Elite Giants (¡3–¡4) and the New York Black Yankees (3–22).¡7

July ?, ¡946 — Monarchs Win Negro American League First-Half Pennant The Kansas City Monarchs won the first-half pennant in the Negro American League¡8 with a 25–8-¡ record, according to a report, and were followed by the Birmingham Black Barons (¡8–¡¡) in second and the Cleveland Buckeyes (¡4–¡6–¡) in third place.¡9

July 2¡, ¡946 — Josh Gibson Homers at Comiskey Park Josh Gibson hit what the Chicago Daily Tribune believed was his first career home run at Comiskey Park in Chicago as the Homestead Grays swept the American Giants ¡3–0 and 9–7 before an estimated ¡0,000 fans. Gibson’s homer was a three-run shot in the sixth inning of the second game, the Tribune said.20

August ¡¡, ¡946 — Leon Day Homers in ¡5th Inning to Win 8–7 In the first game of a doubleheader with the Homestead Grays, Newark Eagles pitcher Leon Day threw all ¡5 innings and won the game with his bat when he hit a solo home run in the ¡5th inning that broke the 7–7 tie and gave the Eagles an 8–7 win.

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The Grays had taken a 7–5 lead in the ninth inning on Howard Easterling’s homer, but the Eagles got a two-run shot of their own from Pat Patterson to tie the game 7–7, forcing extra innings and setting up Day’s heroics. The Eagles went on to win the nightcap 3–¡.2¡

August ¡5, ¡946 — All Star Game in Washington, D.C. An all-star team representing the Negro National League defeated a Negro American League all-star club 6–3 at Gri‡th Stadium in Washington, D.C. More than ¡6,000 fans showed up and saw NNL starting pitcher Barney Brown throw three scoreless innings and the NNL score two first-inning runs. After Brown was pulled for a reliever to start the fourth inning, the NAL got on the board with three runs to give them a 3–2 lead, but it was short-lived as the NNL scored twice in the bottom of the fourth and added two more in the fifth to pull ahead for good, 6–3.22 The game was delayed for ¡5 minutes, the Afro American reported, because the NAL players, after seeing the size of the crowd, believed the $50 they were being paid was insu‡cient and demanded more. NAL President J.B. Martin agreed to give the players an additional $50 each, the Afro American said, and the players took the field.23

August ¡8, ¡946 — West Wins 4–¡ in East-West Game Before 45,474 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago, the West, comprising all-stars from NAL teams, defeated the East, represented by the NNL, 4–¡. The West got a combined four-hitter from pitchers Felix Evans, Dan Bankhead and Johnny Williams and scored twice in each of the fourth and fifth innings. The East scored their only run in the eighth inning.24

September ¡, ¡946 — Monarchs Win Negro American League SecondHalf Pennant With a 4–3 win over the Indianapolis Clowns before an estimated ¡5,000 fans in Kansas City, the Monarchs clinched the NAL second-half pennant in the second game of a doubleheader, the Chicago Defender reported.25

September 4, ¡946 — Newark Wins Negro National League Second-Half Pennant The Newark Eagles won the NNL second-half pennant with a ¡7–5 win over the New York Cubans at Ruppert Stadium in Newark.26 The Eagles scored nine times o› Martin Crue in the first inning and led ¡4–3 after four innings. Larry Doby went 5 for 6 with two doubles and a triple, and Eagles pitcher Max Manning added a home run.27 Final standings listed the Newark Eagles (22–7) in first place, followed by the New York Cubans (¡5–8), the Baltimore Elite Giants (¡4–¡4), the Homestead Grays (9–¡3), the Philadelphia Stars (¡0–¡7), and the New York Black Yankees (5–¡6).28

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September ¡7, ¡946 — Monarchs Win 2–¡ in Game One of World Series The Kansas City Monarchs, behind the combined pitching of Hilton Smith and Satchel Paige, won the first game of the World Series 2–¡ over the Newark Eagles. Smith started the game and came out in the sixth inning with a runner on base. Paige allowed the inherited runner to score, tying the game ¡–¡, but shut out the Eagles the rest of the way, striking out eight and giving up four hits in four innings of work. With the score tied ¡–¡, Paige helped the Monarchs retake the lead when he singled in the seventh inning, reached second base, and then scored on Herb Souell’s RBI single for the 2–¡ lead. Leon Day started for the Eagles, and Rufus Lewis came in to relieve. One player from each team was seriously injured in this game; Monarchs shortstop Jim Hamilton broke his leg when Bob Harvey collided with him at second base trying to break up a double play, and Clarence Israel of the Eagles dislocated his knee going into the stands for a foul ball. Attendance at the Polo Grounds in New York was ¡9,423.29

September ¡9, ¡946 — Newark Wins 7–4 in Game Two of World Series A six-run seventh inning gave the Newark Eagles a 7–4 win in the second game of the World Series with the Kansas City Monarchs. After Monarchs starter Ford Smith got into trouble in the seventh, Satchel Paige came in to relieve him, but Paige couldn’t put out the fire and the Eagles scored six times before the inning ended. That was enough for Eagles starting pitcher Max Manning, who shut out the Monarchs the rest of way for the complete-game victory. The game at Newark attracted 9,787 fans.30 Heavyweight boxer Joe Louis threw out the ceremonial first pitch, the Chicago Defender said.3¡

September 23, ¡946 — Monarchs Win ¡5–5 in Game Three of World Series After being rained out on September 22, the third game of the World Series was won by the Kansas City Monarchs ¡5–5 over the Newark Eagles at Ruppert Stadium in Kansas City. The Monarchs got a complete game from pitcher Jim LaMarque and knocked out 2¡ hits,32 including four each from Othello Renfro, Herb Souell and Hank Thompson, plus a home run from Ted Strong.33

September 24, ¡946 — Newark Wins 8–¡ in Game Four of World Series With an 8–¡ win over the Kansas City Monarchs, the Newark Eagles evened the World Series 2–2 before 3,836 fans at Ruppert Stadium in Kansas City. The Eagles ¡4hit attack knocked out Monarchs starter Ted Alexander in the four-run fifth inning and then scored three more runs in the sixth o› reliever Satchel Paige. Monte Irvin added another run for the Eagles in the seventh with a solo home run o› Paige. Newark Eagles pitcher Rufus Lewis went the distance, allowing just four hits,34 and retired the Monarchs in order in all but two innings, the Philadelphia Tribune reported.35

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September 25, ¡946 — Monarchs Win 3–2 in Game Five of World Series The Kansas City Monarchs took a 3–2 lead in the World Series with a 5–¡ win over the Newark Eagles at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Both pitchers, Hilton Smith for the Monarchs and Max Manning for the Eagles, threw complete games.36 Attendance was estimated as 4,000.37

September 27, ¡946 — Newark Wins 9–7 in Game Six of World Series Facing elimination in the best-of-seven World Series, the Newark Eagles defeated the Kansas City Monarchs 9–7, tying the series, 3–3.38

September 29, ¡946 — Newark Eagles Win World Series Before more than 7,000 fans for the seventh game of the World Series at Ruppert Stadium in Newark, the hometown Eagles broke a ¡–¡ tie in the sixth inning with walks to Larry Doby and Monte Irvin, followed by Johnny Davis’s two-run double o› Kansas City Monarchs starter Ford Smith. Eagles pitcher Rufus Lewis allowed just one run the rest of the way, and the Eagles won the game 3–2, taking the World Series title 4–3. Monte Irvin’s first-inning RBI single gave the Eagles a ¡–0 lead that lasted until the top of the sixth, when Buck O’Neil’s solo homer tied the game briefly. Smith allowed just three hits in his complete-game loss for the Monarchs.39 In his autobiography, Monarchs first baseman Buck O’Neil recalled that the Monarchs played this game without Satchel Paige, who was the scheduled starter but whose whereabouts were unknown, and also without Willard Brown and Ted Strong, who the Monarchs believed had traveled to New York City to sign Puerto Rican winter league contracts and didn’t get back in time for the game.40

September 30 — October 26 —¡946 — Satchel Paige and Bob Feller Tour Kansas City Monarchs pitcher Satchel Paige and Bob Feller, pitcher for the American League Cleveland Indians, headlined an all-star tour scheduled for around 30 games to be played in stadiums from New York to Los Angeles. On Paige’s team were prominent players from the Negro American and the Negro National Leagues, including John “Buck” O’Neil, Max Manning, Hilton Smith, Barney Brown and Art Wilson.* Feller’s club featured major leaguers including Phil Rizzuto, Johnny Berardino, Mickey Vernon, Bob Lemon, Charley Keller, and, after the World Series was finished, Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals. The tour began on September 30 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh before 4,592 fans, and then moved to Comiskey Park in Chicago and Yankee Stadium in early October, where they attracted more than 20,000 fans for each game. Traveling by airplane the two clubs moved west, playing games along the way, before reaching California for a game on October ¡6 that attracted 22,577 fans to Wrigley *A lineup in the Los Angeles Times (¡6 October ¡946) suggests that some of the players on this team may have changed by the time it reached Los Angeles.

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Field in Los Angeles. The tour ended in Long Beach, Calif., on October 26. Paige and Feller pitched often but threw as few as three innings a game.4¡ The games were extremely well received by baseball fans, and the Sporting News reported that the total attendance for the tour was 27¡,645.42

¡947 January 5, ¡947 — John H. Johnson Elected Negro National League President In a 4–2 vote of NNL clubs, John H. Johnson, a minister at the St. Martins’s Episcopal Church in New York, was elected president of the Negro National League, pushing out the former president and owner of the Baltimore Elite Giants, Tom Wilson, who, besides his own club, received support for reelection from only the Philadelphia Stars. Johnson was a Columbia University graduate and had been part of the basketball team there. In addition to Johnson’s election, Alejandro Pompez was elected vice president, Abe Manley was named treasurer and Curtis Leak, secretary.¡

January 20, ¡947 — Josh Gibson Dies in Pittsburgh Homestead Grays slugger Josh Gibson died around ¡ A.M. at his mother’s home in Pittsburgh. He was 35 years old.2 One report described the cause as “cerebral apoplexy.”3 Gibson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in ¡972.

February 24 and 25, ¡947 — Joint Meeting in Chicago The Negro National and Negro American Leagues met in Chicago on February 24 at the Appomattox Club and on February 25 at the Grand Hotel. Among the business, a group from Detroit, including Joseph Brown, Jesse Owens and W.S. Welch, were given an NAL franchise on the condition that they arrange for a home park in Detroit. In related news, George Mitchell and his St. Louis Stars were admitted to make the NAL an eight-team league. At the meeting, it was still unclear whether Detroit could rent Briggs Stadium in Detroit, and it was said that the St. Louis franchise would be revoked and the league returned to six clubs if Detroit couldn’t play.4 (This attempt to place a franchise in Detroit and St. Louis for the ¡947 season failed, and the league opened the season with six teams.) The leagues agreed to retain the five-year ban on contract jumpers, and John H. Johnson presented a constitution that he drafted based on one used by the International League.5 The leagues also decided to play the season straight through, having one pennant winner, instead of the split season used in previous seasons.6 Among those reported to be in attendance were James Semler (New York Black Yankees), Ed Bolden (Philadelphia Stars), Rufus Jackson, Ethel Posey, and See

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Posey (Homestead Grays), Alejandro Pompez (New York Cubans), Abe Manley (Newark Eagles), Vernon Green and Tom Wilson (Baltimore Elite Giants), Tom Baird, J.L. Wilkinson, and Richard Wilkinson (Kansas City Monarchs), J.B. Martin (NAL president and Chicago American Giants), B.B. Martin and W.S. Martin (Memphis Red Sox), Tom Hayes (Birmingham Black Barons), Syd Pollock (Indianapolis Clowns), Ernie Wright and Wilbur Hayes (Cleveland Buckeyes), Joseph Brown, W.S. Welch , Jim Taylor, William Leuschner, Frank Young and William Margolis, who represented booking agent Abe Saperstein.7

April ¡0, ¡947 — Jackie Robinson Signs with Brooklyn Dodgers The Brooklyn Dodgers purchased Jackie Robinson’s contract from its triple-A a‡liate in Montreal, making Robinson the first black player to appear in the major leagues in the modern era.8* Robinson made his major league debut on April ¡5 and went on to hit .297, with ¡25 runs scored and a National League leading 29 stolen bases, and won the first Rookie of the Year award as the Dodgers regular first baseman.

April ¡8, ¡947 — New York Cubans Throw Perfect Game In a preseason exhibition four New York Cubans pitchers combined to throw a perfect game against the New Orleans Creoles at City Park in Baton Rouge, La. Eddie Daniels, Pat Scantlebury, James Jenkins, and Luis Tiant were all sent to the mound and the Cubans won 6–0.9

May 4, ¡947 — Opening Day of the Negro American League In opening day play in Negro American League, the Cleveland Buckeyes defeated the Birmingham Black Barons 9–4 before more than 7,000 fans at League Park in Cleveland. Vibert Clarke got the win for the Buckeyes and Nat Pollard took the loss. The second game of the doubleheader was rained out. In Kansas City, the hometown Monarchs won its opening day matchup with the Chicago American Giants, ¡3–3 ¡0 before a reported ¡8,000 fans.¡¡ In other action, the Indianapolis Clowns reportedly opened the season at Memphis against the Red Sox.¡2

May 4, ¡947 — Opening Day of the Negro National League The New York Cubans swept a doubleheader from the Homestead Grays at Gri‡th Stadium in Washington, D.C., 9–¡ and 5–2 before an estimated 8,000 fans. Pat Scantlebury of the Cubans and Gene Smith of the Grays got the starts in the opener, and New York Cubans pitcher Luis Tiant and Wilmer Fields of the Grays went the distance in the second game. At Bugle Field in Baltimore, the Philadelphia Stars won the first game of a doubleheader 5–4 and the hometown Elite Giants won the second game 7–2. *Several black players appeared in organized baseball in the ¡9th century.

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The other scheduled game between the New York Black Yankees and the Newark Eagles¡3 was reportedly rained out.¡4* As in past years, many former NNL players were reported to be playing in Mexico, including Ray Brown, Bus Clarkson, Johnny Taylor, Terris McDu‡e, Henry McHenry, Nate Moreland, Leon Day, Leon Ru‡n, Showboat Thomas, and Ray Dandridge.¡5

May ¡5, ¡947 — Tom Wilson Dies in Nashville Former Negro National League President Tom Wilson died in Nashville of a reported heart attack.¡6 Wilson founded the Nashville Elite Giants in ¡92¡ and later moved the club to several cities before settling in Baltimore in ¡938.

May 3¡, ¡947 — Larry Doby Homers Three Times in One Game The New York Amsterdam News reported in its May 3¡ issue that Larry Doby of the Newark Eagles hit three home runs in one game against the New York Black Yankees played in Hartford, Conn. Doby now had seven homers in eight games.¡7†

June ¡5, ¡947 — Gentry Jessup Throws One-Hitter Before more than 6,000 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago, American Giants pitcher Gentry Jessup threw a one-hit 9–0 shutout in the first game of a doubleheader against the Indianapolis Clowns.¡8 Jessup retired two batters in the eighth inning before Clowns second baseman Ray Neil singled to spoil his no-hit bid. Jessup walked seven batters and struck out four.¡9

June 28, ¡947 — New York Black Yankees Score ¡¡ Runs in First Inning On June 28,! the New York Black Yankees scored ¡¡ times in the first inning o› Jonas Gaines and Amos Watson on their way to a ¡6–7 win over the Baltimore Elites Giants at Bugle Field in Baltimore.20

June 29, ¡947 — Baltimore Turns Triple Play In the second game of a doubleheader at Bugle Field in Baltimore, the hometown Elite Giants turned a triple play in the sixth inning of a 7–3 loss when Fernando Pedrosa Diaz of the New York Cubans hit a grounder to shortstop Pee Wee Butts with the bases loaded. Butts stepped on second, threw to Johnny Washington at first base to retire Pedrosa, and Washington threw to Lester Lockett at third for the third out.2¡ *All NNL clubs were reported to be in action on May 3 (Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 May ¡947; New York Amsterdam News, ¡0 May ¡947; Richmond Afro American, ¡0 May ¡947) but most reports suggest that May 4 was the o‡cial opening day. † Not clear from this story when the game was played.  Date based on “Friday” reference in Richmond Afro American (5 July¡947).

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July 3, ¡947 — Larry Doby Signs with the Cleveland Indians In a deal reported to be worth $¡5,000,22 Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck announced that the club had purchased the contract of Larry Doby from the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League. Two days later Doby became the first black player to appear in the American League when he pinch hit in the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Doby struck out in that first at bat against White Sox reliever Earl Harrist and saw limited action for the rest of the season, but by ¡948 he was a regular for the World Series champion Indians and hit over .300.23 Doby had been scouted by Bill Killefer, a catcher for the ¡9¡5 pennant-winning Philadelphia Phillies and later for the Chicago Cubs.24 After signing with the Indians, Doby made a final appearance with the Eagles in the July 4 doubleheader against the Philadelphia Stars at Ruppert Stadium in Newark. Doby hit his league-leading ¡4th home run in the nightcap.25 Doby was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in ¡998.

July 6, ¡947 —¡4,000 at Polo Grounds for Three-Team Doubleheader The Indianapolis Clowns won the first game of an interleague three-team doubleheader against the New York Cubans ¡0–6 before an estimated ¡4,000 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. The Cubans rebounded in the second game with a 5–2 win over the Kansas City Monarchs. The Cubans got a complete game from Luis Tiant in the second game26 and a three-run homer from Silvio Garcia.27 It was also reported that scouts from the Philadelphia Phillies, including former Phillie slugger Chuck Klein, were at the Polo Grounds to take a look at Reece “Goose” Tatum of the Indianapolis Clowns.28

July ¡7, ¡947 — St. Louis Browns Sign Willard Brown and Henry Thompson The St. Louis Browns signed Willard Brown and Henry Thompson of the Kansas City Monarchs and took an option on Piper Davis of the Birmingham Black Barons. Thompson played on the same day that the Browns signed him, going 0 for 4 while playing second base against the Philadelphia Athletics. Brown made his debut on July ¡9 in a ¡–0 loss to the Boston Red Sox in St. Louis. Brown appeared in 2¡ games with St. Louis in the ¡947 season, hitting just .¡79 with one homer, and Thompson hit .256 in 27 games before both were released after a game against the Philadelphia Athletics on August 23. Both players returned to the Kansas City Monarchs, but by ¡949 Thompson was back in the major leagues with the New York Giants, where he played through the ¡956 season. The ¡947 stint with the Browns was the only major league appearance for Willard Brown.29 The option on Piper Davis expired on August 3, and it was said that Birmingham Black Barons owner Tom Hayes wanted Davis to enter the major leagues and wouldn’t approve a deal to send Davis to the Browns farm club at Elmira, N.Y.30

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July ¡8, ¡947 — Grays Hit Three Successive Homers Bob Thurman, Buck Leonard, and Luke Easter hit consecutive home runs for the Homestead Grays in the sixth inning of their 9–8 loss to the New York Black Yankees before an estimated 4,000 fans at Yankee Stadium. The three homers, all solo shots, tied the game 5–5, and the Grays later took an 8–5 lead only to see the Black Yankees come back and tie the game with a three-run eighth. The score remained tied until the ¡0th inning when the Black Yankees George Crowe scored the winning run on an infield grounder with the bases loaded.3¡ All three of the Grays’ successive homers came o› hurler Bob Gri‡th. Thurman and Leonard both hit theirs to right field, and Easter’s drive went over the center field fence.32

July 27, ¡947 — West Wins 5–2 in East-West Game In the ¡5th annual East-West Game, the West all-stars defeated the East 5–2 before 48,¡¡2 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The West got a triple from Herb Souell, a double by Piper Davis and an RBI single from Jose Colas in the first inning to score twice o› of East starting pitcher Max Manning and then got to Manning for two more runs in the third to lead 4–¡. West pitchers Dan Bankhead, Gentry Jessup, and Chet Brewer combined to limit the East to just three hits. The East also sent Luis Tiant, Henry Miller, and Johnny Wright to the mound in the loss. Reports said that major league clubs had representatives scouting several players.33

July 29, ¡947 — All Star Game in New York An all-star team comprising Negro American League players defeated a Negro National League all-star club 8–2 before 38,402 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. The NAL got four hits from Art Wilson, and Sam Jethroe had three, including a triple,34 and drove in four runs.35 In attendance were scouts from major league clubs.36

August 26, ¡947 — Dan Bankhead Is First Black Pitcher in Major Leagues One day after he was signed, and working on just three days’ rest, pitcher Dan Bankhead made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in a relief appearance, giving up ¡0 hits in the Dodgers ¡6–3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates before 24,069 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. While Bankhead was not impressive on the mound in his debut, he did hit a home run in his first major league at bat o› Pirates starter Fritz Ostermueller. On August 22, Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey watched Bankhead strike out ¡¡ batters in a 7–2 Memphis Red Sox win, and on August 25, he signed him to play for the Dodgers. Bankhead made four appearances for the Dodgers in ¡947 but didn’t return to the majors until ¡950.37

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September 8, ¡947 — New York Cubans Win Negro National League Title The New York Cubans clinched the Negro National League title with a 2–¡ win over the Homestead Grays in Philadelphia. The ¡947 season was not split into halves, as in previous years, and the Cubans would meet the Negro American League pennantwinning Cleveland Buckeyes in a World Series.38 Reported standings in the Negro National League listed the New York Cubans (42–¡8) in first, followed by the Newark Eagles (46–37), the Baltimore Elite Giants (40–36), the Homestead Grays (32–34), the Philadelphia Stars (26–3¡), and the New York Black Yankees (¡0–40).39

September ¡5, ¡947 — Cleveland Buckeyes Win Negro American League Title The Negro American League season had been scheduled to end on September ¡5.40 Final standings in the Negro American League showed the Cleveland Buckeyes (5¡–22) won the pennant, followed by the Kansas City Monarchs (38–22), the Birmingham Black Barons (34–26), the Memphis Red Sox (33–45), the Chicago American Giants (3¡–50) and the Indianapolis Clowns (22–44).4¡

September ¡9, ¡947 — 5–5 Tie in Game One of World Series On September ¡9, the Cleveland Buckeyes and the New York Cubans met at the Polo Grounds before more than 4,000 fans for the first game of the World Series but played only six complete innings before the game was called because of rain with the score tied 5–5. The Buckeyes scored one run in the seventh inning to give them a 6–5 lead, but the score reverted to a tie when the seventh inning could not be completed.42

September 2¡, ¡947 — Buckeyes Win ¡0–7 in Game Two of World Series The Cleveland Buckeyes scored three times in the ninth inning to break a 7–7 tie and win the second game of the World Series ¡0–7 before 9,000 fans at Yankee Stadium. New York Cubans reliever Lino Donosa loaded the bases in the ninth with no one out, retired the next two batters, but then gave up a two-run single to Al Smith, followed by an RBI single by John Cowan that gave the Buckeyes the ¡0–7 lead. Cleveland, who now led the series ¡–0, with one game ending in a tie, had ¡7 hits in the game.43

September 23, ¡947 — Cubans Win 6–0 in Game Three of World Series On September 23,* the New York Cubans defeated the Cleveland Buckeyes 6–0 with six ninth-inning runs in the third game of the World Series before an estimated 3,000 fans in Cleveland.44 The best-of-seven series was now tied ¡–¡, with one tie. *Date based on Call and Post (27 September ¡947).

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September 24, ¡947 — Cubans Win 9–4 in Game Four of World Series The New York Cubans took a 2–¡ lead in the World Series with a 9–4 win over the Cleveland Buckeyes at Shibe Park in Philadelphia.45 The Cubans scored six times in the fifth inning o› Buckeyes pitcher Gene Bremer, including a home run by catcher Rafael Noble that hit the roof in left field, the Chicago Daily Tribune reported.46

September 26, ¡947 — Cubans Win 9–2 in Game Five of World Series With a 9–2 win over the Cleveland Buckeyes at Comiskey Park in Chicago, the New York Cubans took a 3–¡ lead in the World Series.47

September 28, ¡947 — New York Cubans Win World Series Trailing 5–0 to the Cleveland Buckeyes in the sixth game of the World Series, the New York Cubans rallied to score six times to win the game 6–5 and the series 4–¡ at League Park in Cleveland.48 The Cubans started their rally with a three-run sixth and added another run in the seventh before taking a 6–5 lead with two runs in the eighth inning.49

December 29, ¡947 — Negro American League Meeting in Chicago The Negro American League met in Chicago, where they reelected their o‡cers and agreed to a $6,000-monthly salary cap for all league clubs. J.B. Martin returned as president; Ernie Wright, vice president; J.L. Wilkinson, treasurer; and Frank Young, secretary.50 In addition, Jim Taylor applied for an NAL franchise in Nashville, it was reported, and W.S. Welch applied for one in New Orleans; both were turned down.5¡

¡948 January ¡9, ¡948 — Negro National League Meeting in New York The Negro National League met at the Hotel Theresa in New York and reelected its o‡cers. John Johnson returned as president; Alejandro Pompez, vice president; Curtis Leak, secretary; and Abe Manley, treasurer. The NNL also imposed a cost-cutting salary cap of $6,000 per month for each club and agreed to retain the five-year ban on contract jumpers that was imposed in ¡946 (see 6 May ¡946).¡ Among those players banned from NNL play were Roy Welmaker, Bus Clarkson, Marvin Williams, Bill Wright, Ray Dandridge, Leon Day, and Leon Ru‡n. It was also reported that the leagues were informed by George Trautman of the National Association of Professional Baseball Clubs that the NNL and NAL bid to be admitted to the minor leagues was rejected because of a conflict of “territorial rights.”2 Among those attending were John

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Johnson (NAL president), Vernon Green (Baltimore Elite Giants), Ed Gottlieb and Ed Bolden (Philadelphia Stars), Rufus Jackson and See Posey (Homestead Grays), Alejandro Pompez (New York Cubans), James Semler (New York Black Yankees), Abe and E›a Manley (Newark Eagles), Frank Forbes, William Leuschner and Fred McCrary.3

April 3, ¡948 — Jim Taylor Dies in Chicago Baltimore Elite Giants manager Jim Taylor died in a Chicago hospital on April 3.4 Taylor, one of four baseball-playing brothers, earned his reputation as a player with the Indianapolis ABCs, beginning in ¡9¡4, and later with the American Giants. Taylor also had a long career as a manager with several clubs, including the Dayton Marcos (in the Negro National League’s inaugural season), the St. Louis Stars, and the Homestead Grays.5

April ¡9, ¡948 —Jackie Robinson: My Own Story Published On April ¡9,6* Greenberg Press released Jackie Robinson: My Own Story, the autobiography of the first modern-day black major leaguer,† in which Robinson shared with readers his experience integrating major league baseball. The book, a collaboration with Pittsburgh Courier sportswriter Wendell Smith, was available for $2! and featured a foreword by Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey.7 The first edition of 40,000 copies was sold before this release date, and a second printing was already planned, the Philadelphia Tribune reported.8 New York Times book reviewer John Kieran called it an “appealing and a revealing document.”9

May ¡ and 2, ¡948 — Opening Day of Negro American League The six-team Negro American League opened play with one game on May ¡ when the Birmingham Black Barons defeated the Cleveland Buckeyes before more than 8,000 fans at Rickwood Field in Birmingham. On May 2, the four other NAL clubs began league play when the Kansas City Monarchs, playing its first season without J.L. Wilkinson as owner,** visited the Memphis Red Sox for a game at Martin’s Park, and the Indianapolis Clowns played the Chicago American Giants in New Orleans.¡0 The Monarchs scored six times in the sixth inning, knocking out Red Sox starting pitcher Verdel Mathis on their way to a 9–4 win.¡¡ At New Orleans, the Chicago American Giants split a doubleheader with the Indianapolis Clowns with the opener going to the American Giants 4–¡. The Clowns won the second game by an identical score.¡2

*Date based on Philadelphia Tribune (3 April ¡948). † Several black players appeared in organized baseball in the ¡9th century.  The Philadelphia Tribune (3 April ¡948) said that a paper edition sold for $¡. **Wilkinson before the season sold his share in the Monarchs to his partner Tom Baird (Pittsburgh Courier, 2¡ February ¡948; Chicago Defender, 2¡ February ¡948; New York Times, 22 August ¡964).

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May 2, ¡948 — Negro National League Season Opens with Four-Team Doubleheader at Yankee Stadium All six Negro National League clubs were in action on this Sunday. In a four-team doubleheader, more than ¡0,000 fans at Yankee Stadium watched the New York Cubans defeat the Homestead Grays 7–¡. Orestes “Minnie” Minosa went 4 for 5 for the Cubans. In the second game, the Philadelphia Stars beat the New York Black Yankees 5–2 behind the complete-game e›ort of Roy Partlow. (While the New York Black Yankees had appeared regularly at Yankee Stadium in previous years, the club had made arrangements to play home games in Rochester, N.Y., this season.) In other action the Newark Eagles took a 2–¡ decision from the Baltimore Elite Giants at Bugle Field in Baltimore. On April 29, the Grays had played the Elite Giants, and on May ¡ the Cubans met Philadelphia but without the fanfare of these Sunday matchups.¡3

June 6, ¡948 — Television and Radio Broadcast of Cleveland Buckeyes On June 6,* television station WEWS broadcast a doubleheader between the Cleveland Buckeyes and the Memphis Red Sox at League Park in Cleveland, Call and Post sportswriter A.S. “Doc” Young reported. Van Patrick was the play-by-play announcer and Paul Hodges handled the pregame show, Young said. The Red Sox won the first game 4–2 behind the pitching of Verdel Mathis, and Cleveland won the second game with Chet Brewer on the mound. The game was also broadcast on the radio which, Young said, was the first time a Negro Leagues game had been broadcast on the radio and television at the same time.¡4 Later, Young recalled that Cleveland Buckeyes owner Ernie Wright felt that the attendance at the Buckeyes games had been hurt and subsequent scheduled television broadcasts were cancelled.¡5

July 4, ¡948 — Birmingham Black Barons Win Negro American League First-Half Pennant On July 4,† the Birmingham Black Barons (4¡–¡5) finished the NAL first-half schedule comfortably in first place with a sweep of a doubleheader against the Memphis Red Sox ¡0–9 and 8–5 before an estimated 5,000 fans at Rickwood Field in Birmingham.¡6

July 5, ¡948 — Baltimore Elite Giants Win Negro National League FirstHalf Pennant On July 5,! the Baltimore Elite Giants defeated the Homestead Grays in a mustwin game in the second game of a doubleheader and won the first-half pennant of the Negro National League.¡7 The Grays won the first game 9–4, but the Elite Giants won convincingly in the second game ¡8–6 before an estimated 5,000 fans at Bugle Field in *Date based on “Sunday” reference in Call and Post (¡2 June ¡948). † Date based on Call and Post (¡7 July ¡948).  Date based on Baltimore Afro American (3 July ¡948).

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Baltimore.¡8 The published final standings showed the Elite Giants (27–¡3) in first place, followed by the Grays (26–¡3), the Newark Eagles (¡5–¡6), the New York Cubans (¡¡–¡4), the Philadelphia Stars (¡4–¡8), and the New York Black Yankees (6–25).¡9

July 7, ¡948 — Satchel Paige Signs with the Cleveland Indians A day after he was given a workout by Cleveland Indians manager Lou Boudreau, Satchel Paige was signed by the American League club’s owner Bill Veeck. Catcher Ray Murray was sent to the Oklahoma City farm club to make room on the roster for Paige and, on July 9, Paige made his first appearance in an Indian uniform. Paige pitched two innings of scoreless ball that day, striking out one and giving up two hits in relief of Bob Lemon in a 5–3 Indian loss to the St. Louis Browns at Cleveland Stadium. Paige went 6–¡ with a 2.48 ERA for the ¡948 season and helped the Indians win the AL pennant and the World Series.20 According to the Sporting News, the Indians paid the Kansas City Monarchs and booking agent Abe Saperstein $¡5,000 each for Paige’s contract, and Paige received a $¡0,000 signing bonus and a contract for $5,000 a month.2¡

July 8, ¡948 — Sam Jethroe Signs with the Brooklyn Dodgers Cleveland Buckeyes outfielder Sam Jethroe was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers organization and assigned to the triple-A Montreal Royals in the International League. Jethroe never appeared with the Dodgers but was traded to the Boston Braves and made his major league debut in ¡950, when he hit ¡8 homers, batted .273, scored ¡00 runs, and stole 35 bases to win the National League Rookie of the Year award. He played three seasons with the Braves before finishing his career in limited duty with the Pittsburgh Pirates in ¡954.22 Around this time, the Indians also signed Cleveland Buckeyes outfielder Al Smith,23 who debuted with the Indians in ¡953 and spent ¡2 seasons in the majors, mostly as a regular with the Chicago White Sox.

July ¡8, ¡948 — Grays Rally Twice to Defeat the New York Cubans The Homestead Grays staged two ninth inning rallies to sweep a doubleheader with the New York Cubans before an estimated 4,500 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. In the opener, the Grays scored seven times in the ninth to win 8–4 and repeated their late-inning heroics with four ninth-inning runs in the nightcap to win ¡0–9.24

July 3¡, ¡948 — Jimmy Newberry Throws No-Hitter Birmingham Black Barons pitcher Jimmy Newberry threw a no-hit 4–0 shutout against the Cleveland Buckeyes in Dayton, Ohio.25 Buckeyes pitcher Vibert Clarke allowed just six hits in the loss. Newberry’s catcher was Pepper Bassett.26

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August ¡¡, ¡948 — Willie Mays Hits First Homer with Birmingham Black Barons On August ¡¡,* two days after hitting a game-winning double in the ¡0th inning against the Cleveland Buckeyes, future Hall-of-Famer Willie Mays connected for his first Negro American League home run in the Birmingham Black Barons’ 3–2 win over the Buckeyes.27 In his autobiography, Say Hey, Mays recalled making his debut with the Black Barons earlier that season in the second game of a doubleheader at Rickwood Field in Birmingham and getting two hits o› of Chet Brewer,† which led, Mays remembered, to his being signed by the Black Barons for $250 a month. 28 In May, soon after the season started and while he was finishing high school, Mays was seen practicing at Rickwood Field by Birmingham World sportswriter Ellis Jones, who speculated that Mays might be good enough to play for the Black Barons.29 In the middle of the ¡950 season, Mays’s contract was purchased for $¡5,000 by the New York Giants, and he was assigned to Giants farm team at Trenton, N.J.30

August 22, ¡948 — West Wins 3–0 in East-West Game Before 42,099 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago, the West all-stars defeated the East 3–0 on a combined three-hitter by Bill Powell, Jim LaMarque, and Gentry Jessup. Rufus Lewis, starting pitcher for the East, struck out the side in the first inning, but the West got to him for two runs in the second inning and added another in the eighth inning o› Bob Gri‡th.3¡ The crowd observed a moment of silence for Babe Ruth, who died on August ¡6, the Pittsburgh Courier reported.32

August 24, ¡948 — Negro National League All-Stars Win 6–¡ at Yankee Stadium In an eastern version of the East-West game, a team comprising NNL all-stars defeated the NAL all-stars 6–¡ before ¡7,928 fans at Yankee Stadium. Luis Marquez hit a two-run homer in the NNL three-run third.33 NNL pitchers Max Manning, Joe Black, and Dave Barnhill combined for a five-hitter, and Vibert Clarke took the loss for the NAL.34 It was believed that major league scouts were in attendance.35

August 28, ¡948 — Minnie Minosa and Jose Santiago Sign with the Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Indians signed two members of the New York Cubans, Jose Santiago, a right-handed pitcher, and Orestes “Minnie” Minosa, a third baseman. Both would make their last appearance with the Cubans on August 29 at the Polo Grounds before reporting to the Indians organization,36 and it was reported that in this game Santiago went the distance as the Cubans defeated the Newark Eagles 3–2.37 Minosa, *Date based on “Wednesday” reference in the Atlanta Daily World (¡3 August ¡948). † Brewer played with the Cleveland Buckeyes in ¡948.

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who has a major league lifetime average of .298, debuted with Cleveland in ¡949 before being acquired by the Chicago White Sox in ¡95¡, where he spent most of his career. Santiago didn’t appear with the Indians until ¡954, and he saw limited action over three years, posting a 3–2 lifetime record with Cleveland and the Kansas City Athletics.

September 5, ¡948 — Grays Win Negro National League Second-Half Pennant The Negro National League second-half schedule ended on September 538 with the Homestead Grays in first place. The Grays would play the Baltimore Elite Giants in the NNL championship. Standings were reported with the Grays (¡6–7) in first place, followed by the Baltimore Elites (¡9–¡3), the Newark Eagles (¡4–¡2), the Philadelphia Stars (¡3–¡2), the New York Cubans (6–¡3), and the New York Black Yankees (3–¡4).39

September 6, ¡948 — Monarchs Win Negro American League SecondHalf Pennant The Negro American League season ended on September 640* with the Kansas City Monarchs in first place, setting up a playo› with first-half champs, the Birmingham Black Barons. Standings were reported with the Monarchs (¡9–7) in first place, followed by the Birmingham Black Barons (¡7–7), the Memphis Red Sox (20–¡5), the Indianapolis Clowns (7–¡3), the Cleveland Buckeyes (¡0–2¡), and the Chicago American Giants (7–¡7).4¡

September ¡¡, ¡948 — Black Barons Win 5–4 in Game One of Negro American League Playo› The Birmingham Black Barons won the first game of the best-of-five Negro American League championship series with the Kansas City Monarchs 5–4 in ¡¡ innings at Rickwood Field in Birmingham.42 In the Birmingham ¡¡th, Willie Mays drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded single, scoring Joe Scott, who was aboard after leading o› with a single. The reported attendance was 5,234.43 Birmingham won the firsthalf pennant, and the Monarchs were the second-half champs.

September ¡2, ¡948 — Black Barons Win 6–5 in Game Two of Negro American League Playo› For the second straight game an extra-inning single scored the winning run for the Birmingham Black Barons as they won the second game of the NAL championship series with the Kansas City Monarchs 6–5 at Rickwood Field in Birmingham.44 With the score tied 5–5, Piper Davis reached on an error, took second on a sacrifice, and came around to score on Birmingham catcher Pepper Bassett’s single. Willie Mays had *Date based on Chicago Defender (¡0 July ¡948).

167

¡948

three hits for the Black Barons, and future major leaguer Elston Howard caught for the Monarchs.* The game attracted 7,539 fans.45 Birmingham now led in the series 2–0.

September ¡4–¡7, ¡948 — Homestead Grays Win Negro National League Championship The Homestead Grays won the third game of the best-of-five NNL playo› with the Baltimore Elite Giants after NNL President John H. Johnson awarded them a 9–0 forfeit after a controversial ninth inning at Bugle Field in Baltimore. With the score tied 4–4, the Homestead Grays scored four times to lead 8–4 when the game broke the ¡¡:¡5 P.M. curfew. The umpire who had misjudged the available playing time decided that the score should revert to a tie score. In addition, there were suggestions in the press that the Elite Giants did not try to retire the Grays after the tie was broken in an attempt to delay the game until the curfew kicked in. The NNL president ruled that the Elite Giants had behaved inappropriately and that the umpire had ruled incorrectly and consequently forfeited the game to Homestead. 46 The Grays won the first two games, 6–0 on September ¡4 and 5–3 on the ¡6th.47

September ¡5, ¡948 — Black Barons Win 4–3 in Game Three of Negro American League Playo› The Birmingham Black Barons took a 3–0 lead in the NAL championship series with a 4–3 win in Memphis, Tenn. The Black Barons got a ninth-inning home run from Jim Zapp.48†

September ¡9, ¡948 — Monarchs Win 3–¡ in Game Four of Negro American League Championship The Negro American League championship series between the Birmingham Black Barons and the Kansas City Monarchs moved to Kansas City,49 and the Kansas City Monarchs, trailing 3–0 in the series and facing elimination won 3–¡.50 Birmingham now led the best-of-seven series, 3–¡.

September 20, ¡948 — Monarchs Win Game Five of Negro American League Championship The Kansas City Monarchs won the fifth game of the Negro American League championship in Kansas City.5¡! The Birmingham Black Barons led the series 3–2.

*According to the Chicago Defender (3¡ July ¡948), Howard was signed by the Monarchs on June 28. † The Chicago Defender (25 September ¡948) said that Zapp’s homer tied the game and suggested that the winning run scored on an error by the Monarchs second baseman Curt Roberts.  Date from Chicago Defender (¡8 September ¡948) but the result is based on the context of the rest of the series.

¡948

168

September 22, ¡948 — Monarchs Win 5–3 in Game Six of Negro American League Championship On September 22,* the Kansas City Monarchs, with a ninth-inning two-run homer by Hank Thompson, tied the NAL championship series 3–3 with a 5–3 win in Kansas City.52

September 23, ¡948 — Black Barons Win Negro American League Championship The Birmingham Black Barons, after losing three straight games in the NAL championship series with the Kansas City Monarchs, rebounded with a 5–¡ win in the seventh and deciding game. Black Barons pitcher William Greason allowed just four hits, and his opposite number, Jim LaMarque, gave up ¡0 hits in the loss. 53 By winning the NAL, the Black Barons would represent the league in the World Series against the NNL champion Homestead Grays.

September 26, ¡948 — Grays Win 3–2 in Game One of World Series The Homestead Grays scored all three of their runs o› Birmingham Black Barons pitcher Jimmy Newberry in the second inning of the opening game of the World Series at Kansas City on their way to a 3–2 win. Pope† drove in the first two Grays runs with a triple and then came in to score on Luis Marquez’s two-out double. Ted Alexander got the win for the Grays.54 The game was scheduled in Kansas City after the two clubs had trouble arranging for a ballpark in their home cities.55

September 29, ¡948 — Grays Win 5–3 in Game Two of World Series At Rickwood Field in Birmingham, the Homestead Grays defeated the hometown Black Barons to take a 2–0 lead in the World Series.56 The Black Barons got on the board first in the second inning on a Joe Scott double, but the Grays put up five runs in the sixth inning on their way to a 5–3 win. The Black Barons, with two on and one out in the ninth, brought Art Wilson to the plate with the potential winning run, but Grays starter Bob Thurman struck him out and then got Johnny Britton to ground out, ending the game.57

September 30, ¡948 — Black Barons Win 4–3 in Game Three of World Series A ninth-inning RBI single by Willie Mays broke a 3–3 tie in the third game of the World Series, giving the Birmingham Black Barons a 4–3 win over the Homestead *Date based on “Wednesday” reference in Birmingham World (24 September ¡948). † First name of this player is unclear. James A. Riley lists a “Willie Pope” with the Grays in ¡948 in his Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues while Dick Clark and Lester Lester’s The Negro Leagues Book has a reference for “Willie” plus one for “A. Pope.” The New York Times (27 September ¡948) reported that this player was Dave Pope.

169

¡948

Grays.58 The Grays tied the score 3–3 with two runs in the eighth inning, knocking out Birmingham starting pitcher Alonzo Perry, but relief pitcher William Greason got out of the inning and then singled and scored the winning run on Mays’s single in the ninth.59 The Birmingham win trimmed the Grays series lead to 2–¡.

October 3, ¡948 — Grays Win ¡4–¡ in Game Four of World Series The Homestead Grays won the fourth game of the World Series ¡4–¡ in New Orleans and took a 3–¡ series-lead over the Birmingham Black Barons. The Grays knocked out ¡9 hits, including a grand slam by Luke Easter, o› four Black Barons pitchers, William Greason, Jehosie Heard, Jimmy Newberry, and Nat Pollard. Wilmer Fields went the distance for the Grays, allowing just seven hits.60

October 5, ¡948 — Homestead Grays Win World Series The Homestead Grays won the World Series with a ¡0–6 win in ¡0 innings over the hometown Black Barons at Rickwood Field in Birmingham. The Grays put together three hits and three walks in the four-run ¡0th and won the series four games to one.6¡

November 9, ¡948 — Manleys Sell Newark Eagles Citing poor attendance that she believed was a direct result of the integration of the major leagues, E›a Manley, owner of the Newark Eagles along with her husband Abe, announced that she had sold the club and would no longer be active in baseball.62 Manley told the Sporting News that she had lost more than $22,000 in ¡948 and that the chances for black clubs were better in the South than they were in the North, where the major leagues were concentrated.63 The Newark Eagles club, Manley later wrote, was sold to Dr. W.H. Young of Memphis, who agreed to share any profits with the Manleys from the future sale of player contracts to major league clubs.64

November 29 and 30, ¡948 — Negro National League Clubs Absorbed at Joint Meeting in Chicago After the sale of the Newark Eagles and the decisions of the Homestead Grays and the New York Black Yankees to quit organized baseball, the remaining clubs of the Negro National League were admitted to the Negro American League to form a ¡0-team league at a meeting in Chicago. After the merger, the NAL comprised the Kansas City Monarchs, the Memphis Red Sox, the Birmingham Black Barons, the Indianapolis Clowns, the Chicago American Giants, and the Cleveland Buckeyes plus the former NNL franchises, the Philadelphia Stars, the New York Cubans, the Baltimore Elite Giants, and the Houston Eagles, which was the former Newark franchise and had been recently purchased by W.H. Young and his partner, Hugh Cherry.65 In other business, the NAL reelected J.B. Martin president and Ernie Wright vice president.66

Notes Preface

21. Chicago Daily Tribune, 3¡ May ¡920. 22. Chicago Daily Tribune, 6 July ¡920. 23. Chicago Defender, ¡0 July ¡920. 24. Chicago Defender, ¡7 July ¡920; New York Age, ¡0, ¡7 July, 4 September ¡920; Baltimore Afro American, 23 July ¡920. 25. New York Age, 4 September ¡920. 26. New York Age, ¡7 July ¡920. 27. Chicago Defender, 27 November, 4, ¡¡ December ¡920, ¡7 December ¡938; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡8 December ¡920; Baltimore Afro American, 26 November, 24 December ¡920.

1. Jerry Malloy, Introduction to Sol White’s History of Colored Baseball (Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, ¡996), xxii–xxiii. 2. Neil Lanctot, Fair Dealing and Clean Playing: The Hilldale Club and the Development of Black Professional Baseball, ¡9¡0–¡932 (Je›erson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., ¡994), 80. 3. Robert Peterson, Only the Ball Was White (New York: Gramercy Books, ¡999), 63.

¡920

¡92¡

1. Chicago Defender, ¡4, 2¡ February ¡920, ¡7 December ¡938; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡6 February ¡920; Baltimore Afro American, 27 February ¡920; New York Age, 28 February ¡920; Competitor, March ¡920, 66; Kansas City Call, 9 February ¡923; 25 January ¡924. 2. Chicago Defender, 2¡ February ¡920. 3. Chicago Defender, ¡7 December ¡938. 4. Atlanta Constitution, 29 February ¡920; 3 March ¡920; Chicago Defender, 6 March ¡920. 5. Chicago Defender, 6 March ¡920. 6. New York Age, ¡ May ¡920; Chicago Defender, ¡7 April ¡920. 7. Atlanta Constitution, 3 March ¡920. 8. Indianapolis Star, ¡9 March ¡920, ¡, 2, 3, 9 May ¡920; Chicago Defender, ¡, 8, ¡5 May ¡920; Competitor, April ¡920, 74. 9. Indianapolis Star, 3 May ¡920. 10. Chicago Defender, 8, ¡5 May ¡920. 11. Chicago Defender, ¡5 May ¡920. 12. Indianapolis Star, 9, ¡0 May ¡920; Chicago Defender, 8, ¡5 May ¡920. 13. Indianapolis Star, ¡0 May ¡920. 14. Chicago Defender, ¡5 May ¡920. 15. Chicago Daily Tribune, 9, ¡0 May ¡920; Chicago Defender, 8, ¡5 May ¡920. 16. Chicago Defender, ¡5 May ¡920. 17. Chicago Defender, ¡5, 22 May ¡920. 18. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡7 May ¡920. 19. Chicago Defender, ¡5 May ¡920. 20. New York Age, 22 May ¡920.

1. Chicago Defender, 8 January ¡92¡. 2. Indianapolis Star, ¡ May ¡92¡; Chicago Defender, 7 May ¡92¡. 3. Indianapolis Star, ¡ May ¡92¡. 4. Chicago Defender, 7 May ¡92¡. 5. Chicago Defender, 30 April, 7 May ¡92¡; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡ May ¡92¡. 6. Chicago Defender, 7 May ¡92¡. 7. Washington Post, 5 May ¡92¡; Chicago Daily Tribune, 5, 8 May ¡92¡. 8. Chicago Daily Tribune, 8 May ¡92¡. 9. Chicago Defender, ¡4 May ¡92¡. 10. Chicago Defender, 28 May ¡92¡. 11. Baltimore Afro American, ¡7 June ¡92¡; Chicago Defender, ¡¡ June, 2 July ¡92¡. 12. Chicago Defender, ¡¡ June ¡92¡. 13. Chicago Defender, 2 July ¡92¡; Chicago Daily Tribune, 29 June ¡92¡. 14. New York Age, 30 July, 6 August ¡92¡. 15. Baltimore Afro American, ¡9 August ¡92¡; Chicago Defender, ¡3 August ¡92¡. 16. Chicago Defender, ¡3 August ¡92¡. 17. Baltimore Afro American, ¡9 August ¡92¡. 18. Chicago Defender, 20 August ¡92¡; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡5 August ¡92¡. 19. Chicago Defender, 20 August ¡92¡. 20. Baltimore Afro American, 2¡ October ¡92¡.

171

Notes

172

¡922

¡923

¡. Decatur (Illinois) Review, 30 January ¡922; Chicago Defender, 7, 2¡ 28 January, 4 February ¡922; Baltimore Afro American, 20 January, ¡0 February ¡922; Kansas City Call, 4 February ¡922. 2. Baltimore Afro American, 3¡ March ¡922. 3. Chicago Defender, ¡8 February, 4, ¡¡ March, 30 December ¡922; Kansas City Call 4, ¡8 March ¡922; James A. Riley, The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues (New York: Carroll & Graf, ¡994), 763; Robert Peterson, Only the Ball Was White (New York: Gramercy Books, ¡999), 25¡; Paul Debono, The Indianapolis ABCs (Je›erson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., ¡997), pp. 92–93, ¡55–7. 4. Baltimore Afro American, 2¡ April ¡922; Chicago Defender, ¡5 April ¡922, ¡9 June ¡926; George Giles in John Holway, Black Diamonds: Life in the Negro Leagues from the Men Who Lived It (Westport, Conn.: Meckler Books, ¡989), p. 6¡. 5. Chicago Defender, 4, ¡¡ March ¡922. 6. Chicago Defender, ¡3 May, 30 December ¡922; Chicago Daily Tribune, 7 May ¡922; Kansas City Call, 6, ¡3 May ¡922. 7. Chicago Defender, 8 April, ¡3 May ¡922. 8. Chicago Defender, ¡3 May ¡922. 9. Chicago Defender, 30 Dec ¡922. ¡0. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡6 May ¡922. ¡¡. Donald Honig, Baseball When the Grass Was Real (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, ¡993), pp. ¡65– 67. ¡2. Honig, pp. ¡65–67; John Holway, Voices from the Great Black Baseball Leagues (New York: Da Capo Press, ¡992), pp. ¡¡4–¡5; Bill Chastain, “Cool Papa Bell” in The Ol’ Ball Game (New York: Barnes & Noble, ¡993), pp. 53–54; James Bankes, The Pittsburgh Crawfords: The Lives and Times of Black Baseball’s Most Exciting Team! (Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown, ¡99¡), pp. 6¡– 62. ¡3. Chicago Defender, 20 May, 3, ¡0 June ¡922; Kansas City Call, 22 April ¡922; New York Age, 3, ¡0 June ¡922. ¡4. Chicago Defender, 5 August, 30 December ¡922. ¡5. Chicago Defender, 5 August ¡922. ¡6. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡7 August ¡922; CD, 26 August 30, December ¡922. ¡7. Chicago Daily Tribune, 26 August ¡922. ¡8. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡9, 20 August ¡922; Chicago Defender, 26 August, 30 December ¡922. ¡9. Chicago Defender, 26 August ¡922. 20. Chicago Daily Tribune, 20 August ¡922. 2¡. Chicago Defender, 7 October ¡922. 22. Chicago Defender, ¡4 October ¡922. 23. Chicago Defender, 30 December ¡922. 24. Baltimore Afro American, 3 November, ¡5 December ¡922; Chicago Defender, ¡6 December ¡922. 25. Chicago Defender, ¡6 December ¡922. 26. Chicago Defender, ¡3 January ¡923; Baltimore Afro American, ¡2 January ¡923; New York Age, 23 December ¡922; Neil Lanctot, Fair Dealing and Clean Playing: The Hilldale Club and the Development of Black Professional Baseball, ¡9¡0–¡932 (Je›erson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., ¡994), p. 93. 27. New York Age, 23 December ¡922.

1. Baltimore Afro American, 2 March ¡923; Kansas City Call, 9 March ¡923. 2. Baltimore Afro American, 2 March ¡923. 3. Baltimore Afro American, 6 April ¡923. 4. Chicago Defender, ¡7 February ¡923; Kansas City Call, ¡6 March ¡923. 5. Chicago Defender, 2¡ April, 5 May ¡923; Baltimore Afro American, 27 April ¡923; Kansas City Call, 27 April, 4 May ¡923; Chicago Daily Tribune, 29 April ¡923. 6. Chicago Defender, 5 May ¡923. 7. Chicago Defender, 5 May ¡923; Baltimore Afro American, 27 April ¡923. 8. Chicago Defender, 5 May ¡923. 9. Baltimore Afro American, 27 April ¡923; Chicago Defender, 2¡, 28 April ¡923. 10. Philadelphia Tribune, 5 January ¡924; New York Amsterdam News, ¡8 April, 2 May ¡923; Philadelphia Public Ledger, 29 April ¡923. 11. Philadelphia Public Ledger, 29 April ¡923. 12. Baltimore Afro American, ¡¡ September ¡926. 13. Chicago Daily Tribune, 2¡ May ¡923. 14. Chicago Daily Tribune, 23 May ¡923; Chicago Defender, 26 May ¡923. 15. Chicago Defender, 26 May ¡923. 16. Chicago Daily Tribune, 28 May ¡923. 17. Decatur Review (Illinois), 28 May ¡923; Chicago Daily Tribune, 28 May ¡923; Chicago Defender, 2 June ¡923. 18. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡2 June ¡923; Chicago Defender, 6 June ¡923. 19. Chicago Defender, 6 June ¡923. 20. Chicago Daily Tribune, 27 June ¡923; Chicago Defender, 30 June ¡923. 21. Chicago Defender, 30 June¡923. 22. Chicago Daily Tribune, 6 July ¡923. 23. Chicago Defender, 7 July ¡923; Pittsburgh Courier, 7 July ¡923. 24. Pittsburgh Courier, 7 July ¡923. 25. Chicago Defender, 28 July ¡923. 26. Chicago Daily Tribune, 23 August ¡923; Kansas City Call, 3¡ August ¡923; Chicago Defender, ¡ September ¡923. 27. Chicago Defender, ¡ September ¡923. 28. Chicago Daily Tribune, 27 August ¡923. 29. Chicago Daily Tribune, 27 August ¡923; Kansas City Call, 3¡ August ¡923. 30. Chicago Daily Tribune, 27 August ¡923. 31. Kansas City Call, 3¡ August ¡923. 32. Baltimore Afro American, ¡0 August ¡923. 33. John Holway, Voices from the Great Baseball Leagues (New York: Da Capo Press, ¡992), pp. ¡9¡–2. 34. Chicago Defender, 29 September ¡923; Kansas City Call, 28 September ¡923; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡5 September ¡923. 35. Kansas City Call, 28 September ¡923. 36. Pittsburgh Courier, 6 October ¡923. 37. Chicago Defender, ¡3 October ¡923. 38. Michigan Chronicle, 24 February ¡945. 39. Chicago Daily Tribune, 2¡, 22, 23 October ¡923; Chicago Defender, 29 September, 27 October ¡923; Pittsburgh Courier, 27 October ¡923. 40. Chicago Defender, 8, ¡5 December ¡923; Kansas City Call, ¡4 December ¡923.

Notes

173 41. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡, ¡5 December ¡923; Baltimore Afro American, ¡4 December ¡923. 42. Baltimore Afro American, 6 April ¡923.

¡924 1. Baltimore Afro American, ¡8 January ¡924. 2. Kansas City Call, ¡ February ¡924; Chicago Defender 2, ¡6 February ¡924; Baltimore Afro American, 22, 29 February ¡924. 3. Chicago Defender, ¡6 February ¡924. 4. Pittsburgh Courier, 23 February, ¡, 8 March ¡924; Baltimore Afro American, 8, 29 February ¡924; Kansas City Call, ¡5 February ¡924. 5. New York Herald Tribune, 3¡ March ¡924; Washington Post, 3¡ March ¡924; Pittsburgh Courier, 5 April ¡924. 6. Philadelphia Tribune, 3 May ¡924; Pittsburgh Courier, 5 April, 3 May ¡924; Chicago Defender, 3 May ¡924; Baltimore Afro American, 2 May ¡924; Washington Post, 25 April ¡924. 7. Washington Post, 24 April ¡924. 8. Pittsburgh Courier, 5 April ¡924. 9. Philadelphia Tribune, 26 April, 3 May ¡924; Pittsburgh Courier, 3 May ¡924; Chicago Defender, 3 May ¡924; Baltimore Afro American, 2 May ¡924. 10. Philadelphia Tribune, 3 May ¡924. 11. Pittsburgh Courier, 3 May ¡924. 12. Baltimore Afro American, 2 May ¡944. 13. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡5 March ¡924; Baltimore Afro American, 7 March, 2 May ¡924. 14. Baltimore Afro American, 2 May ¡924. 15. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡5 March ¡924; Baltimore Afro American, 25 April ¡924. 16. Chicago Defender, ¡0 May ¡924. 17. Chicago Defender, ¡0 May ¡924. 18. Chicago Daily Tribune, 4 May ¡924. 19. Kansas City Call, ¡¡ April ¡924; Chicago Defender, ¡2 April ¡924. 20. Chicago Defender, ¡0 May ¡924. 21. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡7 May ¡924. 22. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡9 May ¡924; Chicago Defender, 24 May ¡924. 23. Baltimore Afro American, 30 May, 6 June ¡924; Pittsburgh Courier, 7 June ¡924; Philadelphia Tribune, 7 June ¡924. 24. Pittsburgh Courier, 3¡ May ¡924. 25. Chicago Defender, 28 June ¡924. 26. Chicago Defender, 28 June, 5, ¡9 July ¡924; Baltimore Afro American, 27 June ¡924; Pittsburgh Courier, 28 June, 26 July ¡924. 27. Chicago Defender, 5 July ¡924. 28. Chicago Daily Tribune, 27 June ¡924; Chicago Defender, 5 July ¡924. 29. Chicago Defender, 5 July ¡924. 30. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡2 July ¡924; Kansas City Call, ¡8 July ¡924; Baltimore Afro American, ¡¡ July ¡924. 31. Chicago Defender, 2 August ¡924; Pittsburgh Courier, 2¡ February ¡925. 32. Chicago Defender, 2 August ¡924. 33. Chicago Defender, 23 August ¡924. 34. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡3 September ¡924. 35. Baltimore Afro American, 3 October ¡924. 36. Pittsburgh Courier, 3 January ¡925; Chicago Defender, 30 August, 6 September ¡924.

37. Philadelphia Public Ledger, 4 October ¡924; Kansas City Call, ¡9 September ¡924; Chicago Defender, 4, ¡¡ October ¡924; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡¡ October ¡924; Baltimore Afro American, ¡0 October ¡924. 38. Chicago Defender, ¡¡ October ¡924. 39. Chicago Defender, ¡ November ¡924. 40. Philadelphia Public Ledger, 5 October ¡924, ¡8; Chicago Defender, 4, ¡¡ October ¡924; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡¡ October ¡924; Baltimore Afro American, ¡0 October ¡924. 41. Chicago Defender, ¡ November ¡924. 42. Philadelphia Public Ledger, 6 October ¡924; Chicago Defender, 4, ¡¡ October ¡924; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡¡ October ¡924; Baltimore Afro American, 3 October ¡924. 43. Chicago Defender, ¡ November ¡924. 44. Kansas City Star, 5 October ¡924. 45. Chicago Defender, ¡¡ October ¡924; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡¡ October ¡924; Baltimore Afro American, ¡0 October ¡924. 46. Chicago Defender, ¡ November ¡924. 47. Kansas City Call, ¡7 October ¡924; Philadelphia Public Ledger, ¡2 October ¡924; Kansas City Call, ¡7 October ¡924; Chicago Defender, 4, ¡8 October ¡924; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8 October ¡924; Baltimore Afro American, ¡7 October ¡924. 48. Kansas City Star, 9 October ¡924. 49. Kansas City Call, ¡7 October ¡924; Philadelphia Public Ledger, ¡3 October ¡924, ¡5; Chicago Defender, 4, ¡8 October, ¡ November ¡924; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8 October ¡924; Baltimore Afro American, ¡7, 3¡ October ¡924. 50. ¡5 October ¡924; Kansas City Call, ¡7 October ¡924; Chicago Defender, 4, ¡8 October ¡924; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8 October ¡924; Washington Post, ¡5 October ¡924. 51. Chicago Defender, ¡ November ¡924. 52. Pittsburgh Courier, 25 October ¡924, ¡7 July ¡943; Kansas City Call, 24 October ¡924; Chicago Defender, 25 October ¡924; Baltimore Afro American, 24 October ¡924. 53. Chicago Defender, 7 February ¡942. 54. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7 July ¡943. 55. Pittsburgh Courier, 25 October ¡924. 56. Chicago Daily Tribune, 20 October ¡924, 26; Chicago Defender, 25 October ¡924; Pittsburgh Courier, 25 October ¡924. 57. Chicago Defender, ¡ November ¡924. 58. Chicago Daily Tribune, 2¡ October ¡924, p. 2¡; Philadelphia Public Ledger, 2¡ October ¡924, p. ¡5; Kansas City Call, 24 October ¡924; Chicago Defender, 25 October ¡924; Pittsburgh Courier, 25 October ¡924; Baltimore Afro American, 24 October ¡924. 59. Baltimore Afro American, 22 November ¡924. 60. Chicago Defender, 5 September ¡942. 61. Chicago Defender, ¡ November ¡924.

¡925 ¡. Philadelphia Tribune, 3¡ January ¡925. 2. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡4 February ¡925; Chicago Defender, 3, 3¡ January, 7 February ¡925; Kansas City Call, 6 February ¡925, 30 December ¡927. 3. New York Amsterdam News, 29 April ¡925; Baltimore Afro American, 2 May ¡925; Pittsburgh Courier, 7 March ¡925; Kansas City Call, ¡3 March ¡925.

Notes 4. Pittsburgh Courier, 7 March ¡925. 5. New York Amsterdam News, 29 April ¡925. 6. Philadelphia Tribune, 3¡ January, 2¡ February 28 March ¡925; Pittsburgh Courier 2¡ February, 28 March ¡925; Chicago Defender, 3¡ January, 2¡ February ¡925; New York Amsterdam News, ¡¡ March ¡925. 7. Philadelphia Tribune, 28 March ¡925; Pittsburgh Courier, 28 March ¡925. 8. Philadelphia Tribune, 4 April ¡925. 9. Chicago Defender, 28 March, ¡8 April ¡925; Kansas City Call, ¡7 April ¡925. ¡0. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡8 April, 2 May ¡925; Pittsburgh Courier, 2 May ¡925; Baltimore Afro American, 2 May ¡925; New York Amsterdam News, 29 April ¡925. ¡¡. Philadelphia Tribune, 2 May ¡925. ¡2. Philadelphia Tribune, 2 May ¡925; New York Amsterdam News, 29 April ¡925; Baltimore Afro American, 2 May ¡925. ¡3. Philadelphia Tribune, 2 May ¡925. ¡4. Chicago Defender, 25 April, 2 May ¡925; Pittsburgh Courier, 2 May ¡925; Chicago Daily Tribune, 28 April ¡925. ¡5. Pittsburgh Courier, 2 May ¡925. ¡6. Chicago Defender, 9 May ¡925; Kansas City Call, 8 May ¡925. ¡7. Philadelphia Tribune, 9 May ¡925; Chicago Defender, 9 May ¡925. ¡8. Chicago Defender, 9 May ¡925. ¡9. Philadelphia Tribune, 9 May ¡925; Pittsburgh Courier, 9 May ¡925; Chicago Daily Tribune, 3 May ¡925; Chicago Defender, 9 May ¡925. 20. Pittsburgh Courier, 9 May ¡925. 2¡. Paul Debono, The Indianapolis ABCs (Je›erson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., ¡997), p. ¡99. 22. Philadelphia Tribune, 9 May ¡925. 23. Philadelphia Tribune, 9 May ¡925; Baltimore Afro American 2 May, 9 May ¡925. 24. Baltimore Afro American, 9 May ¡925. 25. New York Age, 2, 9 May ¡926. 26. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡0 May ¡925; Chicago Defender, ¡6 May ¡925. 27. Chicago Defender, ¡6 May ¡925. 28. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡6 May ¡925. 29. Chicago Defender, ¡6 May ¡925. 30. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡6 May ¡925; Chicago Defender, ¡6 May ¡925. 3¡. Chicago Defender, ¡6 May ¡925. 32. Chicago Defender, 6 June ¡925; Baltimore Afro American, 6 June ¡925; Pittsburgh Courier, 6 June ¡925. 33. Baltimore Afro American, 6 June ¡925. 34. Chicago Defender, 6 June ¡925. 35. Pittsburgh Courier, 6 June ¡925. 36. Baltimore Afro American, 20 June ¡925. 37. Baltimore Afro American, 27 June ¡925. 38. Baltimore Afro American, 4 July ¡925. 39. Baltimore Afro American, 4 July ¡925. 40. Baltimore Afro American, ¡¡ July ¡925. 4¡. Baltimore Afro American, 4, ¡¡ July ¡925. 42. Philadelphia Tribune, 25 July, ¡ August ¡925; Pittsburgh Courier, 25 July ¡925; New York Amsterdam News, 25 July ¡925; Baltimore Afro American, 25 July ¡925. 43. Philadelphia Tribune, 22 August ¡925; Pittsburgh Courier, 22 August ¡925; New York Amsterdam News, ¡9 August ¡924; James A. Riley, The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues (New York: Carroll & Graf, ¡994), p. 478.

174 44. Chicago Daily Tribune, 3¡ August ¡925. 45. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡9 September ¡925; Chicago Defender, ¡2 September ¡925. 46. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡9 September ¡925. 47. Pittsburgh Courier, 26 September ¡925. 48. Pittsburgh Courier, 26 September ¡925; Chicago Defender, ¡9, 26 September ¡925; Kansas City Call, 25 September ¡925. 49. Chicago Defender, 26 September ¡925. 50. Pittsburgh Courier, 26 September ¡925; Chicago Defender, 26 September ¡925; Kansas City Call, 25 September ¡925. 5¡. Pittsburgh Courier, 26 September ¡925. 52. Kansas City Call, 25 September ¡925. 53. Chicago Defender, 26 September ¡925; Pittsburgh Courier 26 September ¡925. 54. Pittsburgh Courier, 3 October ¡925; Kansas City Call, 2 October ¡925; Chicago Defender, 3 October ¡925. 55. Kansas City Call, 2 October ¡925; Pittsburgh Courier, 3 October ¡925; Chicago Defender, 3 October ¡925. 56. Pittsburgh Courier, 3 October ¡925. 57. Chicago Defender, 3 October ¡925; Pittsburgh Courier, 3 October ¡925. 58. Chicago Defender, 3, ¡0, 24 October ¡925, ¡9 September ¡942; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 October ¡925; Kansas City Call, 9 October ¡925. 59. Chicago Defender, ¡0 October ¡925. 60. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 October ¡925; Chicago Defender, ¡0, 24 October ¡925; Kansas City Call, 9 October ¡925. 6¡. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 October ¡925. 62. Chicago Defender, 24 October ¡925. 63. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 October ¡925; Chicago Defender, ¡0, 24 October ¡925; Kansas City Call, 9 October ¡925. 64. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 October ¡925; Chicago Defender, ¡0, 24 October ¡925; Kansas City Call, 9 October ¡925. 65. Chicago Defender, 24 October ¡925. 66. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 October¡925; Chicago Defender, ¡0, 24 October ¡925; Kansas City Call, 9 October ¡925. 67. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7 October ¡925; Chicago Defender, ¡0, ¡7, 24 October ¡925; Kansas City Call, ¡6 October ¡925. 68. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7 October ¡925. 69. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7 October ¡925; Chicago Defender, ¡7 October ¡925; Kansas City Call, ¡0 October ¡925.

1926 ¡. New York Amsterdam News, ¡3 January ¡926; Philadelphia Tribune, 2, ¡6 January ¡926; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6, 23 January ¡926; Chicago Defender, ¡6 January ¡926; Kansas City Call, ¡5 January ¡926. 2. Chicago Defender, 20 March, ¡, 8 May ¡926; Chicago Daily Tribune, 2 May ¡926; Kansas City Call, 23 April, 7 May ¡926; Philadelphia Tribune, 8 May ¡926. 3. Chicago Defender, ¡0 April, 8 May ¡926; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡, 8 May ¡926; New York Amsterdam News, 28 April, 5 May ¡926. 4. New York Amsterdam News, 28 April ¡926.

Notes

175 5. Philadelphia Tribune, 29 May ¡926; Chicago Defender, 29 May ¡926. 6. Chicago Defender, 29 May ¡926. 7. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡7 July ¡926; Chicago Defender, ¡0 July ¡926; Kansas City Call, 9 July¡926. 8. Chicago Defender, ¡0 July ¡926. 9. Chicago Defender, ¡0 July ¡926; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡0 July ¡926. 10. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡4 July ¡926; Chicago Defender, ¡7 July ¡926. 11. Chicago Defender, ¡7 July ¡926. 12. Chicago Defender, 24, 3¡ July ¡926; Kansas City Call, 23 July ¡926; Baltimore Afro American, 3¡ July, 7 August ¡926. 13. Chicago Defender, ¡¡ September ¡926; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7 July ¡926, 4 September ¡926, ¡¡ September ¡926; New York Age, 24 July ¡926; Baltimore Afro American, 4 September ¡926; Chicago Daily Tribune, 29 August, 3 September ¡926. 14. Chicago Daily Tribune, 3 September ¡926. 15. John Holway, Blackball Stars: Negro League Pioneers (New York: Carroll & Graf, ¡992), p. 33. 16. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡¡ September ¡926; Baltimore Afro American, ¡¡ September ¡926. 17. Chicago Daily Tribune, 7 September ¡926. 18. Chicago Daily Tribune, 8 September ¡926; Chicago Defender, ¡8 September ¡926; Baltimore Afro American, ¡8 September ¡926. 19. Chicago Defender, ¡8 September ¡926. 20. Chicago Defender, 25 September ¡926; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡9 September ¡926; Kansas City Call, 24 September ¡926. 21. Chicago Defender, 25 September ¡926. 22. Chicago Defender, 25 September ¡926; Kansas City Call, 24 September ¡926. 23. Chicago Defender, 25 September ¡926. 24. Chicago Defender, 25 September ¡926; Chicago Daily Tribune, 2¡ September ¡926. 25. Chicago Defender, 25 September ¡926. 26. Chicago Defender, 25 September ¡926. 27. Chicago Defender, 2 October ¡926; Kansas City Call, 24 September, ¡ October ¡926. 28. Chicago Defender, 2 October ¡926. 29. Kansas City Call, ¡ October ¡926. 30. Chicago Defender, 2 October ¡926; Chicago Daily Tribune, 27 September ¡926; Kansas City Call, ¡ October ¡926. 31. Chicago Defender, 2 October ¡926. 32. Chicago Daily Tribune, 27 September ¡926. 33. Chicago Defender, ¡8 September, 2 October ¡926; Baltimore Afro American, ¡¡, ¡8, 25 September ¡926. 34. Baltimore Afro American, ¡¡ September ¡926. 35. Chicago Defender, 2 October ¡926; Kansas City Call, ¡ October ¡926. 36. Chicago Defender, 2 October ¡926. 37. Kansas City Call, ¡ October ¡926. 38. Chicago Defender, 23 October ¡926. 39. Kansas City Call, 8 October ¡926. 40. Chicago Defender, 9 October ¡926; Chicago Daily Tribune, 3 October ¡926; New York Amsterdam News, 6 October ¡926; Kansas City Call, 8 October, 5 November ¡926; Baltimore Afro American, 30 October ¡926; New York Age, 9 October ¡926. 41. Kansas City Call, 5 November ¡926. 42. Chicago Defender, 9 October ¡926; Chicago Daily Tribune, 3 October ¡926; Kansas City Call, 8 October,

5 November ¡926; Baltimore Afro American, 30 October ¡926. 43. Kansas City Call, 5 November ¡926. 44. Chicago Defender, 9 October ¡926; Chicago Daily Tribune, 3, 4 October ¡926; Kansas City Call, 8 October ¡926; Baltimore Afro American, ¡6, 30 October ¡926. 45. Chicago Defender, 9 October ¡926. 46. Kansas City Call, 5 November ¡926. 47. Chicago Defender, 9 October ¡926; Chicago Daily Tribune, 3 October ¡926; Kansas City Call, 8 October, 5 November ¡926; New York Age, 9 October ¡926. 48. Kansas City Call, 5 November ¡926. 49. Chicago Defender, 9 October ¡926; Chicago Daily Tribune, 6 October ¡926; Kansas City Call, 5 November ¡926, 8 October ¡926; New York Age, 9 October ¡926. 50. Kansas City Call, 5 November ¡926. 51. Chicago Defender, ¡6 October ¡926, 23 October ¡926; Chicago Daily Tribune, 6 October ¡926; Kansas City Call, 5 November ¡926, 8 October ¡926. 52. Kansas City Call, 5 November ¡926. 53. Chicago Defender, ¡6 October ¡926; Kansas City Call, ¡5 October ¡926; 5 November ¡926; Baltimore Afro American, 30 October ¡926. 54. Chicago Defender, ¡6 October ¡926. 55. Kansas City Call, 5 November ¡926. 56. Chicago Defender, ¡6, 23 October ¡926; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡¡ October ¡926; Kansas City Call, 5 November ¡926, ¡5 October ¡926; Baltimore Afro American, 30 October ¡926. 57. Kansas City Call, 5 November ¡926. 58. Chicago Defender, ¡6, 23 October ¡926; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡2 October ¡926; Kansas City Call, ¡5 October, ¡¡ November ¡926; Baltimore Afro American, 30 October ¡926. 59. Kansas City Call, 5 November ¡926. 60. Chicago Defender, 23 October ¡926; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡4 October ¡926; Kansas City Call, ¡5 October, 5 November ¡926. 61. Kansas City Call, 5 November ¡926. 62. Chicago Defender, 23 October ¡926; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡5 October ¡926; Kansas City Call, ¡5 October, 5 November ¡926. 63. Kansas City Call, 5 November ¡926.

¡927 1. New York Amsterdam News, ¡9 January ¡927; New York Age, 8 January ¡927; Chicago Defender, 22 January ¡927; Kansas City Call, 2¡ January ¡927; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡, 8, 22 January, 5 February ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, ¡5, 22 January ¡927. 2. Baltimore Afro American, 22 January ¡927. 3. Pittsburgh Courier, 22 January ¡927. 4. Kansas City Call, 4 February ¡927. 5. Chicago Defender, 25 June ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, ¡9 February, 5, ¡2, ¡9 March, 9 April, ¡6 July ¡927; Pittsburgh Courier, 26 February, ¡2 March ¡927. 6. California Eagle, ¡8 March ¡927. 7. Chicago Defender, 25 June ¡927. 8. Chicago Defender, 25 June ¡927; Pittsburgh Courier, 23 July ¡927. 9. Baltimore Afro American, ¡9 March ¡927. 10. Baltimore Afro American, ¡9 March ¡927.

Notes 11. Pittsburgh Courier, 23 July ¡927. 12. Baltimore Afro American, 9 July ¡927. 13. Chicago Defender, 30 April ¡927; Kansas City Call, 29 April ¡927; Pittsburgh Courier, 23 April ¡927; Chicago Daily Tribune, 24 April ¡927. 14. Chicago Defender, 30 April ¡927. 15. Chicago Defender, 30 April ¡927; Pittsburgh Courier, 23 April ¡927. 16. Chicago Defender, 30 April ¡927. 17. Kansas City Call, ¡, ¡5 April ¡927. 18. Kansas City Call, ¡8 February ¡927. 19. New York Amsterdam News, 9 February, 2 March, 27 April, ¡¡ May ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, 2 April, 7 May ¡927; New York Age, 7 May ¡927; Pittsburgh Courier, 30 April ¡927; Philadelphia Tribune, 8 May ¡927. 20. New York Age, 7 May ¡927. 21. Baltimore Afro American, 7 May ¡927; New York Amsterdam News, ¡¡ May ¡927. 22. Baltimore Afro American, 7 May ¡927. 23. Baltimore Afro American, 7 May ¡927. 24. New York Amsterdam News, 27 April ¡927. 25. Norfolk Journal and Guide, 2¡ May ¡927; New York Amsterdam News, 27 April, ¡8 May ¡927; New York Age, ¡2 February, ¡0 September ¡927; Pittsburgh Courier, 2 April ¡927. 26. New York Amsterdam News, ¡8 May ¡927. 27. New York Amsterdam News, 27 April ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, 2¡, 28 May ¡927. 28. Baltimore Afro American, 2¡ May ¡927. 29. Baltimore Afro American, 28 May ¡927. 30. Pittsburgh Courier, 30 April ¡927. 31. Kansas City Call, 27 May ¡927. 32. Pittsburgh Courier, 28 May ¡927; Chicago Defender, 30 April, ¡4 May ¡927; Kansas City Call, 29 April ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, 30 April, 7, ¡4, 28 May, 4, 25 June, 2, 9 July ¡927; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡4, 2¡, 28 May, 2 July ¡927; Kansas City Call, 27 May ¡927; New York Amsterdam News, 29 June ¡927. 33. New York Amsterdam News, 29 June ¡927. 34. New York Amsterdam News, ¡7 August ¡927; New York Age, 20 August ¡927. 35. New York Age, 23 April ¡927; Pittsburgh Courier, 23 April ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, 23 April, 25 June ¡927; New York Amsterdam News, 27 April, 6 July ¡927. 36. Baltimore Afro American, 25 June ¡927. 37. Chicago Defender, 2 July ¡927. 38. Chicago Defender, 9, ¡6 July ¡927; Kansas City Call, 8 July ¡927; Chicago Daily Tribune, 6, 7 July ¡927. 39. Baltimore Afro American, 9 July ¡927. 40. Baltimore Afro American, ¡6 July ¡927; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6 July ¡927; New York Amsterdam News, 27 April ¡927. 41. Pittsburgh Courier, 6 August ¡927. 42. New York Amsterdam News, ¡7 August ¡927; New York Age, 30 July, 20 August ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, 30 July ¡927; Pittsburgh Courier, 30 July, ¡3, 20 August ¡927. 43. Baltimore Afro American, 20 August ¡927. 44. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡5 August ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, 20 August ¡927. 45. Pittsburgh Courier, 28 January ¡928; Chicago Defender, 24 September ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, 24 September ¡927. 46. Chicago Defender, 24 September ¡927. 47. Chicago Daily Tribune, 20 September ¡927;

176 Chicago Defender, 24 September ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, 24 September ¡927; Kansas City Call, 23 September ¡927. 48. Chicago Defender, 24 September ¡924. 49. Chicago Daily Tribune, 2¡ September ¡927, 25; Chicago Defender, 24 September ¡927; Kansas City Call, 23 September ¡927. 50. Chicago Defender, 24 September ¡927. 51. Chicago Daily Tribune, 26 September ¡927, p. 27; Chicago Defender, ¡ October ¡927; Kansas City Call, 30 September ¡927. 52. Chicago Defender, ¡ October ¡927. 53. Chicago Defender, ¡ October ¡927; Kansas City Call, 30 September ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, ¡ October ¡927. 54. Chicago Daily Tribune, 2 October ¡927, p. A8; Chicago Defender, ¡, 8 October ¡927; Kansas City Call, 7 October ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, 8 October ¡927. 55. Baltimore Afro American, 8 October ¡927. 56. Chicago Daily Tribune, 3 October ¡927, p. 27; Chicago Defender, 8 October ¡927; Kansas City Call, 7 October ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, 8 October ¡927; Courier, 8 October ¡927. 57. Chicago Daily Tribune, 4 October ¡927, p. 26; Chicago Defender, 8 October ¡927; Kansas City Call, 7 October ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, 8 October ¡927; Pittsburgh Courier, 8 October ¡927. 58. Chicago Defender, 8 October ¡927; Kansas City Call, 7 October ¡927; Chicago Daily Tribune, 5 October ¡927, p. 24; Baltimore Afro American, 8 October ¡927. 59. Chicago Defender, 8 October ¡927. 60. John Holway, Blackball Stars: Negro League Pioneers (New York: Carroll and Graf, ¡988), pp. 288–289; Chicago Defender, ¡5 October ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, ¡5 October ¡927; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡5 October ¡927. 61. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡¡ October ¡927, p. 25; Chicago Defender, ¡5 October ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, ¡5 October ¡927; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡5 October ¡927. 62. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡2 October ¡927, p. 26; Chicago Defender, ¡5 October ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, ¡5 October ¡927. 63. Chicago Defender, ¡5 October ¡927. 64. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡3 October ¡927; Chicago Defender, 22 October ¡927. 65. Chicago Defender, 22 October ¡927. 66. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡4 October ¡927; Chicago Defender, 22 October ¡927; Baltimore Afro American, 22 October ¡927; Pittsburgh Courier, 22 October ¡927.

¡928 1. Chicago Defender, ¡8, 25 February, 3 March ¡928; New York Age, 3 March ¡928; Baltimore Afro American, 25 February ¡928; Kansas City Call, 2 March ¡928; Pittsburgh Courier, 25 February ¡928; St. Louis Argus, 2 March ¡928. 2. Baltimore Afro American, 25 February ¡928. 3. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7 March ¡928. 4. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7, 24 March ¡928; Baltimore Afro American, ¡7 March ¡928; St. Louis Argus, 23 March ¡928.

Notes

177 5. Pittsburgh Courier, 24 March ¡928. 6. Baltimore Afro American, 3¡ March ¡928. 7. Chicago Defender, 3 ,¡0 March ¡928; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7 March, 28 April ¡928; Baltimore Afro American, 3 March ¡928; Kansas City Call, 9 March ¡928. 8. Chicago Defender, 5 May ¡928; Baltimore Afro American, 5 May ¡928. 9. Chicago Defender, 5 May ¡928. 10. Baltimore Afro American, 5 May ¡928; Chicago Defender, 5 May ¡928. 11. Chicago Defender, 5 May ¡928. 12. Baltimore Afro American, ¡2 May ¡928; Chicago Defender, ¡2 May ¡928. 13. Chicago Defender, ¡2 May ¡928. 14. New York Age, 5 May ¡928; Chicago Defender, 26 May ¡928; Pittsburgh Courier, 28 April, 5 May ¡928; Kansas City Call, ¡8 May ¡928; Baltimore Afro American, 28 April ¡928. 15. Baltimore Afro American, 23 June ¡928. 16. Baltimore Afro American, 26 May ¡928; Chicago Daily Tribune, 2¡ May ¡928. 17. Baltimore Afro American, 26 May ¡928. 18. Chicago Daily Tribune, 28 June ¡928; Chicago Defender, 7 July ¡928. 19. Indianapolis Recorder, ¡4 April ¡928; Chicago Defender, 28 April ¡928. 20. Chicago Defender, 7 July ¡928. 21. Indianapolis Recorder, ¡4 April ¡928; Chicago Defender, 28 April ¡928. 22. Baltimore Afro American, ¡2 May ¡928. 23. Baltimore Afro American, 26 May ¡928. 24. Indianapolis Recorder, ¡4 July ¡928. 25. Chicago Defender, 28 July ¡928. 26. Indianapolis Recorder, 4 August ¡928; Chicago Defender, 4 August ¡928. 27. Indianapolis Recorder, 4 August ¡928. 28. Indianapolis Recorder, 4 August ¡928; Chicago Defender, 7 July ¡928. 29. Indianapolis Recorder, 4 August ¡928. 30. Chicago Defender, 28 April, 7 July ¡928. 31. Kansas City Call, ¡4 September ¡928. 32. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8 August ¡928. 33. California Eagle, 2¡ September ¡928; Chicago Defender, ¡5 September ¡928. 34. Chicago Defender, 8 September ¡928; Kansas City Call, ¡4 September ¡928. 35. Kansas City Call, ¡4 September ¡928. 36. Kansas City Call, ¡4, 2¡, 28 September ¡928; Chicago Defender, 29 September ¡928; Pittsburgh Courier, 29 September ¡928; Chicago Daily Tribune, 23 September ¡928. 37. Chicago Defender, 29 September ¡928; Kansas City Call, 28 September ¡928; Chicago Daily Tribune, 24 September ¡928; Pittsburgh Courier, 29 September ¡928. 38. Chicago Defender, 29 September ¡928; Kansas City Call, 28 September ¡928; Chicago Daily Tribune, 25 September ¡928. 39. Chicago Defender, 29 September ¡929. 40. Kansas City Call, 28 September ¡928. 41. Chicago Defender, 29 September ¡928; Kansas City Call, 28 September ¡928; Chicago Daily Tribune, 26 September ¡928. 42. Chicago Defender, 6 October ¡928; Kansas City Call, ¡4 September, 5 October ¡928; Chicago Daily Tribune, 30 September ¡928. 43. Chicago Defender, 6 October ¡928.

44. Indianapolis Recorder, 6 October ¡928; Chicago Defender, 6 October ¡928; Kansas City Call, 5 October ¡928. 45. Chicago Defender, 6 October ¡928; Chicago Daily Tribune, 3 October ¡928. 46. Chicago Defender, 6 October ¡928. 47. Indianapolis Recorder, ¡3 October ¡928; Chicago Defender, ¡3 October ¡928; Chicago Daily Tribune, 6 October ¡928; Kansas City Call, ¡2 October ¡928. 48. Chicago Defender, ¡0 November ¡928.

¡929 1. Philadelphia Tribune, 24 January ¡929; Pittsburgh Courier, 29 December ¡928, ¡9, 26 January ¡929; New York Amsterdam News, 23 January ¡929; New York Age, 26 January ¡929; Baltimore Afro American, 5 January ¡929; Washington Post, ¡7 January ¡929; Indianapolis Recorder, 2 February ¡929. 2. New York Age, 26 January ¡929. 3. Philadelphia Tribune, 28 February ¡929; New York Amsterdam News, 27 February ¡929; Pittsburgh Courier, 2 March ¡929; Baltimore Afro American, 2 March ¡929. 4. Philadelphia Tribune, 7 March ¡929; Pittsburgh Courier, 2, 9 March ¡929; New York Amsterdam News, 6 March ¡929. 5. Chicago Defender, ¡3 April, 4, ¡¡ May ¡929. 6. Chicago Defender, 4 May ¡929. 7. Chicago Defender, 4 May ¡929; Chicago Daily Tribune, 28 April ¡929. 8. Chicago Defender, 4 May ¡929. 9. Chicago Defender, ¡¡ May ¡929. 10. Norfolk Journal & Guide, 27 April, 4 May ¡929; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡¡ April, 2, 9 May ¡929; Pittsburgh Courier, 30 March, ¡3, 27 April, 4, ¡¡ May, ¡ June ¡929; New York Age, 27 April, 4 May ¡929; Baltimore Afro American, 4 May ¡929; New York Amsterdam News, ¡ May ¡929. 11. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡¡ May ¡929. 12. Philadelphia Tribune, 2 May ¡929. 13. Baltimore Afro American, 8 June ¡929; Pittsburgh Courier, 8, ¡5 June ¡929. 14. New York Amsterdam News, ¡0 July ¡929; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡3 July ¡929; Chicago Defender, ¡3 July ¡929. 15. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡3 July ¡929. 16. Indianapolis Recorder, 3¡ August ¡929; Chicago Defender, 6, ¡3 July ¡929. 17. Chicago Defender, ¡3 July ¡929. 18. Chicago Defender, 6 July ¡929. 19. Chicago Daily Tribune, 30 June ¡929. 20. Chicago Defender, 6 July ¡929. 21. New York Age, ¡3 July ¡929; Richard Bak, Turkey Stearnes and the Detroit Stars (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, ¡995), pp. ¡84–86. 22. Bak, p. ¡84. 23. Chicago Defender, 20 July ¡929. 24. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡, 8 August ¡929; Baltimore Afro American, 27 July, 3, ¡0 August ¡929. 25. Baltimore Afro American, 27 July ¡929. 26. Baltimore Afro American, 3 August ¡929. 27. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 August ¡929. 28. New York Age, 7 September ¡929; Pittsburgh Courier, 7 September ¡929.

Notes 29. New York Age, 7 September ¡929. 30. Pittsburgh Courier, 7 September ¡929. 31. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡4 September ¡929; Norfolk Journal & Guide, 2¡ September ¡929; Baltimore Afro American, 2¡ September ¡929; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡9 September ¡929. 32. Norfolk Journal & Guide, 2¡ September ¡929. 33. Pittsburgh Courier, 28 September ¡929. 34. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡2 September ¡929; Indianapolis Recorder, 3¡ August ¡929; Chicago Defender, 7, 28 September ¡929. 35. Chicago Defender, 7 September ¡929.

¡930 1. Chicago Defender, 25 January ¡930; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8, 25 January ¡930; Indianapolis Recorder, 4 January ¡930. 2. Pittsburgh Courier, 25 January ¡930. 3. Pittsburgh Courier, 22 February ¡930, ¡ March ¡930; Baltimore Afro American, ¡ March ¡930. 4. Pittsburgh Courier, 22 February ¡930. 5. Baltimore Afro American, ¡ March ¡930. 6. Chicago Defender, ¡5, 29 March ¡930; Baltimore Afro American, 4 April ¡930. 7. Baltimore Afro American, 5 April ¡930. 8. Chicago Defender, 29 March ¡930. 9. Chicago Defender, ¡2 April, 3 May ¡930; Baltimore Afro American, 5 April ¡930. 10. Chicago Defender, 3 May ¡930. 11. Chicago Defender, 3 May ¡930; Chicago Daily Tribune, 27 April ¡930; Baltimore Afro American, 5 April ¡930. 12. Chicago Defender, ¡2 April ¡930; Baltimore Afro American, 5 April ¡930. 13. Chicago Defender, ¡2, 26 April, ¡7 May ¡930. 14. Chicago Defender, ¡7 May ¡930. 15. Chicago Defender, ¡7 May ¡930. 16. Pittsburgh Courier, 2 August ¡930; Chicago Defender, ¡0, ¡7 May ¡930. 17. Chicago Defender, 22 March ¡930. 18. Chicago Defender, ¡7 May ¡930. 19. Chicago Defender, 29 March, 3 May ¡930; Baltimore Afro American, 5 April ¡930; Janet Bruce, The Kansas City Monarchs: Champions of Black Baseball (Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, ¡985), p. 69; Leslie A. Heaphy, The Negro Leagues, ¡869–¡960 (Je›erson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2003), p. ¡¡7; G. Edward White, Creating the National Pastime: Baseball Transforms Itself, ¡903–¡953 (Princeton: Princeton University Press, ¡996), pp. ¡60, ¡64; Benjamin G. Rader, Baseball: A History of America’s Game (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2002), p. ¡52. 20. Chicago Defender, 2¡, 28 June ¡930; Chicago Daily Tribune, 22 June ¡930. 21. Chicago Defender, 28 June ¡930. 22. New York Amsterdam News, 9 July ¡930; New York Age, 2¡ June, 5, ¡2 July ¡930; Pittsburgh Courier, 5, ¡2 July ¡930; New York Times, 29 June, 6 July ¡930; Baltimore Afro American, ¡2 July ¡930. 23. Chicago Defender, ¡2 July ¡930. 24. Pittsburgh Courier, 9 August ¡930; Chicago Defender, 9 August ¡930, ¡¡ April ¡93¡. 25. Pittsburgh Courier, 9 August ¡930. 26. Chicago Defender, 6 September ¡930.

178 27. Pittsburgh Courier, 20 September ¡930; Chicago Defender, 20 September ¡930. 28. Chicago Defender, 20 September ¡930. 29. Chicago Defender, 20 September ¡930; Pittsburgh Courier, 20 September ¡930. 30. Chicago Defender, 20 September ¡930. 31. Pittsburgh Courier, 27 September ¡930. 32. Pittsburgh Courier, 27 September ¡930; Chicago Defender, 27 September ¡930. 33. Pittsburgh Courier, 27 September ¡930; Chicago Defender, 27 September ¡930. 34. Chicago Defender, 27 September ¡930. 35. Chicago Defender, 27 September ¡930. 36. Philadelphia Tribune, 25 September, 2 October ¡930; New York Amsterdam News, 24 September ¡930; New York Age, ¡3 September ¡930; Pittsburgh Courier, 20, 27 September, October 4 ¡930. 37. Philadelphia Tribune, 2 October ¡930. 38. New York Age, ¡3 September, 4 October ¡930; Pittsburgh Courier, 4 October ¡930; New York Amsterdam News, ¡ October ¡930. 39. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6 May ¡93¡, 9 May ¡942. 40. Pittsburgh Courier, 20 December ¡930; Chicago Defender, ¡3, 20 December ¡930; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡¡ December ¡930.

¡93¡ 1. Pittsburgh Courier, 3¡ January ¡93¡; Chicago Defender, 3¡ January ¡93¡; Baltimore Afro American, 24 January ¡93¡. 2. Chicago Defender, 3¡ January ¡93¡. 3. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡5 August ¡93¡; Baltimore Afro American, ¡¡ April, 2 May ¡93¡; Philadelphia Tribune, 30 April ¡93¡. 4. Chicago Defender, 27 June ¡93¡. 5. Indianapolis Recorder, 9 May ¡93¡. 6. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡ June ¡93¡; Chicago Defender, ¡5, 29 August ¡93¡; Pittsburgh Courier, 25 July ¡93¡. 7. Baltimore Afro American, 23, 30 May ¡93¡. 8. Baltimore Afro American, 23 May ¡93¡. 9. Chicago Defender, 27 June ¡93¡. 10. Indianapolis Recorder, 4 July ¡93¡. 11. Baltimore Afro American, ¡2 September ¡93¡. 12. Baltimore Afro American, ¡2 September ¡93¡. 13. Chicago Defender, ¡2 December ¡93¡.

¡932 1. Philadelphia Tribune, 2¡, 28 January ¡932; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6 January ¡932; Chicago Defender, 23 January ¡932. 2. Chicago Defender, 30 January ¡932. 3. Pittsburgh Courier, 30 January ¡932. 4. Baltimore Afro American, 5 March ¡932. 5. New York Age, 20 February ¡932; Philadelphia Tribune, 3 March ¡932. 6. Philadelphia Tribune, 3 March ¡932. 7. New York Age, ¡2 March ¡932; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡0 March ¡932; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡2, ¡9 March ¡932. 8. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡9 March ¡932.

Notes

179 9. Chicago Defender, 26 March ¡932. 10. Pittsburgh Courier, 30 April, 7 May ¡932; James Semler, “History of New York Black Yankees,” Colored Baseball and Sports Monthly, September ¡934, p. 9. 11. Pittsburgh Courier, 30 April, 7 May ¡932. 12. Pittsburgh Courier, 9, 23, 30 April, 9 July ¡932. 13. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 December ¡938. 14. Chicago Defender, 26 March, 30 April, ¡4 May ¡932; Baltimore Afro American, 9 April, ¡4 May ¡932; Washington Post, 8 May ¡932; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6, 23 April, ¡4 May ¡932; New York Amsterdam News, ¡8 May ¡932. 15. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡4 May ¡932. 16. Baltimore Afro American, 23 February, ¡6, 30 April ¡932; Philadelphia Tribune, 3 March ¡932; New York Amsterdam News, ¡8 May ¡932; New York Age, 23 April ¡932; Pittsburgh Courier, 23, 30 April ¡932. 17. Pittsburgh Courier, 23 April ¡932. 18. Pittsburgh Courier, 28 May ¡932; Baltimore Afro American, 30 April, 4 June ¡932. 19. Philadelphia Tribune, 23 June, 28 July ¡932; Baltimore Afro American, 30 July ¡932. 20. Philadelphia Tribune, 28 July ¡932. 21. Baltimore Afro American, 3¡ December ¡932. 22. Baltimore Afro American, ¡¡, ¡8, 25 June, 9 July ¡932; Pittsburgh Courier, 28 May, ¡¡, 25 June, ¡6 July ¡932, 9 February ¡935; Indianapolis Recorder, 2 July ¡932; Chicago Defender, ¡¡, 25 June ¡932; New York Age, ¡8 June ¡932; New York Amsterdam News, 29 June ¡932. 23. Indianapolis Recorder, 2 July ¡932. 24. Chicago Defender, ¡6 July ¡932; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6 July ¡932; Baltimore Afro American, ¡6 July ¡932; Kyle McNary, Ted “Double Duty” Radcli›e: 36 Years of Pitching and Catching in Baseball’s Negro Leagues (Minneapolis: McNary Publishing, ¡994), p. 68; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡4 July ¡932. 25. Chicago Defender, 30 July ¡932; Pittsburgh Courier, 30 July ¡932; Baltimore Afro American, 30 July ¡932. 26. Chicago Defender, 30 July ¡932. 27. Washington Post, 26 July ¡932. 28. Baltimore Afro American, 30 July, 6 August ¡932; Washington Post, 25, 26 July ¡932. 29. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡3, 20 August ¡932. 30. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0, 24 September ¡932; Chicago Defender, ¡0, 24 September ¡932. 31. Pittsburgh Courier, 24 September ¡932.

1933 1. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡4, 2¡ January ¡933; Chicago Defender, 7, ¡4 January ¡933. 2. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡4 January ¡933. 3. (New York) Daily News, ¡, 8 February ¡933; Los Angeles Times, 5 February ¡933; New York Times, 6 February ¡933; New York World Tribune, 7 February ¡933; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8 March ¡933, 27 January ¡934; Baltimore Afro American, ¡8 February ¡933; Chicago Defender, ¡8, 25 February ¡933; New York Age, ¡8 February ¡933; Norfolk Journal & Guide, ¡8 February ¡933. 4. Pittsburgh Courier, 2¡ January, ¡8, 25 February, 4 March ¡933; Chicago Defender, 25 February ¡933; Indianapolis Recorder, ¡8 February ¡933. 5. Chicago Defender, 25 February ¡933.

6. Pittsburgh Courier, 25 February ¡933. 7. New York Amsterdam News, 5 August ¡944. 8. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8 March ¡933. 9. Pittsburgh Courier, 29 April, 6 May ¡933; Indianapolis Recorder, 6 May ¡933. 10. Pittsburgh Courier, 6 May ¡933. 11. Pittsburgh Courier, 6 May ¡933. 12. Pittsburgh Courier, 29 April ¡933. 13. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8 March, 29 April, 3 June ¡933; New York Age, 6 May ¡933; Chicago Defender, ¡3 May ¡933. 14. Chicago Defender, ¡3 May ¡933. 15. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡3, 20, 27 May, 3, ¡0 June ¡933; Chicago Defender, 6, ¡3, 20, 27 May, 22 July ¡933; Chicago Daily Tribune, 30 May, 7 June ¡933; Indianapolis Recorder, 27 May ¡933. 16. Pittsburgh Courier, 3, ¡0 June ¡933. 17. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡ July ¡933; Chicago Defender, ¡ July ¡933. 18. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡ July ¡933. 19. Pittsburgh Courier, 8 July ¡933. 20. Chicago Defender, ¡ July ¡933. 21. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡5 July ¡933. 22. Philadelphia Tribune, 20 July ¡933. 23. Chicago Daily Tribune, 9 September ¡933. 24. Baltimore Afro American, 9 September ¡939; Pittsburgh Courier, 3 August ¡940, 26 July ¡94¡, 29 May, ¡5 August ¡942. 25. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡0, ¡¡ September ¡933; Kansas City Call, ¡4, ¡5 September ¡933 in Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: The East-West Game, ¡933–¡953 (Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡), pp. 29–30; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6 September ¡933 in Lester, pp. 3¡–34; Chicago Defender, ¡6 September ¡933 in Lester, pp. 30–3¡. 26. Philadelphia Tribune, 5 October ¡933; Baltimore Afro American, 7 October ¡933. 27. Indianapolis Recorder, 30 September ¡933; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6, 23 September ¡933; Philadelphia Tribune, 5 October ¡933; Baltimore Afro American, 7 October ¡933. 28. Pittsburgh Courier, 27 January ¡934.

1934 1. Pittsburgh Courier, 6, ¡3, 20, 27 January ¡934. 2. Pittsburgh Courier, 20 January ¡934. 3. Pittsburgh Courier, 27 January, 3, ¡0, ¡7, 24 February ¡934; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡5 February ¡934; Call and Post, ¡7 February ¡934; Washington Tribune, 22 February ¡934. 4. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7 February ¡934. 5. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡5 February ¡934. 6. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7, 24 March ¡934; Chicago Defender, ¡7 March ¡934; St. Louis Argus, ¡6 March, 27 April ¡934; Kansas City Call, ¡6 March ¡934; Washington Tribune, ¡5 March ¡934. 7. Baltimore Afro American, ¡7 March ¡934. 8. Pittsburgh Courier, 24 March ¡934; Chicago Defender, 24 March ¡934; Baltimore Afro American, 24 March ¡934; Call and Post, 24 March ¡934. 9. Chicago Defender, 24 March ¡934; Pittsburgh Courier, 24 March ¡934. 10. Chicago Defender, 24 March ¡934; Pittsburgh Courier, 24 March ¡934.

Notes 11. Pittsburgh Courier, 2¡ April ¡934; Chicago Defender, 2¡ April ¡934. 12. Pittsburgh Courier, 28 April ¡934. 13. Buck Leonard with James A. Riley, Buck Leonard: The Black Lou Gehrig (New York : Carroll & Graf, ¡995), pp. 33–34. 14. New York Amsterdam News, 5 May ¡934; New York Age, 5 May ¡934; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡2 May ¡934. 15. Pittsburgh Courier, 26 May ¡934. 16. New York Amsterdam News, ¡2 May ¡934; Baltimore Afro American, ¡9 May ¡934; Chicago Defender, ¡9 May ¡934; Indianapolis Recorder, ¡2 May ¡934; Kansas City Call, ¡8 May ¡934; Pittsburgh Courier, 5, ¡2, ¡9, 26 May ¡934; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡7 May ¡934. 17. Pittsburgh Courier, 26 May ¡934. 18. Washington Tribune, 29 March ¡934. 19. Chicago Daily Tribune, 20 May ¡934. 20. Pittsburgh Courier, 7 July ¡934. 21. Chicago Defender, 30 June, 7, ¡4 July ¡934; Pittsburgh Courier, 30 June, 7 July ¡934; Baltimore Afro American, 7 July ¡934; Call and Post, ¡4 July ¡934. 22. Pittsburgh Courier, 7 July ¡934. 23. Chicago Defender, ¡4 July ¡934. 24. Pittsburgh Courier, 7 July ¡934; Baltimore Afro American, ¡4 July ¡934. 25. Pittsburgh Courier, 7 July ¡934. 26. Pittsburgh Courier, 7 July ¡934. 27. Baltimore Afro American, ¡4 July ¡934. 28. Pittsburgh Courier, 7, ¡4 July ¡934; Baltimore Afro American, ¡4 July ¡934. 29. Chicago Defender, 7, ¡4 July ¡934; New York Amsterdam News, 9 June ¡934; Indianapolis Recorder, 7 July ¡934. 30. Indianapolis Recorder, 7 July ¡934. 31. Kansas City Call, 3¡ August ¡934; Chicago Daily Tribune, 26, 27 August ¡934; Chicago Defender, ¡ September ¡934 in Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: The East-West All-Star Game, ¡933–¡953 (Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡), pp. 59–60; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡ September ¡934, in Lester, pp. 57–9. 32. Washington Tribune, 8 September ¡934; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡5 September ¡934; Indianapolis Recorder, 7 July ¡934. 33. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡5 September ¡934; Colored Baseball & Sports Monthly, October ¡934, 8; New York Daily News, ¡0 September ¡934; New York Age, ¡5 September ¡934; New York Amsterdam News, ¡5 September ¡934; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡3 September ¡934. 34. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡5 September ¡934; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡5 September ¡934. 35. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡5 September ¡934. 36. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡5 September ¡934. 37. Philadelphia Tribune, 20 September ¡934; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡5, ¡7 September ¡934; Chicago Defender, 22 September ¡934; Pittsburgh Courier, 22 September ¡934. 38. Philadelphia Tribune, 20 September ¡934; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡8 September ¡934; Chicago Defender, 22 September ¡934; Pittsburgh Courier, 22 September ¡934. 39. Chicago Defender, 6 October ¡934; Philadelphia Tribune, 27 September, 4 October ¡934. 40. Philadelphia Tribune, 4 October ¡934. 41. Philadelphia Tribune, 4 October ¡934. 42. Chicago Defender, 6 October ¡934; Philadelphia Tribune, 27 September, 4, ¡¡ October, 8, ¡5 November ¡934; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡3 October ¡934.

180 43. Pittsburgh Courier, 6 October ¡934; New York Amsterdam News, 29 September, 6 October ¡934; Philadelphia Tribune, 4 October ¡934; New York Times, ¡ October ¡934. 44. New York Amsterdam News, 29 September ¡934. 45. Philadelphia Inquirer, 2 October ¡934. 46. Philadelphia Inquirer, 3 October ¡934; Philadelphia Tribune, 4 October ¡934.

1935 1. New York Age, ¡9 January ¡935; Baltimore Afro American, ¡9 January ¡935; New York Times, ¡¡ January ¡935; Chicago Defender, ¡9 January ¡935. 2. New York Amsterdam News, ¡9 January ¡935. 3. Philadelphia Tribune, 23 December ¡937. 4. Philadelphia Independent, 2 February ¡935; New York Amsterdam News, ¡9, 26 January ¡935; Chicago Defender, ¡9 January ¡935; New York Age, 5, ¡9 January ¡935; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡2 January ¡935; Baltimore Afro American, ¡9 January ¡935. 5. New York Amsterdam News, 26 January ¡935. 6. Philadelphia Independent, ¡0 March ¡935; New York Amsterdam News, 30 March, 6 April ¡935; New York Age, 2, ¡6 March ¡935; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6 March ¡935; Baltimore Afro American, ¡6 March ¡935. 7. New York Age, ¡6 March, ¡¡ May ¡935; Chicago Defender, 23 March, ¡¡ May, ¡935; Pittsburgh Courier, 27 April, ¡¡, 25 May ¡935; Chicago Daily Tribune, 5, 6 May ¡935; Baltimore Afro American, 4 May ¡935. 8. Chicago Defender, ¡¡ May ¡935. 9. Baltimore Afro American, ¡ June ¡935; Indianapolis Recorder, 25 May ¡935. 10. Chicago Defender, ¡8 May ¡935. 11. Kyle McNary, Ted “Double Duty” Radcli›e: 36 Years of Pitching & Catching in Baseball’s Negro Leagues (Minneapolis: McNary Publishing, ¡994), 99, ¡0¡; Bismarck Tribune, ¡2 September ¡935; Leslie A. Heaphy, The Negro Leagues, ¡869–¡960 (Je›erson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2003), ¡49; Pittsburgh Courier, 6, 20 April ¡935. 12. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8 January ¡936. 13. Chicago Defender, ¡8 May ¡935; New York Age, 25 May ¡935; E›a Manley and Leon Herbert Hardwick, Negro Baseball Before Integration (Chicago: Adams Press, ¡976), 43–44. 14. New York Age, 25 May ¡935. 15. Manley and Hardwick, 43–44. 16. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡3 June ¡935; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡¡ June ¡935. 17. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡¡ June ¡935. 18. New York Amsterdam News, ¡3, 20 July ¡935; New York Age, 6 July ¡935; Pittsburgh Courier, 6 July ¡935; Baltimore Afro American, ¡3 July ¡935. 19. Baltimore Afro American, ¡3 July ¡935. 20. Chicago Defender, 3 August ¡935. 2¡. New York Times, ¡2 August ¡935; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡¡, ¡2 August ¡935; Chicago Defender, ¡7 August ¡935 in Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: The East-West All-Star Game, ¡933–¡953 (Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡), 73–6; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7 August ¡935 in Lester, 72–3. 22. Buck Leonard with James A. Riley, Buck Leonard: The Black Lou Gehrig (New York : Carroll & Graf, ¡995), 63.

Notes

181 23. McNary, 99, ¡¡2–¡3; Bismarck Tribune, ¡2, 28 August ¡935; New York Amsterdam News, 7, 2¡ September ¡935; Baltimore Afro American, ¡4 September ¡935; Los Angeles Times, ¡¡ September ¡935. 24. McNary, ¡¡4. 25. Chicago Daily Tribune, 25 August ¡935; Chicago Defender, 3¡ August ¡935. 26. Chicago Defender, 3¡ August ¡935. 27. New York Amsterdam News, 7 September ¡935; New York Age, 7 September ¡935. 28. New York Age, 7 September ¡935. 29. New York Amsterdam News, 7 September ¡935. 30. Chicago Defender, ¡4 September ¡935; New York Amsterdam News, 7, 2¡ September ¡935; New York Age, 2¡ September ¡935; Baltimore Afro American, 2¡ September ¡935. 31. New York Age, 2¡ September ¡935. 32. Chicago Defender, ¡4 September ¡935; New York Age, 2¡ September ¡935; Pittsburgh Courier, 2¡ September ¡935; Baltimore Afro American, 2¡ September ¡935. 33. Baltimore Afro American, 2¡ September ¡935. 34. Baltimore Afro American, 2¡ September ¡935; New York Amsterdam News, 7, 2¡ September ¡935; Chicago Defender, ¡4, 2¡ September ¡935; New York Age, 2¡ September ¡935; Pittsburgh Courier, 2¡ September ¡935. 35. New York Amsterdam News, 28 September ¡935; Pittsburgh Courier, 2¡ September ¡935. 36. New York Amsterdam News, 28 September ¡935. 37. Pittsburgh Courier, 2¡ September ¡935. 38. Philadelphia Tribune, 26 September ¡935; New York Age, 28 September ¡935. 39. New York Age, 28 September ¡935; New York Amsterdam News, 28 September ¡935; Philadelphia Tribune, 26 September ¡935. 40. Philadelphia Tribune, 26 September ¡935. 41. New York Amsterdam News, 28 September ¡935; Baltimore Afro American, 28 September ¡935; New York Age, 28 September ¡935; Pittsburgh Courier, 28 September ¡935; Philadelphia Tribune, 26 September ¡935. 42. New York Amsterdam News, 28 September ¡935; New York Age, 28 September ¡935; New York Times, 23 September ¡935; Chicago Defender, 28 September ¡935; Pittsburgh Courier, 28 September ¡935. 43. New York Amsterdam News, 28 September ¡935. 44. Pittsburgh Courier, 28 December ¡935. 45. Chicago Daily Tribune, 23 September ¡935.

Courier, 4 April ¡936; New York Age, ¡6 May ¡936; Chicago Defender, ¡¡ April ¡936. 7. New York Age, ¡6 May ¡936. 8. New York Age, ¡6 May ¡936; Baltimore Afro American, ¡6 May ¡936; New York Amsterdam News, ¡6 May ¡936; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6 May ¡936. 9. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡¡ June ¡936; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡3 June ¡936. 10. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡3 June ¡936. 11. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡3 June ¡936. 12. New York Amsterdam News 27 June ¡936; Pittsburgh Courier, 27 June ¡936; Chicago Defender, 27 June ¡936. 13. Baltimore Afro American, 28 March ¡936; Chicago Defender, ¡¡ April ¡936; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡6, 30 July, 6, 20 August, 3 September ¡936; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8, 25 July, ¡, 8, 29 August ¡936. 14. Philadelphia Tribune, 3 September ¡936. 15. Chicago Defender, ¡ August ¡936; Philadelphia Tribune, 20 August ¡936; Lincoln (Neb.) Evening Journal, ¡2 August ¡936; Jay Sanford, The Denver Post Tournament (Cleveland: Society for American Baseball Research, 2003), 56–7. 16. Philadelphia Tribune, 20 August ¡936. 17. Lincoln (Neb.) Evening Journal, ¡2 August ¡936. 18. Sanford, 56. 19. Chicago Daily Tribune, 24 August ¡936; Pittsburgh Courier, in Lester 29 August ¡936; Philadelphia Tribune, 27 August ¡936. 20. Pittsburgh Courier, 5 September ¡936. 21. Philadelphia Tribune, 2 July ¡936; New York Age, 27 June ¡936. 22. Baltimore Afro American, ¡9 September ¡936. 23. Philadelphia Tribune, 3, 24 September ¡936; Pittsburgh Courier, 26 September ¡936; Chicago Defender, 5 September ¡936. 24. Philadelphia Tribune, 24 September ¡936. 25. Philadelphia Tribune, 3 September ¡936; New York Age, 26 September ¡936; New York Amsterdam News, 26 September ¡936; New York Times, 2¡ September ¡936. 26. New York Age, 26 September ¡936. 27. Chicago Defender, ¡ May ¡937; Pittsburgh Courier, 26 September, 3¡ October ¡936; New York Age, ¡7 October ¡936.

1936

1. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6, 30 January ¡937; New York Age, 23 January ¡937; New York Amsterdam News, 23 January ¡937; Baltimore Afro American, 23 January, ¡3 February ¡937. 2. Pittsburgh Courier, 6 March ¡937; Kansas City Call, 26 February ¡937; Chicago Defender, 20, 27 February, 27 March ¡937. 3. Chicago Defender, 27 February ¡937. 4. Chicago Defender, 27 March ¡937. 5. Call and Post, 30 June ¡945. 6. Pittsburgh Courier, 27 March ¡937; Baltimore Afro American, 27 March ¡937; New York Amsterdam News, 27 March ¡937. 7. New York Amsterdam News, 27 March ¡937. 8. Chicago Defender, 27 February ¡937. 9. Chicago Defender, 27 February, 3 April, ¡5 May ¡937; Indianapolis Recorder, ¡5 May ¡937; Pittsburgh

1. New York Amsterdam News 4, ¡8 January, ¡ February ¡936; Chicago Defender ¡¡, ¡8 January, ¡, 8 February ¡936; New York Age, ¡ February ¡936; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡, 8 February ¡936. 2. Chicago Defender, 8 February ¡936. 3. New York Age, ¡4 March ¡936; New York Amsterdam News ¡4 March ¡936; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡4 March ¡936; Baltimore Afro American, ¡4 March ¡936. 4. Chicago Defender, ¡¡ April ¡936; Pittsburgh Courier, 28 March ¡936; Baltimore Afro American, ¡4, 28 March ¡936. 5. Pittsburgh Courier, 28 March ¡936. 6. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡4 May ¡936; Baltimore Afro American, 28 March, ¡6 May ¡936; Pittsburgh

1937

Notes Courier, ¡5 May ¡937. ¡0. Pittsburgh Courier, 22 May ¡937; New York Amsterdam News, 22 May ¡937. ¡¡. Pittsburgh Courier, 22 May ¡937. ¡2. Pittsburgh Courier, 22 May ¡937; New York Amsterdam News, 22 May ¡937. ¡3. Pittsburgh Courier, 22 May ¡937. ¡4. Pittsburgh Courier, 22 May ¡937; New York Amsterdam News, 22 May ¡937. ¡5. Pittsburgh Courier, 22 May ¡937. ¡6. James A. Riley, Dandy, Day and the Devil (Cocoa, Fla.: TK Publishers, ¡987) , 7, 36. ¡7. Baltimore Afro American, 3 April ¡937. ¡8. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡7 June ¡937; Philadelphia Tribune, 29 April ¡937; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡, 22 May, ¡2 June ¡937; Rob Ruck, Sandlot Seasons: Sport in Black Pittsburgh (Urbana: University of Illinois, ¡993), ¡6¡–2; Donn Rogosin, Invisible Men: Life in Baseball’s Negro Leagues (New York : Kodansha, ¡995), ¡66–7; Buck Leonard with James A. Riley, Buck Leonard: The Black Lou Gehrig (New York: Carroll & Graf, ¡995), 8¡–2; Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: The East-West All-Star Game, ¡933–¡953 (Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡), 98–9. ¡9. Kansas City Call, 2¡ May ¡937. 20. Kansas City Call, 2¡ May ¡937; Chicago Defender, 22 May ¡937. 2¡. Kansas City Call, 2¡ May ¡937. 22. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡2 June ¡937. 23. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡2 June ¡937; New York Amsterdam News, 26 June ¡937. 24. Chicago Defender, ¡0 July ¡937; Kansas City Call, ¡6 July ¡937. 25. Chicago Defender, ¡7 July ¡937. 26. Chicago Defender, 7 August ¡937. 27. Chicago Defender, 3¡ September ¡937. 28. Chicago Defender, ¡0 July ¡937. 29. Chicago Daily Tribune, 9 August ¡937; New York Times, 9 August ¡937; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡4 August ¡937 in Lester, ¡03–4. 30. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡4 August ¡937 in Lester, ¡03–4. 3¡. Lester, ¡00–¡0¡; Rogosin, ¡40–4¡; Chicago Defender, ¡4, 2¡ August ¡937; Evening State Journal (Neb.), ¡0 August ¡937; Philadelphia Tribune, 22 July ¡937. 32. Chicago Daily Tribune, 6 September ¡937; Chicago Defender, ¡¡ September ¡937. 33. Chicago Defender, ¡¡ September ¡937. 34. Chicago Defender, ¡¡ September ¡937. 35. Kansas City Call, ¡7 September ¡937. 36. Chicago Defender, ¡¡, ¡8 September ¡937; Kansas City Call, ¡7 September ¡937; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡2, ¡3 September ¡937. 37. Chicago Defender, ¡¡, 25 September ¡937; Kansas City Call, ¡7, 24 September ¡937; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡2 September ¡937. 38. Chicago Defender, 25 September ¡937. 39. Baltimore Afro American, 25 September ¡937; New York Age, 25 September ¡937; Pittsburgh Courier, 25 September ¡937; Philadelphia Tribune, 23 September ¡937; New York Times, ¡9 September ¡937. 40. Pittsburgh Courier, 25 September ¡937; Chicago Daily Tribune, 20 September ¡937; Chicago Defender, 25 September ¡937. 4¡. Chicago Defender, 25 September ¡937. 42. Indianapolis Recorder, 25 September ¡937. 43. Pittsburgh Courier, 2 October ¡937.

182 44. Philadelphia Tribune, 23, 30 September ¡937. 45. Baltimore Afro American, 25 September, 2 October ¡937; Pittsburgh Courier, 2 October ¡937. 46. New York Times, 27 September ¡937; Baltimore Afro American, 2 October ¡937; Philadelphia Tribune, 30 September ¡937. 47. Chicago Defender, ¡¡, ¡8 December ¡937.

1938 1. New York Age, ¡5 January ¡938; Pittsburgh Courier, 8, 22, 29 January, 5 February ¡938; Philadelphia Tribune, 3, ¡0 February, ¡0 March ¡938; Baltimore Afro American, 5 February ¡938. 2. New York Age, ¡5 January ¡938. 3. Pittsburgh Courier, 26 February ¡938; Chicago Daily Tribune, 20 February ¡938; Chicago Defender, 26 February ¡938. 4. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡0 March ¡938; New York Amsterdam News, ¡2 March ¡938; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡2 March ¡938; Baltimore Afro American, ¡2 March ¡938. 5. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡0 March ¡938. 6. Chicago Defender, 23 April ¡938. 7. Atlanta Daily World, ¡4 May ¡938; Kansas City Call, 4 March ¡938; Chicago Defender, 5 March ¡938. 8. Atlanta Daily World, ¡4 May ¡938. 9. Atlanta Daily World, 3 April ¡938. 10. Atlanta Daily World, 3, 8 April ¡938; Chicago Defender, 2 April ¡938. 11. Chicago Defender, ¡6 April ¡938. 12. Chicago Defender, 5 March, ¡4, 28 May ¡938; Pittsburgh Courier, 30 April ¡938; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡6 May ¡938; Kansas City Call, 20 May ¡938. 13. Kansas City Call, 20 May ¡938. 14. Chicago Defender, 2¡ May ¡938. 15. Pittsburgh Courier, 2¡ May ¡938; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡9 May ¡938; New York Age, 2¡ May ¡938. 16. New York Amsterdam News, 2¡ May ¡938; Baltimore Afro American, 2¡ May ¡938. 17. New York Amsterdam News, 2¡ May ¡938; Baltimore Afro American, 2¡ May ¡938. 18. Pittsburgh Courier, 2¡ May ¡938. 19. New York Age, 2¡ May ¡938; New York Amsterdam News, 2¡ May ¡938; Pittsburgh Courier, 2¡ May ¡938; Baltimore Afro American, 2¡ May ¡938. 20. Baltimore Afro American, ¡2 March ¡938. 21. New York Times, 22, 27 June ¡938; Philadelphia Tribune, 23, 30 June ¡938. 22. New York Times, 27 June ¡938; New York Age, 2 April ¡938; New York Amsterdam News, 9 July ¡938. 23. Atlanta Daily World, ¡, 8 July ¡938; Kansas City Call, 24 June, 8 July ¡938; Chicago Defender, 9 July ¡938 24. Atlanta Daily World, 8 July ¡938. 25. Chicago Defender, 9 July ¡938. 26. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6 July ¡938. 27. Chicago Defender, ¡6 July ¡938. 28. Zanesville (Ohio) Signal, 29 July ¡938; The Times Recorder (Zanesville, Ohio), 28 July ¡938; Atlanta Daily World, 5 August ¡938. 29. Zanesville (Ohio) Signal, 29 July ¡938. 30. Atlanta Daily World, 5 August ¡938. 31. Chicago Daily Tribune, 22 August ¡938; Chicago Daily News, 22 August ¡938, in Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: The East-West All-Star

Notes

183 Game, ¡933–¡953 (Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡), ¡¡4–¡5; Chicago Defender, 27 August ¡938, in Lester, ¡¡5–¡7. 32. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 September ¡938; Philadelphia Tribune, 7 July, ¡5, 22 September ¡938. 33. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡5, 22 ¡938. 34. Chicago Defender, ¡0 September ¡938; Kansas City Call, 9 September ¡938. 35. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7 September ¡938. 36. Atlanta Daily World, ¡9 September ¡938; Chicago Defender, 24 September ¡938. 37. Chicago Defender, ¡7, 24 September, ¡ October ¡938. 38. Chicago Defender, ¡7 December ¡938. 39. New York Amsterdam News, ¡ October ¡938; New York Times, 2¡, 26 September ¡938; Chicago Defender ¡5 October ¡938. 40. Chicago Defender, ¡5 October ¡938. 41. Chicago Defender, ¡0 December ¡938. 42. New York Amsterdam News, 30 April ¡938. 43. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 December ¡938. 44. Atlanta Daily World, ¡5 December ¡938; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7 December ¡938, 2¡ January ¡939; Chicago Defender, ¡7 December ¡938; Chicago Defender, ¡0 December ¡938, ¡4 January ¡939.

27. New York Amsterdam News, 5 August ¡939. 28. Chicago Daily Tribune, 29, 30 July ¡939; Chicago Defender, 5 August ¡939. 29. Chicago Defender, 5 August ¡939. 30. Chicago Daily Tribune, 7 August ¡939; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡2 August ¡939 in Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: The East-West All-Star Game, ¡933–¡953 (Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡), ¡28–29; Chicago Defender, ¡2 August ¡939 in Lester, ¡25–28. 31. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡2 August ¡939 in Lester, ¡28–29. 32. New York Times, 28 August ¡939; New York Amsterdam News, 26 August, 2 September ¡939; Chicago Defender, 2 September ¡939. 33. New York Amsterdam News, 26 August ¡939. 34. Chicago Defender, 2, 9 September, ¡¡ November ¡939. 35. Baltimore Afro American, 9 September ¡939. 36. New York Times, 25 September ¡939; Pittsburgh Courier, 30 September ¡939; New York Amsterdam News, 30 September ¡939. 37. New York Amsterdam News, 30 September ¡939. 38. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6 December ¡939; Chicago Defender, ¡¡ November, ¡6 December ¡939. 39. Chicago Defender, 3 February ¡940.

¡939

¡940

1. Chicago Defender, ¡¡, ¡8 February ¡939; Call and Post, 23 February ¡939. 2. Chicago Defender, ¡8 February ¡939. 3. New York Amsterdam News, ¡¡, 25 February ¡939; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8, 25 February ¡939; Baltimore Afro American, ¡8, 25 February ¡939. 4. Pittsburgh Courier, 25 February ¡939. 5. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 December ¡938. 6. Pittsburgh Courier, 8 April ¡939. 7. Pittsburgh Courier, 22 April ¡939. 8. Leslie A. Heaphy, The Negro Leagues, ¡869–¡960 (Je›erson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2003), 93. 9. Pittsburgh Courier, 20 May ¡939. 10. New York Amsterdam News, 27 May ¡939. 11. Pittsburgh Courier, 20 May ¡939; New York Amsterdam News, 20 May ¡939. 12. Pittsburgh Courier, 22 April ¡939. 13. Indianapolis Recorder, 20 May ¡939; Call and Post, ¡8 May ¡939; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡3 May ¡939; Chicago Defender, ¡5 April ¡939. 14. Indianapolis Recorder, 20 May ¡939. 15. New York Amsterdam News, ¡7 June ¡939; Baltimore Afro American, ¡0 June ¡939. 16. Baltimore Afro American, ¡0 June ¡939. 17. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡9 June ¡939. 18. Pittsburgh Courier, 24 June ¡939. 19. Atlanta Daily World, 2 March ¡940. 20. Chicago Defender, ¡ July ¡939. 21. Call and Post, ¡3 July ¡939; Chicago Daily Tribune, 5 July ¡939; Chicago Defender, ¡5 July ¡939. 22. New York Amsterdam News, 22 September ¡939. 23. Baltimore Afro American, ¡ July ¡939; New York Amsterdam News, ¡7 June ¡939. 24. New York Amsterdam News, 22 July ¡939. 25. Pittsburgh Courier, 29 July ¡939; New York Amsterdam News, 5 August ¡939. 26. Pittsburgh Courier, 29 July ¡939.

1. New York Amsterdam News, ¡0 February ¡940; Baltimore Afro American, ¡0 February ¡940; Chicago Defender, 27 January, ¡0 February ¡940; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0, ¡7 February ¡940. 2. New York Amsterdam News, ¡7 February, 2 March ¡940; Baltimore Afro American, 2 March ¡940; Chicago Defender, 2 March ¡940; Pittsburgh Courier, 24 February, 2, 9 March ¡940. 3. Chicago Daily Tribune, 25 March ¡940. 4. Chicago Defender, ¡6 March ¡940; Pittsburgh Courier, 9 March, ¡3, 27 April, ¡¡, ¡8 May ¡940; Baltimore Afro American, ¡3 April, ¡¡ May ¡940; New York Amsterdam News, ¡¡ May ¡940; Arthur R. Ashe, Jr., A Hard Road to Glory: A History of the African-American Athlete ¡9¡9–¡945 (New York: Warner Books, ¡988), ¡9–20; Nat Fleischer, 50 Years at Ringside (New York: Fleet Publishing, ¡958), ¡4¡–43. 5. New York Amsterdam News, ¡¡ May ¡940. 6. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡6 May ¡940; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡3 April, ¡¡, ¡8 May ¡940, ¡8 January, ¡5 May ¡94¡; New York Amsterdam News, ¡8 May, ¡ June ¡940; Chicago Defender, ¡6 March, ¡¡ May, ¡8 May ¡940; Baltimore Afro American, 24 August ¡940. 7. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡¡, ¡8 May ¡940; Chicago Defender, ¡8 May ¡940; New York Amsterdam News, ¡8 May ¡940. 8. Chicago Defender, ¡8 May ¡940. 9. Atlanta Daily World, ¡3 May ¡940. 10. Chicago Daily Tribune, 3¡ May ¡940. 11. New York Times, ¡7 June ¡940; New York Age, 22 June ¡940; New York Amsterdam News, 22 June ¡940; Baltimore Afro American, 22 June ¡940. 12. New York Amsterdam News, 22 June ¡940. 13. New York Amsterdam News, 22 June ¡940; New York Times, ¡7 June ¡940. 14. Baltimore Afro American, ¡5, 29 June, 6 July ¡940; Chicago Defender, 6 May ¡939, 20 January, 29 June ¡940

Notes in Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: The East-West All-Star Game, ¡933–¡953 (Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡), ¡43–44, 6 August ¡940; Pittsburgh Courier, 27 May ¡939, ¡, 29 June ¡940; New York Amsterdam News, 6 May ¡939, ¡5 June ¡940. 15. Chicago Defender, ¡6 March, ¡3 July ¡940; Baltimore Afro American, 29 June ¡940. 16. Chicago Defender, ¡3 July ¡940. 17. Philadelphia Tribune, 22 August ¡940; New York Times, ¡9 August ¡940; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡9 August ¡940. 18. Chicago Defender, ¡0 August ¡940. 19. Philadelphia Tribune, 5 September ¡940. 20. Chicago Defender, 7 September ¡940. 21. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡4 September ¡940. 22. New York Age, 29 June, ¡4 September ¡940; Baltimore Afro American, 6 July, 7 September ¡940; New York Amsterdam News, ¡4 September ¡940; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡4 September ¡940; Philadelphia Tribune, 5 September ¡940; Call and Post, ¡4 September ¡940. 23. New York Age, ¡4 September ¡940. 24. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡4 September ¡940. 25. Chicago Daily Tribune, 24 December ¡940; Chicago Defender, 4 January ¡94¡. 26. Chicago Defender, ¡3 December ¡94¡. 27. Chicago Defender, 28 December ¡940, 4 January ¡94¡.

¡94¡ 1. Baltimore Afro American, ¡¡ January ¡94¡; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡¡ January ¡94¡; New York Amsterdam News, ¡¡ January ¡94¡; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡¡ January ¡94¡; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡6 January ¡94¡. 2. Baltimore Afro American, ¡, 8 March ¡94¡; Pittsburgh Courier, 29 March ¡94¡; Chicago Defender, ¡, 29 March ¡94¡. 3. Atlanta Daily World, ¡7 May ¡94¡; New York Amsterdam News, ¡7 May ¡94¡; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡5 May ¡94¡; New York Age, ¡7 May ¡94¡. 4. Atlanta Daily World, ¡7 May ¡94¡. 5. New York Amsterdam News, ¡7 May ¡94¡; Atlanta Daily World, ¡9 May ¡94¡; New York Age, ¡7 May ¡94¡; Baltimore Afro American, ¡7 May ¡94¡; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡5 May ¡94¡; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7 May ¡94¡; Chicago Defender, ¡7 May ¡94¡. 6. Chicago Defender, ¡7 May ¡94¡. 7. Chicago Defender, 24 May ¡94¡. 8. New York Age, ¡2 April ¡94¡. 9. Pittsburgh Courier, 5, ¡2 April, ¡7 May, 25 October ¡94¡. 10. Chicago Defender, 3, ¡7 May ¡94¡; Atlanta Daily World, ¡4 May ¡94¡; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡2 May ¡94¡. 11. Chicago Defender, ¡7 May ¡94¡. 12. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡2 May ¡94¡. 13. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡9 May ¡94¡; Chicago Defender, 24 May ¡94¡. 14. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡9 May ¡94¡. 15. New York Amsterdam News, 5 July ¡94¡. 16. Chicago Defender, ¡2 July, 4 October ¡94¡. 17. Baltimore Afro American, ¡2 July ¡94¡; New York Amsterdam News, 28 June, 5 July ¡94¡; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡2 July ¡94¡; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡7 July ¡94¡. 18. Chicago Defender, ¡2 July ¡94¡.

184 19. Baltimore Afro American, ¡9 July ¡94¡. 20. New York Amsterdam News, 26 July ¡94¡; New York Age, 26 July ¡94¡; New York Times 2¡ July ¡94¡; Pittsburgh Courier, 26 July ¡94¡; Chicago Defender, 26 July ¡94¡. 21. Chicago Defender, 2 August ¡94¡ in Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: The East-West AllStar Game, ¡933–¡953 (Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡), ¡63–66; New York Amsterdam News, 2 August ¡94¡; Chicago Daily Tribune, 28 July ¡94¡; Washington Post 28 July ¡94¡. 22. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡4 March ¡942. 23. Buck Leonard and James A. Riley, Buck Leonard: The Black Lou Gehrig (New York: Carroll and Graf, ¡995), ¡30. 24. Kyle P. McNary, Ted “Double Duty” Radcli›e: 36 Years of Pitching and Catching in Baseball’s Negro Leagues (Minneapolis: McNary Publishing, ¡994), ¡60. 25. Chicago Defender, 9 August ¡94¡, ¡8 April ¡942; Pittsburgh Courier, 26 July, 9, 23 August ¡94¡. 26. Chicago Defender, 23 August ¡94¡. 27. New York Age, 6 September ¡94¡. 28. Leslie A. Heaphy, The Negro Leagues, ¡869–¡960 (Je›erson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2003), 24¡; John Holway, The Complete Book of Baseball’s Negro Leagues (Fern Park, Fla.: Hastings House, 200¡), 383; Robert Peterson, Only the Ball Was White (New York: Gramercy Books, ¡999), 276; James A. Riley, The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues (New York: Carroll and Graf, ¡994), 456. 29. Chicago Defender, 6, 20 September ¡94¡. 30. New York Amsterdam News, 27 September ¡94¡; Pittsburgh Courier, 20, 27 September ¡94¡; Chicago Defender, 20, 27 September ¡94¡; New York Age, 27 September ¡94¡. 31. The Sporting News, 9 October ¡94¡; New York Amsterdam News, ¡¡ October ¡94¡; Pittsburgh Courier, 4 October ¡94¡; Chicago Defender, 4, ¡¡ October ¡94¡. 32. New York Amsterdam News, ¡¡ October ¡94¡. 33. Chicago Defender, 3 January ¡942; Call and Post, 3 January ¡942; Pittsburgh Courier, 27 December ¡94¡. 34. Chicago Defender, 3 January ¡942. 35. Pittsburgh Courier, 27 September, 27 December ¡94¡. 36. Chicago Defender, 3 January ¡94¡; Call and Post, 3 January ¡94¡. 37. Chicago Defender, 3 January ¡94¡.

¡942 1. Pittsburgh Courier, 24 January, 2¡, 28 February ¡942; Baltimore Afro American, ¡4, 28 February ¡942; New York Amsterdam Star-News, 2¡ February ¡942. 2. New York Amsterdam Star-News, 2¡ February ¡942. 3. Chicago Defender, 28 February ¡942; Pittsburgh Courier, 28 February ¡942; Baltimore Afro American, 7 March ¡942. 4. Chicago Defender, 7, ¡4, 2¡ March ¡942; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡4, 28 February, 7 March ¡942; Baltimore Afro American, 28 February, 7 March ¡942; New York Amsterdam Star-News, 7 March ¡942. 5. Call and Post, ¡4, 28 March ¡942; Chicago Defender, 28 February, ¡4, 2¡ March ¡942; Pittsburgh Courier, 28 February, 28 March ¡942.

Notes

185 6. Pittsburgh Courier, 28 March ¡942. 7. Call and Post, 4 April ¡942; Chicago Defender, 28 March ¡942; Pittsburgh Courier, 28 March, 4 April, 30 May ¡942; The Sporting News, 2 April ¡942. 8. Pittsburgh Courier, 2 January ¡943. 9. Pittsburgh Courier, 7 March, 9 May ¡942; Baltimore Afro American, 9 May ¡942. 10. Philadelphia Tribune, 3¡ January, ¡6 May ¡942; Pittsburgh Courier, 3¡ January, 7 March, ¡6 May ¡942; Baltimore Afro American, 25 April, ¡6 May ¡942. 11. Baltimore Afro American, ¡6 May ¡942. 12. Pittsburgh Courier, 7 March ¡942. 13. Chicago Defender, ¡6 May ¡942; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6 May ¡942; Baltimore Afro American, 25 April, 30 May ¡942. 14. Call and Post, ¡4 March, ¡6, 23 May ¡942; Chicago Defender, ¡4 March, ¡6 May ¡942; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6 May ¡942; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡¡ May ¡942. 15. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6 May ¡942. 16. New York Amsterdam News, 27 June ¡942; Pittsburgh Courier, 20 June ¡942. 17. Pittsburgh Courier, 20 June ¡942. 18. Washington Post, ¡2, ¡4, ¡9, 26 June, ¡2 August ¡942; Chicago Defender, 20, 27 June ¡942; Pittsburgh Courier, 27 June ¡942; Baltimore Afro American, 20 June ¡942; Brad Snyder, Beyond the Shadow of the Senators (Chicago: Contemporary Books, 2003), ¡3¡. 19. Washington Post, ¡2 August ¡942. 20. Chicago Defender, 4, ¡¡ July ¡942. 21. Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, 22, 23 July ¡942; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡ August ¡942, 8 May ¡943; Baltimore Afro American, 25 July ¡925. 22. Pittsburgh Courier, 8 May ¡943. 23. Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, 22, 23 July ¡942, Pittsburgh Courier, ¡ August ¡942; Baltimore Afro American, 25 July ¡942. 24. New York Amsterdam News, 8 August ¡942; Pittsburgh Courier, 8 August ¡942; Baltimore Afro American, 8 August, 3 October ¡942. 25. James A. Riley, Dandy, Day and the Devil (Cocoa, Fla.: TK Publishers, ¡987), 64. 26. Baltimore Afro American, 8, ¡¡ August ¡942. 27. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡5 August ¡942; Washington Post, 7 July ¡942; Chicago Defender, 8, ¡5, 22, 29 August ¡942; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡2 September ¡942; Call and Post, 8, ¡5 August ¡942; Baltimore Afro American, ¡5, 22, 29 August ¡942; Roy Campanella, It’s Good to Be Alive (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co., ¡959), 89–90. 28. Campanella, 89–90. 29. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡7 August ¡942; New York Times, ¡7 August ¡942; Baltimore Afro American, ¡8 August ¡942; Pittsburgh Courier, 22 August ¡942 in Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: The East-West All-Star Game, ¡933–¡953 (Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡), ¡9¡–94; Chicago Defender, 22 August ¡942 in Lester, ¡94–95. 30. Washington Post, 5 September ¡942; Chicago Daily Tribune, 3¡ August ¡942; Chicago Defender 5 September ¡942; Baltimore Afro American, 5 September ¡942. 31. Baltimore Afro American, 5, 8 September ¡942. 32. Pittsburgh Courier ¡9 September ¡942; Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, ¡0 September ¡942; Washington Post, 8, 9 September ¡942; Chicago Defender ¡9 September ¡942; Baltimore Afro American, ¡2, ¡5 September ¡942. 33. Washington Post, 8 September ¡942. 34. Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, ¡¡ September ¡942; Bal-

timore Afro American, ¡5 September ¡942; Chicago Defender ¡9 September ¡942. 35. Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, ¡¡ September ¡942. 36. Pittsburgh Courier ¡9 September, ¡0 October ¡942; Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, ¡4 September ¡942; New York Amsterdam News, ¡9 September ¡942; Chicago Defender ¡9 September ¡942; Baltimore Afro American, ¡5 September ¡942; New York Daily News, ¡4 September ¡942; New York Times, ¡4 September ¡942. 37. The Sporting News, 24 September, ¡ October ¡942; Pittsburgh Courier 26 September, ¡0 October ¡942; Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, 2¡, 24 September ¡942; Chicago Defender ¡9 September, 3 October ¡942; New York Amsterdam News, 26 September ¡942; Indianapolis Recorder, 26 September ¡942; Baltimore Afro American, 26 September, 3 October ¡942. 38. Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, 28, 30 September ¡942; New York Amsterdam News, ¡0 October ¡942; Philadelphia Inquirer-Public Ledger, 30 September ¡942; Chicago Defender 3, ¡0 October ¡942; Philadelphia Tribune, 26 September, 3 October ¡942; Baltimore Afro American, 26 September, 3, ¡0 October ¡942; The Sporting News, 24 September ¡942. 39. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡0 June ¡942. 40. Call and Post, 9 January ¡943; Chicago Defender 26 December ¡942, 9, ¡6 January ¡943; Pittsburgh Courier 9 January ¡943; Baltimore Afro American, 2 January ¡943. 41. Chicago Defender 26 December ¡942, ¡6 January ¡943.

¡943 1. Philadelphia Tribune, 30 January ¡943; Chicago Defender, 23 January, 6 February ¡943; Baltimore Afro American, 30 January ¡943; Pittsburgh Courier, 30 January ¡943. 2. Bill Veeck with Ed Linn, Veeck — as in Wreck (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, ¡962), ¡7¡–72. 3. David Jordan, Larry Gerlach, and John Rossi, “Bill Veeck and the ¡943 Sale of the Phillies: A Baseball Myth Exploded,” National Pastime (¡998), 3–5. 4. Michigan Chronicle, 27 March, 3 April ¡943; Philadelphia Tribune ¡0 April ¡943; Chicago Defender, 3 April ¡943. 5. Chicago Defender, ¡3, 20 March ¡943. 6. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7, 24 April ¡943; Chicago Defender, ¡7 April ¡943; Baltimore Afro American, 37 March, 3, ¡0 April ¡943; New York Amsterdam News, ¡7 April ¡943; The Sporting News, 29 April ¡943. 7. Philadelphia Tribune, 24 April ¡943; Philadelphia Tribune, 22 May ¡943; Baltimore Afro American, 22 May ¡943. 8. Baltimore Afro American, 22 May ¡943. 9. Philadelphia Tribune, 24 April ¡943. ¡0. Washington Post, ¡7 May ¡943; Philadelphia Tribune, 22 May ¡943; Chicago Defender, 22 May ¡943; New York Times, ¡7 May ¡943; New York Amsterdam News, 22 May ¡943; Pittsburgh Courier, 22 May ¡943. ¡¡. Pittsburgh Courier, 24 April ¡943. ¡2. The Sporting News, ¡3, ¡7 May ¡943; Chicago Defender, 3 April, 8, 22 May ¡943; Michigan Chronicle, 22 May ¡943; Call and Post, 22 May ¡943; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡7 May ¡943.

Notes ¡3. Chicago Defender, 22 May ¡943. 14. Pittsburgh Courier, 3 July ¡943. 15. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡2 June ¡943. ¡6. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡2 June ¡943; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡2 June ¡943. 17. New York Times, 22 June ¡943; Baltimore Afro American, 26 June ¡943; Philadelphia Tribune, 26 June, 3 July ¡943. 18. Philadelphia Tribune, 3 July ¡943. 19. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 July ¡943. 20. Pittsburgh Courier, 24 April ¡943; Baltimore Afro American, ¡0 July ¡943; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡7 July ¡943. 21. Baltimore Afro American, ¡0 July ¡943. 22. Chicago Defender, 24 July ¡943; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡¡, ¡9 July ¡943; New York Times, ¡9 July ¡943; New York Age, 24 July ¡943; Pittsburgh Courier, 24 July ¡943. 23. Chicago Defender, 24 July ¡943. 24. Atlanta Daily World, 27 July ¡943; Pittsburgh Courier, 3¡ July ¡943. 25. Pittsburgh Courier, 3¡ July ¡943. 26. Call and Post, 7 August ¡943; New York Times, 2 August ¡943; Chicago Daily Tribune, 2 August ¡943; Philadelphia Tribune, 7 August ¡943; Chicago Defender, 7 August ¡943, in Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: The East-West All-Star Game, ¡933– ¡953 (Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡), 2¡5–¡8; Pittsburgh Courier, 7 August ¡943, in Lester, 2¡2–¡4. 27. Philadelphia Tribune, 28 August ¡943; Baltimore Afro American, 28 August ¡943; Pittsburgh Courier, 4 September ¡943. 28. Philadelphia Tribune, 28 August ¡943. 29. Pittsburgh Courier, 4 September ¡943. 30. The Sporting News, 2 September ¡943; Chicago Daily Tribune, 2, 3 September ¡943; Chicago Defender, 28 August, ¡¡ September ¡943. 31. Chicago Daily Tribune, 7 September ¡943. 32. New York Age, ¡0 July ¡943; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7 July, ¡¡ September ¡943; Baltimore Afro American, 4 September ¡943. 33. Baltimore Afro American, ¡¡ September ¡943. 34. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡8 September ¡943; Washington Post, ¡0 July ¡943; New York Age, 4 September ¡943; Baltimore Afro American, 4, ¡¡ September ¡943; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8 September ¡943. 35. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡3, ¡4 September ¡943; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8, 25 September ¡943; Michigan Chronicle, ¡8 September ¡943; Chicago Defender, 25 September ¡943; Baltimore Afro American, ¡8 September ¡943; Atlanta Daily World, 2¡ September ¡943; Philadelphia Tribune, 25 September ¡943; New York Times, 20 September ¡943. 36. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8 September ¡943. 37. Philadelphia Tribune, 2 October ¡943; Washington Post, 22 September ¡943; Chicago Defender, 2 October ¡943. 38. Chicago Defender, 2 October ¡943. 39. Philadelphia Tribune, 2 October ¡943; Washington Post, 24 October ¡943; Baltimore Afro American, 25 September ¡943. 40. Baltimore Afro American, 25 September ¡943. 41. Philadelphia Tribune, 2 October ¡943; Washington Post, 25 September ¡943; Chicago Defender, 2 October ¡943. 42. Philadelphia Tribune, 2 October ¡943. 43. Baltimore Afro American, 2 October ¡943; Wash-

186 ington Post, 27 September ¡943; The Sporting News, 30 September ¡943. 44. Chicago Daily Tribune, 27 September ¡943. 45. The Sporting News, 7 October ¡943. 46. Baltimore Afro American, 2 October ¡943; Chicago Daily Tribune, 29 September ¡943; The Sporting News, 7 October ¡943; Chicago Defender, 9 October ¡943. 47. Chicago Defender, 9 October ¡943. 48. The Sporting News, 7 October ¡943; Baltimore Afro American, 2 October ¡943; Atlanta Daily World, 2 October ¡943; Chicago Defender, 9 October ¡943. 49. Baltimore Afro American, 2 October ¡943. 50. Baltimore Afro American, 9 October ¡943; Philadelphia Tribune, 9 October ¡943; Atlanta Daily World, 5 October ¡943; Chicago Defender, 9 October ¡943. 51. Reno Evening Gazette, 6 October ¡943; Chicago Defender, ¡6, 23 October ¡943; Philadelphia Tribune, 9, ¡6 October ¡943; Baltimore Afro American, 9 October ¡943.

¡944 1. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡5 January ¡944. 2. Chicago Defender, ¡5 January ¡944; New York Amsterdam News, ¡5 January ¡944; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡5 January ¡944; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡5 January ¡944. 3. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡5 January ¡944. 4. Call and Post, 25 January ¡944; Pittsburgh Courier, 26 February, ¡¡, ¡8 March ¡944; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡¡ March ¡944. 5. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8 March ¡944. 6. Call and Post, 25 March ¡944. 7. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡¡ March ¡944. 8. Chicago Defender, ¡¡, ¡8 March ¡944; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡¡ March ¡944. 9. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡¡ March ¡944. 10. Chicago Defender, ¡¡ March ¡944. 11. Chicago Defender, 25 March ¡944; Baltimore Afro American, ¡3 May ¡944; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡3 May ¡944; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡3 May ¡944; New York Amsterdam News, ¡3 May ¡944; New York Age, ¡3 May ¡944. 12. New York Amsterdam News, 20 May ¡944; Baltimore Afro American, 20 May ¡944. 13. Baltimore Afro American, 27 May ¡944. 14. Pittsburgh Courier, 6 May ¡944. 15. Chicago Daily Tribune, 7, 8 May ¡944; Atlanta Daily World, ¡2 May ¡944; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡¡ March, ¡3 May ¡944; Chicago Defender, 6, ¡3 May ¡944. 16. Chicago Defender, 6 May ¡944. 17. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 June ¡944. 18. New York Times, 5 June ¡944; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 June ¡94. 19. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 June ¡944. 20. Chicago Defender, ¡7 June ¡944. 21. Washington Post, 9 June ¡944; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7 June ¡944. 22. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7 June ¡944. 23. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡0 June ¡944. 24. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡7 June ¡944; Michigan Chronicle, ¡7 June ¡944. 25. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡, ¡5 July ¡944; Michigan Chronicle, ¡ July ¡944. 26. Michigan Chronicle, ¡ July ¡944.

Notes

187 27. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡ July ¡944. 28. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡5 July ¡944. 29. Baltimore Afro American, 8 July ¡944; Michigan Chronicle, ¡, 8 July ¡944; New York Times, ¡, 2, 3 July ¡944; New York Amsterdam News, 8 July ¡944. 30. Michigan Chronicle, 8 July ¡944; Philadelphia Tribune, 8, ¡5 July ¡944; Baltimore Afro American, ¡5 July ¡944; New York Amsterdam News, 5 August ¡944. 31. Michigan Chronicle, 8 July ¡944. 32. Michigan Chronicle, ¡, 8 July ¡944; Call and Post, 8 July ¡944; The Sporting News, 29 June, ¡3 July ¡944. 33. Chicago Defender, ¡2 August ¡944; Michigan Chronicle, ¡2 August ¡944. 34. Michigan Chronicle, ¡2 August ¡944. 35. Michigan Chronicle, 5, ¡9 August ¡944; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡9 August ¡944 in Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: The East-West All-Star Game (Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡), 226–27, 232–33; Chicago Defender, ¡2 August ¡944 in Lester, 229–30. 36. Philadelphia Tribune, 29 July, 26 August ¡944; New York Amsterdam News, 26 August ¡944; Baltimore Afro American, 26 August ¡944. 37. New York Times, 28 August ¡944; New York Amsterdam News, 2 September ¡944. 38. New York Times, 28 August ¡944. 39. New York Amsterdam News, 2 September ¡944. 40. Chicago Daily Tribune, 4 September ¡944; Pittsburgh Courier, 9 September ¡944; Chicago Defender, 9 September ¡944. 41. New York Amsterdam News, ¡ July, ¡6 September ¡944; Philadelphia Tribune, 9, ¡6 September ¡944; Michigan Chronicle, ¡9 August ¡944. 42. Philadelphia Tribune, 9 September ¡944. 43. The Sporting News, ¡4 September ¡944; Atlanta Daily World, ¡2, ¡9 September ¡944; Baltimore Afro American, 23 September ¡944; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6, 23 September ¡944; Michigan Chronicle, ¡6 September ¡944; Chicago Defender, ¡6, 23 September ¡944. 44. Chicago Defender, 23 September ¡944. 45. Atlanta Daily World, 2¡ September ¡944; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6, 30 September ¡944; Philadelphia Tribune, 23 September ¡944; Chicago Defender, 30 September ¡944. 46. Philadelphia Tribune, 30 September ¡944; Baltimore Afro American, 30 September ¡944; Pittsburgh Courier, 30 September ¡944; Chicago Defender, 30 September ¡944. 47. Atlanta Daily World, 24 September ¡944; Philadelphia Tribune, 30 September ¡944; Baltimore Afro American, 30 September ¡944; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6, 30 September ¡944; Chicago Defender, ¡6, 30 September ¡944. 48. Atlanta Daily World, 26 September ¡944; Philadelphia Tribune, 30 September ¡944; Baltimore Afro American, 30 September ¡944; The Sporting News, 28 September ¡944; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6, 30 September ¡944; Chicago Defender, 30 September ¡944. 49. Atlanta Daily World, 3 October ¡944; Pittsburgh Courier, 30 September ¡944; Chicago Defender, 30 September, 7 October ¡944. 50. Chicago Defender, 7 October ¡944. 51. Philadelphia Tribune, 23 December ¡944; New York Amsterdam News, 23 December ¡944; Chicago Defender, 23 December ¡944; Pittsburgh Courier, 23 December ¡944. 52. Philadelphia Tribune, 23 December ¡944.

¡945 1. Chicago Defender, 3 February ¡945; Birmingham World, 30 January ¡945; Philadelphia Tribune, 24 February ¡945; Pittsburgh Courier, 6 January ¡945. 2. Chicago Defender, 3 February ¡945. 3. The Sporting News, ¡0, 24 May ¡945; Pittsburgh Courier, 28 April, 26 May ¡945; New York Amsterdam News, ¡2 May ¡945; Philadelphia Tribune, 28 April ¡945; Chicago Daily Tribune, 8 May ¡945; Michigan Chronicle, 5, 26 May ¡945. 4. Donn Rogosin, Invisible Men (New York: Kodansha, ¡995), 207; Neil Lanctot, Negro League Baseball: The Rise and Ruin of a Black Institution (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004), 266–70; Janet Bruce, The Kansas City Monarchs: Champions of Black Baseball (Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, ¡985), ¡¡¡; Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: The East-West All-Star Game, ¡933–¡953 (Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡), 243–44; Leslie A. Heaphy, The Negro Leagues, ¡869–¡960 (Je›erson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2003), ¡97–20¡; Robert Peterson, Only the Ball Was White (New York: Gramercy Books, ¡999), ¡86–7. 5. New York Times, 7, 8 April ¡945; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡4 April ¡945; New York Amsterdam News, ¡4 April ¡945; Jules Tygiel, Baseball’s Great Experiment: Jackie Robinson and His Legacy (New York: Oxford University Press, ¡983), 45–6; The Sporting News, ¡2 April ¡945. 6. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡4 April ¡945. 7. Tygiel, 45. 8. Philadelphia Tribune, 2¡ April ¡945. 9. Tygiel, 43; Pittsburgh Courier, 5 May ¡945; The Sporting News, 3 May ¡945. 10. Pittsburgh Courier, 24 March, 2¡ April ¡945; New York Times, ¡7 April ¡945; Baltimore Afro American, 2¡ April ¡945; Tygiel 43–4; Chicago Defender, 7 April ¡945. 11. Baltimore Afro American, ¡2 May ¡945; The Sporting News, 5 April, ¡7 May ¡945; New York Times, 7 May ¡945; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡2 May ¡945; New York Age, ¡2 May ¡945; New Jersey Afro American, ¡2 May ¡945; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡2 May ¡945; Norfolk Journal and Guide, ¡2 May ¡945. 12. Baltimore Afro American, ¡2 May ¡945; Norfolk Journal and Guide, ¡2 May ¡945. 13. The Sporting News, 22 March, ¡7 May ¡945; Chicago Defender, ¡2 May ¡945; Pittsburgh Courier, 5 May ¡945. 14. Chicago Daily Tribune, 8 March ¡945; Chicago Defender, ¡7 March ¡945. 15. The Sporting News, ¡9 July ¡96¡. 16. Bruce, 25. 17. Birmingham World, 4, 8 May ¡945. 18. Pittsburgh Courier, 5 May ¡945. 19. Chicago Defender, 7 July ¡945. 20. Michigan Chronicle, 7 July ¡945; Call and Post, 28 July ¡945; Philadelphia Tribune, 30 July ¡945; Chicago Defender, 7 July ¡945; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡8 June ¡945. 21. The Sporting News, 22 March, 5 April ¡945; New York Amsterdam News, ¡4 April, 28 July ¡945; Chicago Defender, 7 July ¡945; Philadelphia Tribune, 7 July ¡945; Pittsburgh Courier, 7 July ¡945; Chicago Daily Tribune, 8 March ¡945; Birmingham World, ¡0 July ¡945. 22. Norfolk Journal and Guide, ¡5 September ¡945.

Notes 23. New York Times, 30 July ¡945; Chicago Daily Tribune, 30 July ¡945; Pittsburgh Courier, 4 August ¡945 (in Lester, 248–5¡, 254); Chicago Defender, 4 August ¡945 in Lester, 25¡–2. 24. Pittsburgh Courier, 4 August ¡945 in Lester, 254. 25. New Jersey Afro American, ¡¡ August ¡945. 26. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡8 August ¡945. 27. Chicago Daily Tribune, 27 August ¡945. 28. New York Age, ¡4 July ¡945; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡5 September ¡945; New Jersey Afro American, 8 September ¡945; Norfolk Journal and Guide, ¡5 September ¡945. 29. Norfolk Journal and Guide, ¡5 September ¡945. 30. Chicago Daily Tribune, 4 September ¡945; Call and Post, 8 September ¡945. 31. Call and Post, 8, ¡5 September ¡945. 32. Chicago Defender, 22 September ¡945. 33. Negro Baseball Pictorial Yearbook (Stokesberry, Gould and Sons, reprint of ¡945 publication),¡4, ¡5, 3¡; Pittsburgh Courier, 22 September ¡945; Call and Post, 22 September ¡945; New Jersey Afro American, 22 September ¡945; Chicago Defender, 22 September ¡945; Baltimore Afro American, ¡5 September ¡945; The Sporting News, 25 September ¡945; Washington Post, ¡8 September ¡945. 34. Pittsburgh Courier, 22 September ¡945; Call and Post, 22 September ¡945; Baltimore Afro American, 22 September ¡945; Chicago Defender, 22 September ¡945. 35. Baltimore Afro American, 22 September ¡945; New York Times, ¡8 September ¡945; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡5, 22 September ¡945. 36. Baltimore Afro American, 22 September ¡945. 37. Pittsburgh Courier, 22 September ¡945. 38. Baltimore Afro American, 22 September ¡945; Pittsburgh Courier, 29 September ¡945; The Sporting News, 25 September ¡945; Philadelphia Tribune, 29 September ¡945; New York Times, 2¡ September ¡945. 39. Pittsburgh Courier, 29 September ¡945. 40. The Sporting News, ¡ November ¡945; New York Times, 24 October ¡945; Chicago Daily Tribune, 24 October ¡945; Tygiel, 7¡, 86–88; Toronto Star, 24 October ¡945. 41. Chicago Defender, 22 December ¡945.

¡946 1. Jules Tygiel, Baseball’s Great Experiment: Jackie Robinson and His Legacy (New York: Oxford University Press, ¡983), ¡03, ¡06, ¡26; Washington Post, 5 March ¡946; New York Times, 5 March ¡946; Call and Post, 9 February ¡946; Chicago Defender, 9 February ¡946. 2. Philadelphia Tribune, 2 March ¡946; Chicago Defender, 2 March ¡946. 3. Philadelphia Tribune, 2 March ¡946. 4. Pittsburgh Courier, ¡3 April ¡946; Chicago Defender, 6, ¡3 April ¡946; Chicago Daily Tribune, 29 March ¡946. 5. New York Times, 5 April ¡946; The Sporting News, ¡¡ April ¡946; New York Age, ¡3 April ¡946; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡3 April ¡946; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡3 April ¡946. 6. New York Amsterdam News, ¡¡ May ¡946; New York Age, ¡¡ May ¡946; Philadelphia Tribune, 7 May ¡946; Negro Baseball Pictorial Yearbook (Stokesberry,

188 Gould & Sons, reprint of ¡945 publication), 46, 2¡; Pittsburgh Courier, 4, ¡¡ May ¡946; Chicago Defender, 23 March ¡946; Baltimore Afro American, ¡¡ May ¡946. 7. New York Amsterdam News, ¡¡ May ¡946. 8. Call and Post, 9 March, 4, ¡¡ May ¡946; Indianapolis Recorder, 4 May ¡946; Chicago Defender, ¡¡ May ¡946; Chicago Daily Tribune, 4, 6 May ¡946. 9. Chicago Defender, ¡¡ May ¡946. 10. Call and Post, 23 March, ¡3 April, 4 May, 8 June ¡946; Michigan Chronicle, ¡3 April ¡946; Atlanta Daily World, 9 April ¡946. 11. Call and Post, 8 June ¡946. 12. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡¡ May ¡946; Baltimore Afro American, ¡8 May ¡946; Chicago Defender, ¡ June ¡946; New York Age, ¡8 May ¡946. 13. Chicago Daily Tribune, 29 May ¡946; Indianapolis Recorder, ¡8 May ¡946; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8 May ¡946. 14. The Sporting News, 23 May ¡946; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡8 May ¡946; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡5 May ¡946; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡8 May ¡946; Call and Post, 25 May ¡946. 15. Pittsburgh Courier, 29 March ¡947. 16. Philadelphia Tribune, 2, 6 July ¡946; Washington Post, 2 July ¡946; New York Amsterdam News, 6 July ¡946; Pittsburgh Courier, 6 July ¡946; Chicago Daily Tribune, 6 July ¡946. 17. New York Amsterdam News, 6 July ¡946. 18. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡¡ July ¡946; Indianapolis Recorder, 29 June, 6 July ¡946. 19. Indianapolis Recorder, 6 July ¡946. 20. Chicago Daily Tribune, 2¡, 22 July ¡946. 21. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡3 August ¡946; New York Amsterdam News, ¡7 August ¡946. 22. Baltimore Afro American, ¡7 August ¡946; Washington Post, ¡6 August ¡946; Pittsburgh Courier, 20 July ¡946; Chicago Defender, 24 August ¡946. 23. Baltimore Afro American, ¡7 August ¡946. 24. New York Amsterdam News, 24 August ¡946 in Larry Lester, Black Baseball National Showcase: The EastWest All-Star Game, ¡933–¡953 (Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡), 267–8); Chicago Defender, 24 August ¡946 in Lester, 275–6; Pittsburgh Courier, 24 August ¡946 in Lester, 277–8; New York Times, ¡9 August ¡946. 25. Chicago Defender, 7 September ¡946. 26. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡0 September ¡946; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡4 September ¡946; Indianapolis Recorder, ¡4 September ¡946. 27. Indianapolis Recorder, ¡4 September ¡946. 28. New York Amsterdam News, 2¡ September ¡946. 29. New York Times, ¡8 September ¡946; Indianapolis Recorder, 28 September ¡946; Pittsburgh Courier, 2¡ September ¡946; Chicago Defender, 2¡ September ¡946; Baltimore Afro American, 2¡ September ¡946. 30. Philadelphia Tribune, 24 September ¡946; Chicago Defender, 28 September, 5 October ¡946; Baltimore Afro American, 2¡ September ¡946. 31. Chicago Defender, 28 September ¡946. 32. New York Times, 23 September ¡946; Chicago Defender, 28 September ¡946; Philadelphia Tribune, 28 September ¡946; New York Amsterdam News, 28 September ¡946; Pittsburgh Courier, 28 September ¡946. 33. New York Amsterdam News, 28 September ¡946. 34. Philadelphia Tribune, 28 September ¡946; Los Angeles Times, 25 September ¡946; New York Amsterdam News, 28 September ¡946; Pittsburgh Courier, 28 Sep-

189 tember ¡946; Baltimore Afro American, 28 September ¡946. 35. Philadelphia Tribune, 28 September ¡946. 36. Baltimore Afro American, 28 September ¡946; Philadelphia Tribune, 28 September ¡946; Chicago Daily Tribune, 26 September ¡946; Pittsburgh Courier, 28 September ¡946. 37. Baltimore Afro American, 28 September ¡946. 38. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡ October ¡946; Chicago Defender, 5 October ¡946. 39. Philadelphia Tribune, ¡ October ¡946; New York Times, 30 September ¡946; Pittsburgh Courier, 5 October ¡946; Chicago Defender, 5 October ¡946. 40. Buck O’Niel with Steve Wulf and David Conrads, I Was Right On Time (New York: Simon & Schuster, ¡996), ¡76–77. 41. The Sporting News, 2, 9, ¡6, 23, 30 October ¡946; Pittsburgh Courier, 28 September, 5 October; Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡, 3 October ¡946; New York Times, ¡, 4, 5, 7 October ¡946; New York Amsterdam News, ¡2 October ¡946; Los Angeles Times, 7, ¡6, 27 October ¡946; Donn Rogosin, Invisible Men: Life in Baseball’s Negro Leagues (New York: Kodansha, ¡995), ¡24–5; O’Neil, ¡79–80; Chicago Defender, 28 September, ¡2 October ¡946. 42. The Sporting News, 6 November ¡946.

¡947 1. Richmond Afro American, ¡¡ January ¡947; New York Times, 7 January ¡947; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡¡ January ¡947; New York Amsterdam News, ¡¡ January ¡947. 2. New York Times, 2¡ January ¡947; New York Amsterdam News, 25 January ¡947; Pittsburgh Courier, 25 January ¡947; Richmond Afro American, 25 January ¡947; Chicago Defender, ¡ February ¡947. 3. New York Amsterdam News, 25 January ¡947. 4. Richmond Afro American, 22 March ¡947; New York Times, ¡ March ¡947; New York Amsterdam News, 8, ¡5 March ¡947; Chicago Defender, 8 March ¡947. 5. New York Times, ¡ March ¡947. 6. Chicago Defender, 8 March ¡947. 7. New York Amsterdam News, 8 March ¡947. 8. New York Times, ¡¡ April ¡947; The Sporting News, ¡6 April ¡947. 9. New York Amsterdam News, 26 April ¡947. 10. Birmingham World, ¡3 May ¡947; Chicago Defender, 8 March, ¡0 May ¡947; Indianapolis Recorder, ¡0 May ¡947; Call and Post, 3, ¡0 May ¡947; Chicago Daily Tribune, 5 May ¡947. 11. Chicago Defender, ¡0 May ¡947. 12. Indianapolis Recorder, 3 May ¡947. 13. Richmond Afro American, ¡0 May ¡947; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 May ¡947; New York Amsterdam News, ¡9 April, ¡0 May ¡947; Chicago Defender, ¡0 May ¡947. 14. New York Amsterdam News, ¡0 May ¡947. 15. Richmond Afro American, ¡2 April ¡947. 16. Baltimore Afro American, 24 May ¡947; Chicago Defender, 8 February, 24 May ¡947. 17. New York Amsterdam News, 3¡ May ¡947. ¡8. Chicago Daily Tribune, ¡6 June ¡947; Chicago Defender, 2¡ June ¡947. 19. Chicago Defender, ¡6 June ¡947. 20. Richmond Afro American, 5 July ¡947.

Notes 21. Richmond Afro American, 5 July ¡947; New York Amsterdam News, 5 July ¡947. 22. Washington Post, 5 July ¡947. 23. New York Times, 4, 6 July ¡947; Washington Post, 5, 6 July ¡947; Richmond Afro American, ¡2 July ¡947. 24. New York Times, 4 July ¡947. 25. Richmond Afro American, ¡2 July ¡947. 26. New York Age, ¡2 July ¡947; New York Times, 7 July ¡947; New York Amsterdam News, ¡2 July ¡947. 27. New York Times, 7 July ¡947. 28. New York Amsterdam News, ¡2 July ¡947. 29. The Sporting News, 23 July, 3 September ¡947, ¡8 October ¡969; Richmond Afro American, 26 July, 30 August ¡947; New York Times, ¡8 July, 24 August ¡947; Pittsburgh Courier, 26 July, 30 August ¡947; Chicago Defender, 30 August ¡947. 30. Pittsburgh Courier, 9 August ¡947. 31. New York Times, ¡9 July ¡947; Richmond Afro American, 26 July ¡947. 32. Richmond Afro American, 26 July ¡947. 33. New York Times, 28 July ¡947; New York Amsterdam News, 2 August ¡947 in Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: The East-West All-Star Game, ¡933–¡953 (Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡), 288–90; Pittsburgh Courier, 2 August ¡947 in Lester, 284–86); Chicago Defender, 2 August ¡947 in Lester, 287–293. 34. New York Times, 29, 30 July ¡947; Richmond Afro American, 9 August ¡947. 35. New York Times, 30 July ¡947. 36. Richmond Afro American, 9 August ¡947. 37. The Sporting News, 3 September ¡947; Washington Post, 27 August ¡947; New York Times, 26, 27 August ¡947; Richmond Afro American, 30 August ¡947. 38. New York Age, 20 September ¡947; Pittsburgh Courier, 20 September ¡947; Chicago Defender, 20 September ¡947; Richmond Afro American, 20 September ¡947. 39. Richmond Afro American, 20 September ¡947. 40. New York Amsterdam News, 8 March ¡947. 41. Richmond Afro American, 20 September ¡947. 42. New York Times, ¡9, 20 September ¡947; Chicago Daily Tribune, 22 September ¡947; New York Amsterdam News, 27 September ¡947; Chicago Defender, 27 September ¡947. 43. New York Times, 22 September ¡947; Chicago Daily Tribune, 22 September ¡947; New York Age, 27 September ¡947; New York Amsterdam News, 27 September ¡947; Chicago Defender, 20, 27 September ¡947. 44. Call and Post, 27 September ¡947. 45. Chicago Daily Tribune, 25 September ¡947; Chicago Defender, 4 October ¡947. 46. Chicago Daily Tribune, 25 September ¡947. 47. New York Times, 27 September ¡947; Chicago Defender, 20 September, 4 October ¡947. 48. New York Times, 29 September ¡947; Call and Post, 4 October ¡947; Chicago Defender, 4 October ¡947. 49. Call and Post, 4 October ¡947. 50. Chicago Daily Tribune, 3¡ December ¡947; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 January ¡948; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡0 January ¡948. 51. Chicago Defender, ¡0 January ¡948.

Notes

¡948 1. Baltimore Afro American, 24 Jan ¡948; New York Age, 3¡ January ¡948; Birmingham World, 27 January ¡948; New York Amsterdam News, 24 January ¡948. 2. New York Amsterdam News, 24 January ¡948. 3. Baltimore Afro American, 24 January ¡948. 4. Pittsburgh Courier, 3 April ¡948; Birmingham World, ¡3 April ¡948; Chicago Defender, ¡0 April ¡948; New York Amsterdam News, ¡0 April ¡948. 5. Paul Debono, Indianapolis ABCs (Je›erson, NC: McFarland & Co., ¡997), ¡58–9; James A. Riley, The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues (New York: Carroll & Graf, ¡994), 764–66. 6. Philadelphia Tribune, 3 April ¡948. 7. The Sporting News, 2¡ April ¡948; Chicago Daily Tribune, 25 April ¡948; New York Times, 2 May ¡948; Philadelphia Tribune, 3 April ¡948. 8. Philadelphia Tribune, 3 April ¡948. 9. New York Times, 2 May ¡948. 10. Philadelphia Tribune, 3 Mar ¡948; Indianapolis Recorder, 8 May ¡948; Pittsburgh Courier, 8 May ¡948; Birmingham World, 4 May ¡948; Chicago Defender, 8 May ¡948. 11. Pittsburgh Courier, 8 May ¡948. 12. Indianapolis Recorder, 8 May ¡948. 13. New York Age, 8 May ¡948; Philadelphia Tribune, ¡6 March, 4 May ¡948; New York Amsterdam News, 6 March, ¡ May ¡948; Call and Post, 8 May ¡948; New York Times, 2, 3 May ¡948; Pittsburgh Courier, 8 May ¡948; Baltimore Afro American, ¡, 8 May ¡948. 14. Call and Post, ¡2 June ¡948. 15. Chicago Defender, ¡3 May ¡950. 16. Call and Post, ¡7 July ¡948. 17. Baltimore Afro American, 3, ¡0 July ¡948; Call and Post, ¡7 July ¡948; Birmingham World, ¡6 July ¡948. 18. Baltimore Afro American, ¡0 July ¡948. 19. Birmingham World, ¡6 July ¡948. 20. New York Times, 8 July ¡948; Chicago Daily Tribune, 9, ¡0 July ¡948; Baltimore Afro American, ¡0 July ¡948; The Sporting News, ¡4, 2¡ July ¡948; Chicago Defender, ¡7 July ¡948. 21. The Sporting News, ¡ September ¡948. 22. The Sporting News, ¡4 July ¡948; New York Times, 9 July ¡948; Washington Post, ¡2 July ¡948; Chicago Defender, ¡7 July ¡948. 23. Washington Post, ¡2 July ¡948; Pittsburgh Courier, 24 July ¡948. 24. New York Times, ¡9 July ¡948. 25. Atlanta Daily World, 4 August ¡948; Birmingham World, 6 August ¡948. 26. Atlanta Daily World, 4 August ¡948. 27. Atlanta Daily World, ¡3 August ¡948. 28. Willie Mays with Lou Sahadi, Say Hey: The Autobiography of Willie Mays (New York: Pocket Books, ¡989), 23–24. 29. Birmingham World, 25 May ¡948. 30. Chicago Defender, ¡ July ¡950. 31. Pittsburgh Courier, 28 August ¡948 (in Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: the EastWest All-Star Game, ¡933–¡953 [Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡], 308–09); Chicago Defender, 28 August ¡948 (in Lester, 3¡0–¡2); The Sporting News, ¡ September ¡948. 32. Pittsburgh Courier, 28 August ¡948 (in Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: the East-

190 West All-Star Game, ¡933–¡953 [Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡], 309). 33. New York Times, 25 August ¡948; Chicago Defender, 4 September ¡948 (in Larry Lester, Black Baseball’s National Showcase: the East-West All-Star Game, ¡933–¡953 [Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, 200¡], 3¡5–¡6); The Sporting News, ¡ September ¡948. 34. New York Times, 25 August ¡948. 35. New York Times, 24 August ¡948. 36. New York Times, 29 August ¡948. 37. New York Times, 30 August ¡948. 38. Call and Post, ¡8 September ¡948. 39. New York Times, ¡4 September ¡948. 40. Chicago Defender, ¡0 July ¡948. 41. Chicago Defender, 25 September ¡948. 42. Birmingham World, ¡4 September ¡948; Chicago Defender, ¡8 September ¡948. 43. Birmingham World, ¡4 September ¡948. 44. Birmingham World, ¡4 September ¡948; Chicago Defender, ¡8 September ¡948. 45. Birmingham World, ¡4 September ¡948. 46. Call and Post, 2 October ¡948; Pittsburgh Courier, 2 October ¡948; The Sporting News, 6 October ¡948. 47. Baltimore Afro American, ¡8 September ¡948. 48. Birmingham World, ¡7 September ¡948; Chicago Defender, 25 September ¡948. 49. Birmingham World, ¡4 September ¡948; Call and Post, 25 September ¡948; Chicago Defender, 25 September ¡948. 50. Call and Post, 25 September ¡948. 51. Chicago Defender, ¡8 September ¡948. 52. Birmingham World, 24 September ¡948. 53. Atlanta Daily World, 28 September ¡948; New York Times, 25 September ¡948; Birmingham World, 28 September ¡948. 54. Call and Post, 2 October ¡948; New York Times, 27 September ¡948; Pittsburgh Courier, 2 October ¡948; Birmingham World, 28 September ¡948; Chicago Defender, 2 October ¡948. 55. Pittsburgh Courier, 2 October ¡948. 56. Pittsburgh Courier, 2 October ¡948; Chicago Defender, 2, 9 October ¡948; Birmingham World, ¡ October ¡948. 57. Birmingham World, ¡ October ¡948. 58. Birmingham World, 5 October ¡948; Chicago Defender, 9 October ¡948; The Sporting News, 20 October ¡948. 59. Birmingham World, 5 October ¡948. 60. Pittsburgh Courier, 9 October ¡948; Birmingham World, 5 October ¡948; Chicago Defender, 9 October ¡948. 61. Baltimore Afro American, 9 October¡948; Call and Post, 9 October ¡948; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡6 October ¡948; Birmingham World, ¡, 8 October ¡948; Chicago Defender, ¡6 October ¡948. 62. New York Times, ¡0 November ¡948; Pittsburgh Courier, ¡¡ September ¡948; The Sporting News, 20 October, ¡7 November ¡948. 63. The Sporting News, 20 October ¡948. 64. E›a Manley and Leon Herbert Hardwick, Negro Baseball Before Integration (Chicago: Adams Press, ¡976), 89. 65. Chicago Daily Tribune, 30 November, ¡ December ¡948; New York Times, ¡ December ¡948; Chicago Defender, 27 November, ¡¡ December ¡948. 66. Chicago Defender, ¡¡ December ¡948.

Bibliography Newspapers and Periodicals

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192 _____, Sammy J. Miller and Dick Clark. Black America Series: Black Baseball in Chicago. Chicago: Arcadia, 2000. Lowry, Philip J. Green Cathedrals. New York, Addison-Wesley, ¡992. Manley, E›a, and Leon Herbert Hardwick. Negro Baseball Before Integration. Chicago: Adams Press, ¡976. Mays, Willie, with Lou Sahadi. Say Hey: The Autobiography of Willie Mays. New York: Pocket Books, ¡989. McNary, Kyle. Ted “Double Duty” Radcli›e: 36 Years of Pitching and Catching in Baseball’s Negro Leagues. Minneapolis: McNary Publishing, ¡994. Negro Baseball Pictorial Yearbook. Stokesberry, Gould & Sons, reprint of ¡945 publication. O’Neil, Buck, with Steve Wulf and David Conrads. I Was Right on Time. New York: Simon & Schuster, ¡996. Overmyer, James. Queen of the Negro Leagues: E›a Manley and the Newark Eagles. Lanham, Md.: The Scarecrow Press, ¡998. Paige, LeRoy Satchel, as told to David Lipman. Maybe I’ll Pitch Forever. Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, ¡993. Peterson, Robert. Only the Ball Was White. New York: Gramercy, ¡999. Pietrusza, David, Matthew Silverman and Michael Gershman. Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia. New York: Total Sports Illustrated, 2000. Rader, Benjamin G. Baseball: A History of America’s Game. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2002. Rendle, Ellen. Judy Johnson: Delaware’s Invisible Hero. Wilmington, Del.: The Cedar Tree Press, ¡994. Ribowsky, Mark. A Complete History of the Negro Leagues: ¡884 to ¡955. New York: Citadel Press, 2002. _____. The Power and the Darkness: The Life of Josh Gibson in the Shadows of the Game. New York: Simon and Schuster, ¡996. Riley, James A. The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues. New York: Carroll & Graf, ¡994. _____. Dandy, Day and the Devil. Cocoa, FL: TK Publishers, ¡987. Rogosin, Donn. Invisible Men: Life in Baseball’s Negro Leagues. New York: Kodansha, ¡995. Ruck, Rob. Sandlot Seasons: Sport in Black Pittsburgh. Urbana: University of Illinois, ¡993. _____. The Tropic of Baseball: Baseball in the Dominican Republic. Lincoln, Neb.: Bison Books, ¡99¡.

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193 Sanford, Jay. The Denver Post Tournament. Cleveland: Society for American Baseball Research, 2003. Snyder, Brad. Beyond the Shadow of the Senators. Chicago: Contemporary Books, 2003. Solomon, Burt. The Baseball Timeline. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 200¡. Spink, Al. Spink Sport Stories. Chicago: Martin Company, ¡92¡. Thorn, John, ed. The Armchair Book of Baseball. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, ¡985. Tygiel, Jules. Baseball’s Great Experiment: Jackie Robinson and His Legacy. New York: Oxford University Press, ¡983. Veeck, Bill. with Ed Linn. Veeck — as in Wreck. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, ¡962. White, G. Edward. Creating the National Pastime: Baseball Transforms Itself, ¡903–¡953. Princeton: University of Princeton Press, ¡996. White, Sol. Sol White’s History of Colored Base Ball: With Other Documents on the Early Game. ¡886–¡936. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, ¡995; reprint, Lincoln: Bison, ¡996. Wiggins, David K. Glory Bound: Black Athletes in a White America. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, ¡997.

Articles Jordan, David, Larry Gerlach and John Rossi. “Bill Veeck and the ¡943 Sale of the Phillies: A Baseball Myth Exploded.” National Pastime, ¡998.

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Notes on Sources Most of the information in this book came from African-American newspapers. I made an attempt to find two independent sources for each entry, but meeting that standard was not always possible.

Index Abbott, Robert S. (¡0/¡8/24) Adams, Ace (5/9/42) Adams, Oscar (3/20/30) Alexander, Buck (6/26/23) Alexander, Grover Cleveland (8/¡3/32) Alexander, Ted (9/24/46), (9/26/48) Allen, Cli›ord (7/28/38) Allen, Newt (¡0/¡2/24), (¡0/ 20/24), (5/9/25), (9/¡9/25), (9/26/25), (¡0/2/25), (¡0/ 3/25), (9/26/26), (¡2/8/3¡) Allen, Tom (¡0/4/24) American Giants Park (Cole’s Park, Schorling’s Park) (5/ 9/20), (5/¡2/34); attendance at (5/30/20), (5/¡0/25); collapse of stands at (5/27/23); conversion of, to dog track (4/29/33); fire at (¡2/23/40); night games at (6/2¡/30) American Giants see Chicago American Giants American Negro League (ANL): champion of (9/ ?/29); disbandment of (2/ ¡7/30); founding of (¡/ ¡5/29); meeting (2/23/29), (3/¡/29), (6/3/29); o‡cial baseball (4/27/29) Anderson, Theodore “Bubbles” (5/¡0/24) Appomattox Club (Chicago) (¡/26/22), (¡2/7/22), (¡2/ 6/23), (¡2/¡¡/37), (2/¡9/38), (¡2/¡0/38), (2/24/47) Armour, Buddy (3/7/42) Armstrong, Henry (5/5/40) Atlanta Black Crackers (9/

¡8/38), (5/¡3/38), (9/¡5/38), (6/20/39) Atlanta Red Sox (5/¡3/38) Atlantic City Bacharach Giants (¡2/¡6/22), (5/3/25), (5/ 26/25), (6/2¡/27) (8/¡4/27); opening days (4/28/23), (4/24/24) (4/26/25), (5/ ¡/26), (5/¡/27), (4/29/28), (4/27/29); pennants (9/ 26/26), (7/¡0/27), (9/¡4/27); won-lost records (9/7/25); World Series (¡0/¡–¡0/¡4/26), (¡0/¡–¡0/¡3/27) attendance (5/30/20), (7/ 3¡/2¡), (5/¡¡/23), (5/¡0/25), (7/5/30), (9/9/34), (9/30/34), (5/¡6/37), (9/26/37), (7/ 4/4¡), (7/20/4¡), (8/3/4¡), (9/¡4/4¡), (6/¡4/42), (6/ ¡8/42), (7/2¡/42), (9/8/42), (6/2¡/43), (7/¡8/43), (6/ ¡¡/44), (8/6/44), (8/27/44), (9/30/46), (7/29/47); see also East-West game Augustine, Leon (4/28/23) Bacharach, ? (Congressman) (6/2¡/27) Bacharach Giants (New York) (5/¡6/20), (7/¡¡/20), (¡2/ 3/20), (5/7/2¡), (7/3¡/2¡), (¡/26/22), (6/4/22), (8/ ¡6/22), (¡2/7/22) Bacharach Giants (Philadelphia) (2/¡0/34), (3/¡0/34), (6/28/34), (3/8/35) Baird, Tom (2/¡2/39), (6/ 20/39), (2/23/40), (¡2/ 29/40), (2/23/4¡), (¡2/27/4¡),

195

(2/¡4/42), (9/20/42), (3/ 28/43), (3/5/44), (2/24/47), (5/¡/48n) Baker, W.B. (2/¡9/38), (5/ ¡3/38), (2/¡2/39) Baker Field (Philadelphia) (¡0/ 3/24), (¡0/4/24), (¡0/8/25), (¡0/5/26) Ball, Walter (5/2/20) Baltimore Afro American (6/ 20/25) Baltimore Black Orioles (3/ 28/42) Baltimore Black Sox (¡2/ ¡6/22), (5/¡¡/23), (6/30/25), (7/5/30); NNL membership, (4/29/33), (¡0/7/33), (6/ 28/34), (¡/¡¡/35); opening days, (4/24/24), (5/3/25), (5/¡–¡3/26), (5/¡/27), (4/ 29/28), (4/27/29), (5/7/32); pennants (7/4/29), (9/?/29); won-lost records (9/7/25), (7/¡0/27), (7/8/33) Baltimore Elite Giants (3/ 5/38), (6/26/38), (6/¡6/40), (8/3/4¡), (5/¡0/42), (6/ ¡4/42), (8/7/42), (5/6/45), (8/5/45), (6/29/47); NNL playo›s (9/¡4–9/¡7/48); opening days (5/¡4/38), (5/ ¡3/39), (5/5/40), (5/¡0/4¡), (5/9/42), (5/¡5/43), (5/6/44), (5/5/45), (5/5/46), (5/4/47), (5/2/48); pennants (9/¡0/39), (9/24/39), (7/5/48); won-lost records (7/?/38), (7/4/39), (9/8/40), (9/?/4¡), (9/7/42), (9/6/43), (7/4/45), (9/3/45), (6/30/46), (9/4/46)

Index Bankhead, Dan (6/4/44), (8/ ¡8/46), (7/27/47), (8/26/47) Bankhead, Sam (5/¡5/37), (5/¡0/4¡), (6/¡8/42), (8/¡6/42), (9/8/42), (9/9/43), (9/23/43), (¡0/5/43), (9/ ¡3/45) Barbee, Bud (5/5/40) Barkin, M.C. (2/2¡, 22/28) Barnhill, Dave (7/20/4¡), (9/ 2¡/4¡), (6/¡4/42), (8/9/42), (5/¡5/43), (7/¡8/43), (8/ ¡/43), (8/24/48) Baro, Bernardo (5/3/25) Base running (4/27/29); steals of home (6/26/23), (5/ ¡0/24), (6/30/28), (4/27/29), (5/¡6/37), (6/4/39); triple steals (5/26/25) Baseballs (o‡cial league) (4/ 23/27), (4/28/28), (4/27/29), (5/4/35), (3/22/36), (6/ ¡8/36), (¡2/¡¡/37), (5/¡4/38), (¡/5/44), (¡2/¡5/44) Bassett, Pepper (3/20/37), (9/ ¡7/44), (7/3¡/48), (9/¡2/48) Batting feats (¡/¡4/24); bunting (6/28/2¡), (8/22/23); consecutive hits (7/4/24), (7/ 2¡/29); home runs (5/2¡/2¡), (5/6/22), (5/¡8/24), (6/ 25/25), (5/9/27), (8/¡¡– ¡4/28), (9/20/30), (5/¡0/36), (7/28/38), (6/4/39), (7/ 22/39), (5/3¡/47), (7/¡8/47) Beckwith, John (5/2¡/2¡), (7/ 5/23), (¡0/8/23), (5/3/25), (4/27/29), (9/¡/29), (3/¡3/32) Bell, Cli› (¡0/6/24), (5/9/25), (¡0/¡/25), (¡0/8/25), (9/ 2¡/26) Bell, James “Cool Papa” (9/ 24/28), (9/¡3/30), (5/7/32), (2/¡0/34), (8/24/35), (9/ ¡5/35), (8/¡¡/36); East-West game appearances (8/26/34), (8/¡¡/35); Latin American appearances (5/¡5/37), (8/ 9/37), (5/¡3/39), (5/¡0/4¡), (9/2¡/43), (9/24/43); nickname (5/¡5/22); pitching (5/¡5/22) Bell, William (¡0/5/24), (¡0/ ¡2/24), (¡0/¡4/24), (¡0/ ¡9/24), (5/2/25), (¡0/2/25), (¡0/3/25), (¡0/¡0/25), (9/ 28/26), (7/28/28), (4/26/29), (7/25/32), (8/¡3/32), (5/ ¡2/34) Benjamin, Jerry (2/23/40), (7/ 2¡/42)

196 Bennett, Sam (4/30/2¡) Berardino, Johnny (9/30/46) Bernal, Blacedo (9/2¡/4¡) Beverley, Charles (¡2/8/3¡) Bigler Field (9/20/30) Birmingham Black Barons (7/ ¡5/23), (8/22/23), (5/2/25), (8/2¡/43), (6/4/44), (6/7/44), (6/8/44), (6/¡¡/44), (8/ 27/44); NAL playo›s (9/ ¡3/43) (9/¡¡–9/23/48); NNL membership (¡2/6/23), (¡/ 27/27); NNL playo›s (9/¡9– 9/25/27); opening days (4/ 28/24), (4/27/25), (4/23– 25/27), (4/28/28), (4/26/29), (4/25/30), (5/8/37), (5/ ¡3/38), (5/¡2/40), (5/¡¡/4¡), (5/¡0/42), (5/¡6/43), (5/ 7/44), (5/6/45), (5/5/46), (5/4/47), (5/¡/48); ownership (¡/6/26), (¡2/9/39); pennants (9/¡9/27), (7/4/43), (9/¡3/43), (7/4/44), (9/3/44), (7/4/48), (9/23/48); won-lost records (7/7/25), (7/?/46); World Series (9/2¡–¡0/5/43), (9/¡7–9/24/44), (9/26– ¡0/5/48) Birmingham World (8/¡¡/48) Bishop, Will (4/¡5/45) Bismarck (N.D.) (8/¡¡/35) Black, Joe (8/24/48) Blackwell, Charles (4/30/2¡) Blake, Frank (9/¡3/35) Blount, John “Tenny” (2/ ¡3/20), (¡2/3/20), (¡2/7/22), (¡2/6/23), (2/9/24), (2/2/25), (4/29/33), (¡/¡3/34) Boada, Lucas (4/28/24) Bobo, Willie (9/27/25) Bolden, Ed (¡2/3/20), (5/6/22), (¡2/7/22), (¡2/¡6/22), (2/ 23/24), (¡/24/25), (3/25/25), (6/20/25), (¡/6/26), (¡/¡¡/27), (5/¡9/27), (2/2¡/28), (3/ 8/28), (¡/¡5/29), (2/23/29), (2/¡7/30), (¡/¡3/34), (2/ ¡0/34), (3/¡0/34), (6/28/34), (¡/¡¡/35), (¡/25/36), (3/7/36), (2/¡8/39), (2/2/40), (2/ 23/40), (¡/3/4¡), (2/23/4¡), (2/¡4/42), (¡/23/43), (¡/ 5/44), (3/3/44), (9/4/44), (2/ 24/47), (¡/¡9/48) Booking agents (¡/20/32), (2/¡5/33), (¡/¡3/34), (2/ ¡0/34), (2/23/40); see also Ed Gottlieb; Abe Saperstein; Nat Strong

Boone, Charles (3/7/42) Bostic, Joe (4/7/45) Boston Braves (7/8/48) Boston Red Sox (4/¡6/45) Boston Royal Giants (3/28/42) Boudreau, Lou (7/7/48) Bowe, Randolph (6/¡8/39), (5/30/40) Bradley, Frank (9/8/37), (7/ ¡4/38) Brady, Bruce (¡/27–28/27) Branahan, Finis (¡0/20/23) Breedlove, Maceo (8/¡¡/35) Bremer, Eugene (5/6/45), (9/¡6/45), (9/24/47) Bremmer, Eugene (8/¡8/40) Brewer, Chet (9/¡8/26), (9/ 20/26), (9/26/26), (7/4/29), (8/2/30), (¡2/8/3¡), (5/7/32), (5/¡0/36), (8/9/37), (9/26/37), (5/¡3/39), (7/27/47), (6/6/48) Briggs, Otto (¡0/¡¡/24), (¡0/ ¡9/24), (3/¡0/34) Briggs Stadium (Detroit) (8/ 3/4¡), (9/¡4/4¡), (6/¡4/42), (6/¡¡/44), (8/6/44), (9/4/44), (2/24/47) Britt, George (4/30/2¡), (5/ 3/25), (5/3/25n), (7/2¡/29), (9/¡0/33) Britton, Johnny (9/¡7/44), (9/ 29/48) Brooklyn Brown Dodgers (¡/ ¡9/45) Brooklyn Dodgers (4/7/45), (¡0/23/45), (2/9/46), (4/ 4/46), (5/¡4/46), (4/¡0/47), (8/26/47), (7/8/48) Brooklyn Eagles (¡/¡¡/35), (5/ 4/35), (5/¡8/35), (7/4/35); see also Newark Eagles Brooklyn Royal Giants (¡2/ ¡6/22), (5/26/24), (4/24/24), (5/3/25), (9/7/25), (5/¡– ¡3/26), (5/¡/27), (7/¡0/27), (3/8/28), (4/22/34) Brooks, Ameal (9/2¡/4¡) Brooks, Charles (4/30/2¡) Brooks, Emil (5/5/34) Brooks, W.M. (3/2/20) Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (7/5/30) Broun, Heywood (2/5/33) Brown, Barney (5/¡0/4¡), (5/ ¡5/43), (6/2¡/43), (5/5/46), (8/¡5/46), (9/30/46) Brown, Dave (5/9/20), (7/ 5/20), (5/7/2¡), (8/¡4/2¡), (8/¡6/22), (¡0/2/22), (4/ 6/23), (4/26/25)

197 Brown, Elias “Country” (5/ ¡0/24) Brown, Fred (5/7/32) Brown, Jim (5/27/23), (6/ ¡¡/23), (9/24/27), (¡0/¡/27), (¡0/¡0/27), (¡0/2/28), (3/ 28/42) Brown, Joseph (2/24/47) Brown, L.A. (¡/6/26), (¡/¡¡/27), (¡/27/27) Brown, Larry (9/25/27), (¡0/ 2/27), (¡0/8/27) Brown, Ossie (6/¡0/35) Brown, Ray (4/29/33), (8/ ¡¡/35), (8/¡¡/36), (9/¡9/37), (5/¡4/38), (5/5/40), (8/3/4¡), (9/2¡/4¡), (5/3/42), (7/ 2¡/42), (9/¡3/42), (9/24/43), (9/2¡/44), (8/¡2/45), (5/ 6/46), (5/4/47) Brown, Willard (9/8/37), (8/ ¡/43), (9/29/46), (7/¡7/47) Bruton, Jack (9/25/38) Bu›alo (NNL) (3/5/38), (5/ ¡4/38), (7/?/38n) Bugle Field (Baltimore) (5/ ¡4/38), (5/¡0/42), (8/7/42), (9/23/43) Burdine, J. (7/¡4/29) Burley, Dan (3/3/44n) Bushwicks (3/30/24), (8/26/36) Butts, Pee Wee (7/3¡/42), (6/ 29/47) Byrd, Bill (6/5/36), (5/¡3/39), (8/27/39), (7/¡4/4¡), (5/ 9/42), (5/¡0/42), (5/6/45) Byrd, Chappie (5/29/3¡) Byrd, Prentice (¡/¡3/34), (6/ 28/34) Caldwell, Stanley (¡2/9/39) Calhoun, Walter (3/7/42) Calloway, Andrew (5/7/32) Cambria, Joe (¡/¡3/34) Campanella, Roy (9/24/39), (6/¡6/40), (8/¡4/4¡), (5/ ¡0/42), (8/9/42), (2/¡8/43), (4/4/46) Campbell, Bill (7/3¡/27) Cardenas, P. (5/3/25) Carlisle, Matthew (6/¡8/42) Carr, George (¡0/¡9/24), (¡0/ 3/25), (¡0/8/25), (5/¡/26), (6/3/29) Carr, Wayne (4/24/24), (4/ 25/25) Carswell, Frank (9/20/45) Carter, Ernest “Spoon” (9/ ¡3/35), (9/¡8/35), (9/22/35), (6/¡8/40), (9/23/44)

Carter, Jimmy (5/¡3/39) Carter, Paul (9/7/3¡), (9/ 29/34), (9/¡/35) Casey, Bill (3/28/42n) Cash, Bill (5/5/46) Catholic Protectory Oval (New York) (9/28/24), (5/¡/26), (8/¡4/27) Chacon, Pelayo (5/3/25) Challower, Mark (4/¡5/45) Chandler, A.B. (4/26/45) Charleston, Oscar (5/9/20), (¡0/2/22), (¡0/20/23), (¡/ ¡4/24), (4/24/24), (6/20/25), (5/¡/27), (8/¡4/27), (8/2/30), (9/9/33), (9/9/34), (9/¡5/35), (9/20/35), (9/2¡/35), (3/ 22/36), (5/¡0/36), (5/¡5/37) Charleston, Porter (9/¡/29n), (5/7/32), (5/4/35) Cherry, Hugh (¡¡/29/48) Chicago American Giants (2/ ¡3/20), (5/30/20), (6/28/2¡), (8/¡6/22), (5/22/23), (6/ 26/23), (8/22/23), (¡0/ 20/23), (5/2/25), (6/30/28), (8/¡¡/28), (9/9/34), (9/ 30/34), (7/29/35), (8/24/35), (9/22/35), (¡/25/36), (3/ 22/36), (7/4/37), (9/¡9/37), (7/4/4¡), (9/¡4/4¡), (9/2/43), (8/6/44), (9/3/44), (8/¡2/45), (8/26/45), (9/3/45), (5/ ¡2/46), (7/2¡/46); opening days (5/9/20), (5/7/2¡), (5/ 6/22), (4/28/23), (5/3/24), (4/27/25), (5/¡/26), (4/ 23/27), (4/28/28), (4/26/29), (4/25/30), (5/2/3¡), (4/ 29/33), (5/¡2/34), (5/4/35) (5/8/37), (5/¡3/38), (5/ ¡4/39), (5/¡2/40), (5/¡¡/4¡), (5/¡0/42), (5/¡6/43), (5/ 7/44), (5/6/45), (5/5/46), (5/4/47), (5/¡/48); playo›s (9/¡8–9/29/26), (9/¡9– 9/25/27), (9/22–¡0/5/28), (¡0/7/33), (9/¡¡–¡0/2/34), (9/8/37), (9/¡3/43); pennants (9/24/20), (¡0/2/2¡), (¡0/ ¡/22), (9/¡2/26), (9/29/26), (7/6/27), (9/25/27), (9/9/28), (7/8/33), (7/4/34), (9/5/37), (9/6/43); won–lost records (7/7/25), (7/4/35), (7/4/39), (7/4/44); World Series (¡0/¡– ¡0/¡4/26), (¡0/¡–¡0/¡3/27) Chicago Brown Bombers (3/28/42), (¡/¡9/45) Chicago Defender (5/26/25)

Index Chicago Giants (2/¡3/20), (5/2/20), (5/9/20), (9/24/20), (9/24/20n), (4/30/2¡), (¡0/2/2¡), (¡/26/22) Chicago White Sox (7/8/48), (8/28/48) Christopher, Thaddeus (5/ ¡5/37) Cincinnati Clowns (3/28/42), (¡2/27/42), (5/¡6/43), (9/ 27/43); move of, to Indianapolis (3/5/44); see also Indianapolis Clowns Cincinnati Tigers (5/8/37), (2/¡9/38) Citizen’s Republican Club (Philadelphia) (2/¡0/34), (3/¡0/34), (¡/25/36) Citriano, R. (3/¡0/34) City Park (Baton Rouge, La.) (4/¡8/47) Clark, John L. (¡0/7/33), (¡/ ¡3/34), (6/28/34), (3/8/35), (¡/25/36), (3/7/36), (9/2¡/36) Clarke, Vibert (5/4/47), (7/ 3¡/48) Clarkson, James “Bus” (6/ ¡8/40), (9/20/42), (5/4/47), (¡/¡9/48) Cleveland Bears (5/¡4/39), (7/4/39), (5/¡2/40) Cleveland Browns (2/9/24n), (5/3/24), (2/2/25) Cleveland Buckeyes (¡2/27/4¡), (5/¡0/42), (¡2/27/42), (5/ ¡6/43), (5/7/44), (9/3/44), (5/6/45), (5/5/46), (5/4/47), (5/¡/48); pennants (7/4/45), (9/3/45), (9/¡5/47); television and radio broadcast (6/6/48); won–lost record (7/4/44), (7/?/46); World Series (9/¡3–9/20/45), (9/¡9–9/28/47) Cleveland Cubs (5/2/3¡), (6/27/3¡) Cleveland Elites (5/¡/26), (7/¡9/26) Cleveland Hornets (¡/27/27), (4/23–25/27), (7/6/27) Cleveland Indians (ML) (¡0/7/22), (7/7/48), (8/ 28/48) Cleveland Red Sox (3/24/34), (5/¡2/34), (7/4/34), (¡/¡¡/35) Cleveland Stars (5/7/32), (7/ 4/32) Cleveland Tate Stars (¡/26/22), (5/6/22), (¡0/7/22), (¡2/7/22), (7/¡5/23)

Index Cleveland Tigers (2/2¡/28), (4/28/28), (6/30/28) Cobb, Lorenzo (2/¡3/20) Cobb, Ty (¡0/20/23), (5/¡0/30) Cockrell, Phil (8/¡9/22), (¡0/ 3/24), (¡0/¡¡/24), (¡0/¡2/24), (2/27/25), (8/¡5/25), (¡0/ 2/25), (¡0/¡0/25), (5/¡/27), (9/29/42), (4/¡5/45) Colas, Jose (7/27/47) Cole, Bert (¡0/20/23) Cole, Robert A. (¡/¡0/33), (2/¡5/33), (3/¡¡/33), (9/ ¡0/33), (¡/¡3/34), (2/¡0/34), (7/29/35) Columbia Giants (5/2/3¡) Columbus Blue Birds (4/ 29/33), (7/8/33), (¡0/7/33) Columbus Buckeyes (4/30/2¡), (8/6/2¡), (¡0/2/2¡), (¡/26/22) Columbus Elite Giants see Nashville Elite Giants Combs, Jack (6/26/23) Comiskey Park (Chicago) (9/22/35), (5/¡8/4¡), (9/ 2/43), (9/26/43), (5/7/44), (9/30/46); see also East-West game Connors, John W. (5/¡6/20), (¡2/3/20), (6/4/22) Contracts (4/6/23), (2/9/24), (¡0/3/24), (¡/27/27), (3/ 9/27), (5/¡9/27), (2/2¡/28), (2/23/29), (4/27/29), (6/ 3/29), (6/23/33), (3/24/34), (3/3¡/34), (4/2¡/34), (5/ 5/34), (5/4/35), (6/¡8/36n), (3/20/37), (5/¡5/37), (¡/ 28/38), (4/8/39), (5/¡3/39), (2/2/40), (2/23/40), (5/5/40), (6/¡8/40), (¡/3/4¡), (2/23/4¡), (5/¡0/4¡), (8/9/42), (5/6/44), (7/2/44), (¡2/¡2/45), (5/ 4/47), (5/6/46), (¡/¡9/48) (2/24/47) Coolidge, Calvin (4/24/24) Cooper, Alfred (7/4/29) Cooper, Andy (3/9/27), (4/28/28) Cooper, Chief (4/28/28) Cooper, Daltie (4/24/24), (4/25/25), (8/¡4/27), (7/ 2¡/29) Cooper, Sam (8/¡4/27) Cornelius, William “Sug” (5/9/30), (6/5/33), (9/¡7/34), (¡0/2/34), (5/4/35), (8/ 23/36), (5/¡6/37), (9/8/37), (8/2¡/38), (5/¡8/4¡), (5/ ¡6/43)

198 Correa, Marceline (9/22/35) Cowan, John (9/2¡/47) Cowan, Johnny (9/¡3/45) Cowans, Russ (3/¡¡/33), (3/ 28/42) Cox, Bill (2/¡8/43) Craig, Johnnie (2/28/42) Crawford, Herbert (4/¡5/45) Crawford Grill (Pittsburgh) (¡/¡3/34) Creacy, A.D. “Dewey” (9/ ¡3/30), (3/24/34) Crespi, Frank (¡0/5/4¡) Crosley Field (Cincinnati) (5/¡2/30), (5/¡6/43) Cross, Norman (9/5/37) Crowe, George (7/¡8/47) Crue, Martin (9/4/46) Crutchfield, Jimmy (8/26/34) Cuban Stars (ECL, ANL, E-W) (5/3/25), (3/¡/29); fields (5/9/27); league membership (¡2/¡6/22), (7/4/32); opening days (4/24/24), (5/2/25), (5/¡–¡3/26), (5/¡/27), (4/ 29/28), (4/27/29); won–lost records (9/7/25), (7/¡0/27) Cuban Stars (NNL) (5/30/20), (9/24/20), (¡/26/22), (5/ ¡0/30); in Cincinnati (¡2/ 3/20); NNL membership (2/¡3/20), (5/2/3¡); opening days (5/9/20), (4/30/2¡), (5/6/22), (4/28/23), (4/ 28/24), (5/2/25), (5/¡/26), (4/23–25/27), (4/28/28), (4/26/29), (4/25/30); won– lost records (¡0/2/2¡), (7/ 7/25), (9/¡3/30) Cuidad Trujillo (team) (8/9/37) Currie, Rube (5/9/20), (4/ 30/2¡), (5/7/2¡), (5/6/22), (4/24/24), (¡0/6/24), (¡0/ ¡8/24), (¡0/¡/25), (¡0/8/25), (5/¡/26), (7/¡3/26), (9/ 2¡/26), (9/26/26), (¡0/¡/26), (¡0/5/26), (¡0/¡¡/26), (¡0/ ¡3/27) Curry, Homer “Goose” (9/ 5/3¡), (9/20/36), (5/5/46) Daily Worker (8/9/42) Dallas, Bill (3/25/25) Dandridge, Ray (5/9/36), (5/ ¡5/37), (9/¡9/37), (5/¡4/38), (5/¡0/4¡), (5/6/46), (5/4/47), (¡/¡9/48) Daniels, Eddie (4/¡8/47) Daniels, Hammond (6/2¡/27), (¡/¡5/29)

Dauss, George (¡0/20/23) David’s Stadium (Newark N.J.) (7/¡0/26), (5/¡/27), (5/9/27) Davis, Eddie “Peanuts” (5/ ¡2/46) Davis, Johnny (9/29/46) Davis, Piper (9/¡3/43), (7/ ¡7/47), (7/27/47), (9/¡2/48) Davis, Roosevelt (5/2/25), (9/20/25), (9/¡3/30), (9/ ¡4/35), (9/2¡/35) Davis, Walter “Steel Arm” (9/20/27), (9/24/27), (¡0/ 4/27), (¡0/8/27) Day, Connie (5/3/25n) Day, Leon (9/¡9/37n), (5/ ¡3/39), (5/3/42), (7/3¡/42), (8/¡6/42), (9/20/42), (5/ 5/46), (8/¡¡/46), (9/¡7/46), (5/4/47), (¡/¡9/48) Dayton Marcos (2/¡3/20), (5/9/20), (9/24/20), (5/¡/26), (7/¡9/26) Dean, Dizzy (¡/5/44) Dean, Nelson (9/20/25), (¡0/ 2/25), (¡0/8/25), (9/2¡/26), (9/¡3/30) DeBerry, Joe (¡/¡4/24) DeMoss, Bingo (5/9/20), (7/ 5/20), (8/¡9/22), (7/5/23), (8/¡8/24), (4/27/25), (¡/ ¡¡/27), (¡/27/27), (3/¡¡/33), (3/28/42), (¡/¡9/45) Dempsey, Jack (9/20/36) Denver Post Tournament (¡/ ¡¡/35), (8/¡¡/36), (8/9/37) Derrick, L. (4/9/25), (¡/6/26) Detroit Black Sox (3/28/42) Detroit Elite Giants see Nashville Elite Giants Detroit Giants (¡/¡9/45) Detroit Stars (NAL) (5/8/37), (2/¡9/38) Detroit Stars (9/24/20), (8/ 6/2¡), (6/26/23), (¡0/8/23), (8/¡8/24), (5/¡0/30); league membership (2/¡3/20), (¡0/ 7/33); opening days (5/9/20) (5/7/2¡), (5/6/22), (4/28/23), (5/3/24), (5/2/25), (5/¡/26), (4/23/27), (4/26/29), (4/ 25/30), (4/29/33); ownership (2/2/25), (4/29/33); pennants (9/¡3/30); playo›s (9/¡3/30); won–lost records (¡0/2/2¡), (¡0/¡/22), (7/7/25), (7/5/26), (7/8/33) Detroit Tigers (ML) (¡0/2/22), (¡0/20/23)

199 Detroit Wolves (5/7/32), (7/4/32) DeVoe, J.R. (¡2/7/22) Dexter Park (Brooklyn, NY) (8/26/36) Diaz, Edolfo “Yo Yo” (4/ 23/27), (5/¡0/30) Dibut, Pedro (¡/¡4/24) Dihigo, Martin (5/2/25), (5/ 9/27), (4/27/29), (5/4/35), (8/¡¡/35), (9/¡/35), (9/¡8/35), (9/20/35), (5/¡3/39) Dinosa, Lino (9/2¡/47) Direaux, Jimmy (5/¡3/39) Dismukes, William “Dizzy” (¡2/7/22), (2/¡5/33), (2/ 20/37n), (9/20/42), (5/6/45) Dixon, Eddie “Bullet” (5/ ¡3/38) Dixon, George (6/28/2¡) Dixon, Herbert “Rap” (3/ 9/27), (7/2¡/29), (7/5/30), (5/29/3¡), (2/¡0/34), (9/¡/35) Dixon, Randy (2/¡0/34), (3/¡0/34), (2/¡8/43n) Dobson Park (Philadelphia) (5/26/25) Doby, Larry (5/5/46), (9/4/46), (9/29/46), (5/3¡/47); signing of, by Cleveland Indians (7/3/47) Dominican Republic (5/¡5/37), (6/¡0/37), (8/9/37), (¡/28/38) Donaldson, Billy (4/28/23), (6/27/27), (4/28/28), (9/ 22/28), (9/23/28), (5/¡4/39) Donaldson, John (5/9/20), (¡2/8/3¡) Downs, Bunny (3/28/42) Drake, William (5/9/20), (8/ ¡4/2¡), (¡/26/22n), (5/3/24), (¡0/4/24), (¡0/¡2/24), (¡0/ ¡9/24), (9/27/25), (¡0/¡/25), (¡0/4/25), (4/23–25/27) Drew, John (¡/20/32) Dudley, S.H. (¡2/8/23) Dula, Louis (5/4/35), (5/9/36), (9/¡9/37) Duncan, Frank (¡0/4/24), (¡0/ ¡8/24), (¡0/20/24), (5/2/25), (5/¡0/25), (9/¡9/25), (9/ 26/25), (¡0/2/25), (9/28/26), (3/9/27) (¡2/8/3¡), (6/8/36), (9/8/37), (9/¡9/37) Duncan, Warren (7/25/22), (8/¡6/22) Dunn, Jake (9/¡3/30), (7/ 22/39) Dyckman Oval (New York) (¡/¡¡/35), (9/¡3/35),

(9/¡5/35), (5/¡0/36), (6/ 26/38) Dykes, John (6/2¡/27) Eason Oilers (8/¡¡/36) East-West Game (9/¡0/33), (8/26/34), (8/¡¡/35), (8/ 23/36), (8/8/37), (8/2¡/38), (8/6/39), (8/¡8/40), (7/ 27/4¡), (8/¡6/42), (8/¡/43), (8/¡3/44), (7/29/45), (8/ ¡8/46), (7/27/47), (8/22/48) East-West League (E-W); disbandment (7/4/32), founding (¡/20/32); meetings (2/ 26/32), (3/¡3/32), (5/23/32); schedule (5/7/32), (7/4/32) Easter, Luke (2/¡8/43), (7/ ¡8/47), (¡0/3/48) Easterling, Howard (9/2¡/4¡), (7/2¡/42), (9/8/42), (9/ ¡3/42), (8/¡/43), (¡0/5/43), (8/¡¡/46) Eastern Colored League: champions (9/29/23), (¡0/ 3/24), (9/7/25), (9/26/26), (9/¡4/27); collapse of (4/ 29/28); criticism (6/20/25); founding of (¡2/¡6/22); inaugural game (4/28/23); meetings (2/24/23), (¡2/8/23), (2/23/24), (¡/24/25), (¡/ 6/26), (¡/¡¡–¡3/27), (2/ 2¡/28); meetings with NNL (¡/6/26), (¡/¡¡–¡3/27), (2/ 2¡/28); membership (5/ 26/24), (¡/24/25), (7/2¡/25), (¡/6/26), (7/¡0/26), (¡/¡¡– ¡3/27), (2/2¡/28), (3/8/28); schedules (2/23/24), (¡/ 24/25), (3/25/25); umpires (¡/24/25), (3/25/25), (6/ 20/25), (2/2¡/28), (6/30/28), (2/23/29) Ebbets Field (5/¡6/20), (7/ ¡¡/20), (7/3¡/2¡), (¡/¡¡/35), (5/¡8/35), (7/2/44), (¡/¡9/45) Eggleston, Mack (5/¡0/24) Ellis, Rocky (9/¡¡/34), (9/ ¡7/34), (9/27/34) Embry, William (4/28/23) Emery balls see Pitching Ethiopian Clowns (2/23/4¡), (¡2/27/4¡), (2/¡4/42) Evans, Felix “Chin” (9/¡8/38), (8/¡8/46) Evans, Orrin C. (2/¡0/34) Ewing, Buck (5/9/20), (4/ 30/2¡) Exhibition games (9/20/30),

Index (9/¡9/37), (9/25/38), (¡0/ 5/4¡), (8/9/42), (7/¡8/43), (9/9/43), (9/27/43), (¡/5/44), (¡0/¡/44), (8/¡5/46), (9/ 30/46), (4/¡8/47), (7/29/47), (8/24/48); between major and Negro Leagues clubs (¡0/2/22), (¡0/7/22), (¡0/ 8/23), (¡0/20/23); Kansas City Monarchs tour of Mexico (¡2/8/3¡); tour of Asia (3/9/27); at Yankee Stadium (7/5/30), (9/9/34), (9/30/34), (9/22/35), (9/26/37), (8/ 27/39); see also East-West game Extra-inning games (8/6/2¡), (8/¡6/22), (6/30/28), (8/ 24/35), (8/26/36), (9/8/37), (6/¡6/40), (5/¡2/46) Farrell, Luther (¡0/¡/26), (8/¡4/27), (¡0/¡/27), (¡0/ 4/27), (¡0/8/27), (¡0/¡¡/27), (¡0/¡3/27) Feller, Bob (¡0/5/4¡), (9/30/46) Fernandez, Jose (8/¡5/25) Fielding (4/27/25), (4/27/29), (8/4/29), (5/¡5/37); see also Triple plays Fields, Mason (¡2/29/40) Fields, Wilmer (5/4/47), (¡0/ 3/48) Fights (on-field) (5/¡0/25), (6/27/27), (¡0/¡¡/27), (6/ 3/29), (9/29/34), (¡/¡¡/35), (6/¡7/45) Fillmore, Johnny (5/¡0/42) Finch, Bob (4/7/45) Finner, John (5/9/20), (4/30/2¡) Flournoy, Pud (3/30/24), (7/ 5/30), (5/7/32) Forbes, Frank (5/7/32), (¡/ 3/4¡), (9/29/42), (¡/23/43), (¡/5/44), (¡/¡9/48) Forbes Field (Pittsburgh) (4/ 27/29), (9/20/30), (5/7/32), (3/22/36), (9/¡9/37), (5/ 5/40), (7/2¡/42), (9/¡0/42), (9/23/44), (9/¡8/45), (9/ 30/46) Force, William (6/26/23), (4/24/24) Ford, James (3/7/42), (6/ ¡8/44), (6/¡7/45) Foreman, Hooks (5/9/25) 44th and Parkside (baseball park, Philadelphia) (5/ 9/36), (8/2¡/43)

Index 48th and Spruce (baseball park, Philadelphia) (9/¡9/37) Foster, Andrew “Rube” (4/ 30/2¡), (8/26/23), (9/24/23), (¡0/3/24), (¡/6/26); admission to Kankakee asylum (9/2/26); baseball strategy of (8/22/23), (¡0/20/24); death of (¡2/9/30); and gas inhalation (5/26/25); at NNL meetings (2/¡3/20), (¡2/3/20) (¡/26/22), (¡2/7/22), (¡2/ 6/23), (2/9/24), (2/2/25), (4/9/25) Foster, Sarah (Mrs. Andrew “Rube”) (9/2/26) Foster, Willie (8/26/23), (9/ 6/26), (9/¡8/26), (9/2¡/26), (9/25/26), (9/29/26), (¡0/ ¡/26), (¡0/4/26), (¡0/9/26), (¡0/¡4/26), (4/23–25/27), (7/6/27), (9/¡9/27), (¡0/ ¡/27), (¡0/8/27), (¡0/¡3/27), (5/20/28), (9/9/28), (9/ 22/28), (9/25/28), (9/29/28), (¡0/5/28), (6/5/33), (9/9/33), (9/¡0/33) (5/¡2/34), (9/ ¡¡/34), (9/¡6/34), (5/4/35), (8/24/35), (9/5/37) Frick, Ford (2/¡8/43) Fuller, Jimmy (4/¡5/45) Fuster, John (3/7/42n) Gaines, Jonas (9/24/39), (8/ 3/4¡), (8/¡6/42), (6/¡¡/44), (6/28/47) Gans, Judy (5/7/32) Garcia, Silvio (7/6/47) Gardner, Kenneth “Ping” (4/28/23), (4/25/25), (6/3/29), (5/7/32) Gardner, Norman “Jelly” (8/¡4/2¡), (8/¡8/24), (4/ 27/25), (9/26/26), (¡0/¡4/26), (6/30/28) Gaston, Robert (5/¡0/4¡), (9/29/42) Gatewood, Bill (6/6/2¡), (8/6/2¡), (5/¡5/22) Gee, Rich (4/26/25) Gholston, Bert (4/28/23), (4/28/28), (9/22/28), (9/ 23/28), (5/7/32), (4/¡5/45) Gibson, Josh (8/2/30), (9/ ¡5/35), (9/2¡/35), (5/9/36), (8/¡¡/36), (8/27/39), (5/ ¡0/4¡), (5/3/42), (8/7/42), (9/8/42), (9/¡0/42), (5/ ¡5/43), (9/28/43), (¡0/5/43), (8/¡8/44), (9/¡7/44), (5/

200 5/45), (7/29/45), (9/¡3/45), (7/2¡/46); contract dispute of (5/5/40); death of (¡/20/47); in Dominican Republic (6/ ¡0/37); East-West game appearances (8/¡¡/35), (8/¡/43); home run feats (9/20/30), (5/¡0/36), (7/28/38); medical problems (9/29/42), (6/ ¡0/44); signing of, by Pittsburgh Crawfords (8/¡8/28); trade of (¡/¡9/37), (3/20/37), (8/¡8/40) Giles, George (¡2/8/3¡) Gillespie, Henry (5/20/26) Gilmore, Q.J. (¡2/3/20), (¡2/ 7/22), (¡2/6/23), (¡/6/26), (¡/27/27), (2/2¡/28), (¡2/8/3¡) Gipson, Alvin (8/2¡/43), (9/ 28/43), (6/4/44), (8/27/44) Gisentaner, Willie (5/¡/27), (8/¡4/27) Glass, Carl (7/28/28), (4/ 26/29) Glover, Tom (7/29/45), (5/ 6/46) Goodrich, Joe (5/¡0/24) Goodwin, Lon (3/9/27) Gottlieb, Ed (2/¡5/33), (2/ ¡0/34), (3/¡0/34), (¡/¡¡/35), (3/22/36), (2/¡8/39), (4/ 8/39), (6/20/39), (2/2/40), (¡/3/4¡), (2/23/4¡), (¡/23/43), (¡/5/44), (3/3/44), (¡/¡9/48) Grace, Willie (9/¡6/45) Grand Hotel (Chicago) (2/ 23/40), (¡2/27/4¡), (2/2¡/42), (¡2/27/42), (3/28/43), (2/ 24/47) Gray, Dolly (4/27/29), (9/¡/29) Greason, William (9/23/48), (9/30/48), (¡0/3/48) Green, Joe (2/¡3/20), (¡2/7/22) Green, Leslie (3/7/42) Green, Vernon (3/¡0/34), (¡/ 23/43), (¡/5/44), (3/3/44), (2/24/47), (¡/¡9/48) Greenberg Press (4/¡9/48) Greene, Jim (6/¡8/42) Greenfield, Francis (4/¡5/45) Greenlee, Gus (¡/20/32), (¡/ ¡0/33), (2/¡5/33), (3/¡¡/33), (9/¡0/33), (¡/¡3/34), (2/ ¡0/34), (3/¡0/34), (5/¡2/34), (6/28/34), (¡/¡¡/35), (3/ 8/35), (9/22/35), (¡/25/36), (3/7/36), (3/20/37), (¡/ 28/38), (2/¡8/39), (4/8/39), (6/¡8/40), (2/28/42), (¡2/ ¡5/44), (¡/¡9/45), (2/20/46)

Greenlee Field (Pittsburgh) (7/8/32), (6/5/33), (9/¡8/35), (3/22/36); cost of (4/29/32); inaugural game of (4/29/32); night baseball at (8/¡3/32), (9/¡8/32); razing of (4/ 29/32), (2/¡8/39) Greenridge, Vic (7/2/44) Greer, J.B. (6/20/39), (2/ 23/4¡), (2/2¡/42) Grier, Claude “Red” (¡0/2/26), (¡0/3/26), (¡0/6/26), (¡0/ ¡¡/26) Gri‡th, Bob “Schoolboy” (8/ ¡¡/36), (5/¡5/37), (5/¡4/38), (5/¡3/39), (7/¡8/47), (8/ 22/48) Gri‡th, Clark C. (6/¡8/42), (3/28/43) Gri‡th Stadium (Washington D.C.) (7/25/32), (5/¡4/38), (6/¡8/42), (9/8/42), (9/9/43), (9/2¡/43), (9/24/43), (9/ 24/44), (9/¡8/45), (8/¡5/46) Haliburtons (Duncan, Okla.) (8/9/37) Hall, H.G. (2/¡5/33), (3/ ¡0/34), (6/28/34), (¡/¡¡/35), (7/29/35), (¡/25/36), (2/ 20/37), (2/¡9/38), (¡2/¡¡/38), (6/20/39), (¡2/9/39), (¡2/ 29/40), (2/23/4¡), (2/2¡/42), (¡2/27/42) Hamilton, Jim (9/¡7/46) Hampton, Lewis (8/6/2¡), (4/28/23), (4/24/24) Hamtramck Stadium (Detroit) (5/4/35) Handy, W.C. (¡0/3/43) Hardin, John (2/¡2/39), (¡/ ¡9/45) Hardware Field (Cleveland) (6/27/3¡) Harney, George (¡0/20/23), (5/3/24), (5/¡0/25), (9/ 25/26), (¡0/2/26), (¡0/¡0/26), (¡0/3/27), (¡0/¡0/27), (¡0/ ¡¡/27), (4/28/28) Harris, Andy (7/¡0/26) Harris, Henry (7/28/28) Harris, Moe (5/7/32) Harris, Vic (3/3¡/34), (7/ 28/38), (6/¡8/42), (8/¡/43), (9/23/43), (9/24/43) Harrisburg Giants (6/30/25), (5/20/26), (9/26/26), (8/ ¡4/27), (2/2¡/28); and ECL membership (¡2/8/23); opening days (4/24/24),

201 (4/25/25), (5/¡–¡3/26), (5/¡/27); schedules (3/ 25/25); won–lost records (9/7/25), (7/¡0/27) Harrisburg–St. Louis Stars see St. Louis Stars (NAL) Harrist, Earl (7/3/47) Harvey, Bill (8/24/35), (9/ 2¡/35) Harvey, Bob (9/¡7/46) Hastie, William (¡2/9/39) Havana Cubans (2/¡4/42) Hawkins, Lem (¡0/¡¡/24), (¡0/¡9/24), (¡0/2/25), (9/¡9/26), (9/28/26) Hayes, Bun (7/5/30) Hayes, Johnny (5/¡0/4¡) Hayes, Tom H., Jr. (¡2/9/39), (¡2/27/4¡), (2/2¡/42), (3/ 28/43), (3/5/44), (2/24/47), (7/¡7/47) Hayes, Wilbur (¡2/27/4¡), (2/2¡/42), (2/24/47) Heard, Jehosie (¡0/3/48) Heilmann, Harry (¡0/20/23) Henderson, Arthur “Rats” (4/26/25), (¡0/¡/26), (¡0/ 4/26), (¡0/9/26), (¡0/¡0/26), (¡0/¡3/26) Henry, Charley (3/28/42) Henry, Charlie (5/20/26) Hensley, Logan “Eggie” (9/ ¡9/25), (9/¡2/26), (9/24/28), (9/29/28), (9/¡3/30) Hernandez, Ramon (5/¡0/30) Hewitt, Joe (6/26/24) Heydler, John (2/5/33) Hill, Jimmy (5/5/40), (5/3/42), (6/6/43) Hill, Pete (5/9/20) Hilldale (5/2/25), (6/25/25), (9/26/26); ballpark (2/ ¡7/30); and ECL membership (¡2/¡6/22), (3/8/28); financial problems (6/¡5/32); and NNL membership (¡2/ 3/20); opening days (4/ 28/23), (4/24/24), (4/25/25), (5/¡–¡3/26), (5/¡/27), (4/ 27/29), (5/7/32); pennants (9/29/23), (¡0/3/24), (9/7/25); won–lost records (7/¡0/27), (9/?/29); World Series (¡0/3– ¡0/20/24), (¡0/¡–¡0/¡0/25) Hilldale Park (2/¡7/30) Hilson, Rocky (4/¡5/45) Hincli›e Stadium (Paterson N.J.) (5/9/36) Hines, John (5/¡0/25), (9/ 28/26), (¡0/9/26), (7/6/27)

Hodges, Paul (6/6/48) Holland, Bill (5/7/2¡), (8/ 6/2¡), (5/6/22), (7/5/30), (9/20/30), (9/20/36), (9/ 26/37), (5/¡3/39) Holloway, Crush (9/7/3¡), (4/¡5/45) Holtz, Eddie (6/¡¡/23) Homestead Grays (¡0/8/25), (3/¡/29) (9/20/30), (3/ 22/36), (8/3/4¡), (5/9/42), (6/¡8/42), (8/7/42), (8/ ¡2/45), (2/9/46), (7/2¡/46), (8/¡¡/46), (7/¡8/48); and collapse of NNL (¡¡/29/48); first New York appearance (8/ ¡4/27); league membership (¡/20/32), (6/23/33), (3/ ¡0/34), (9/¡9/37), (7/28/38), (5/¡3/39), (6/8/44), (7/2/44); merger with Detroit Wolves (7/4/32); NNL playo›s (9/¡4–9/¡7/48); opening days (4/27/29), (5/7/32), (4/ 29/33), (5/¡2/34), (5/4/35), (5/9/36), (5/¡5/37), (5/¡4/38), (5/5/40), (5/¡0/4¡), (5/3/42), (5/¡5/43), (5/6/44), (5/5/45), (5/5/46), (5/4/47), (5/2/48); pennants (7/5/37), (7/?/38), (9/5/38), (7/4/39), (9/8/40), (7/6/4¡), (9/2¡/4¡), (9/7/42), (7/5/43), (9/6/43), (8/¡8/44), (9/4/44), (7/4/45), (9/3/45), (9/5/48), (9/¡4/48); won-lost records (7/4/35), (9/¡4/36), (9/¡0/39), (9/?/4¡), (6/30/46), (9/4/46); World Series (9/8– 9/29/42), (9/2¡–¡0/5/43), (9/¡7–9/24/44), (9/¡3– 9/20/45), (9/26–¡0/5/48) Hopper Field (5/¡/26) Hoskins, Bill (9/24/39) Hoskins, Dave (9/¡7/44), (5/ 5/45) Hotel Theresa (New York) (¡/5/44), (3/3/44), (¡2/ ¡5/44), (2/20/46), (¡/¡9/48) House of David (8/¡3/32) Houston Eagles (¡¡/29/48) Howard, Carranza (9/2¡/4¡) Howard, Elston (9/¡2/48); signing of, by Kansas City Monarchs (9/¡2/48n) Howe News Bureau (3/5/44) Hubbard, DeHart (¡/¡3/34), (2/20/37), (¡2/27/4¡), (2/ 2¡/42) Hubbard, Jess (¡0/2/27), (¡0/ 3/27), (4/29/32)

Index Huber, Johnny (9/¡3/43), (9/ 26/43), (9/23/44) Hubert, Willie (9/24/39), (5/ 5/40), (6/¡6/40) Hudson, Eugene (4/¡5/45) Hudspeth, Robert “Highpockets” (4/26/25) Hueston, William C. (¡/ 27/27), (5/¡9/27), (2/2¡/28), (¡/¡4/30), (3/26/32) Hughes, Sammy (8/¡¡/35), (8/¡¡/36), (5/¡0/42), (8/9/42) Hunter, Bert (9/¡0/33), (8/ 24/35), (9/20/36), (5/¡0/4¡) Hunter, Ed (5/6/46) Huston, Jess (5/¡3/38) Hutchinson, Willie (7/29/39) I Was Right on Time (O’Neil) (7/2¡/42n) Indianapolis ABCs (5/9/20), (9/24/20n), (6/28/2¡), (7/ 3¡/2¡) (7/4/3¡); franchise moves (¡/27/27), (4/29/33); and inaugural NNL game (5/2/20); and NNL membership (2/¡3/20), (6/2¡/24), (6/ 20/39); opening days (4/ 30/2¡), (4/28/23), (5/3/24), (5/2/25), (5/¡/26), (5/2/3¡), (4/29/33), (5/¡3/38), (5/ ¡4/39); won–lost records (¡0/ 2/2¡), (¡0/¡/22), (7/7/25), (7/ 4/39) Indianapolis Athletics (5/8/37) Indianapolis Clowns (5/7/44), (6/7/44), (7/4/44), (9/3/44), (5/6/45), (6/¡7/45), (5/ ¡2/46), (5/4/47), (7/6/47), (5/¡/48); see also Cincinnati Clowns Indianapolis Recorder (7/ 28/28) Irvin, Monte (7/27/4¡n), (2/ ¡8/43), (9/24/46), (9/29/46) Israel, Clarence (5/5/46), (9/ ¡7/46) Jackie Robinson: My Own Story (Robinson) (4/¡9/48) Jackson, Norman “Jelly” (7/ 28/38) Jackson, R.R. (2/20/37), (7/ 4/37), (¡2/¡¡/37), (2/¡9/38), (3/5/38), (9/¡8/38), (9/ 25/38), (¡2/¡0/38), (6/20/39), (¡2/9/39), (¡2/27/4¡), (3/ 28/42), (¡2/27/42) Jackson, R.T. (2/2¡/28), (¡/ ¡4/30), (3/20/30)

Index Jackson, Rufus “Sonnyman” (6/28/34), (¡/¡¡/35), (6/ 20/39), (2/2/40), (¡/23/43), (¡/5/44), (3/28/46), (2/ 24/47), (¡/¡9/48) Jackson, Stanford (9/26/26) Jackson, Thomas (¡2/¡6/22), (6/2¡/27), (2/2¡/28) Jacksonville Red Caps (2/ ¡9/38), (2/¡2/39), (5/¡¡/4¡), (5/¡0/42) Jamison, Caesar (7/¡¡/20), (4/28/23), (4/28/28), (5/ 7/32) Je›erson, George (9/¡8/45) Je›erson, Willie (5/¡3/38), (7/28/38), (9/¡3/45) Jenkins, Clarence “Fats” (9/ 4/24) Jenkins, James (4/¡8/47) Jessup, Gentry (9/2/43), (9/ ¡3/43), (5/7/44), (5/5/46), (5/¡2/46), (6/¡5/47), (7/ 27/47), (8/22/48) Jethroe, Sam (7/29/47), (7/ 8/48) Jewell, Warner (4/9/25), (¡/ 6/26), (¡/27–28/27), (¡/ ¡4/30) Jimenez, Bienvenido (5/20/28) Johnson, Allen (2/¡4/42), (2/ 28/42), (3/7/42), (4/¡¡/43) Johnson, Charles B. (¡/24/25), (¡/6/26) Johnson, George (¡0/4/24), (¡0/¡9/24), (6/25/25) Johnson, Harvey (4/9/25) Johnson, Jack (7/3¡/2¡), (9/ 20/36) Johnson, Jesse (¡2/27/4¡), (2/ 2¡/42) Johnson, Jimmy (5/¡3/39) Johnson, John H. (¡/5/47), (2/24/47), (¡/¡9/48), (9/ ¡4/48) Johnson, Joseph (2/20/37n) Johnson, Judy (8/¡9/22), (¡0/ 4/24), (¡0/¡¡/24), (¡0/¡4/24), (¡0/¡9/24), (6/25/25), (¡0/ 3/25), (5/¡–¡3/26), (9/20/35), (¡/¡9/37), (3/20/37) Johnson, Louis “Dicta” (5/ 9/20), (7/3¡/2¡) Johnson, Oscar “Heavy” (¡0/ ¡4/24), (¡0/¡8/24), (¡0/20/24) Johnson, Tom (¡0/20/23) Johnston, Wade (5/9/25), (7/ 6/27), (¡2/8/3¡) Jones, Ellis (8/¡¡/48) Jones, Ernest “Mint” (7/6/4¡n)

202 Jones, John (7/¡4/29) Jones, Stuart “Slim” (8/26/34), (9/9/34), (9/¡¡/34), (9/ ¡6/34), (9/30/34), (¡0/2/34), (8/¡¡/35), (9/¡/35), (¡2/ ¡0/38) Jones, William (¡0/4/26) Joseph, Newt (5/3/24), (¡0/ ¡2/24), (¡0/¡8/24), (5/¡/26), (9/¡9/26), (9/20/26), (8/ 2/30), (¡2/8/3¡) Kankakee asylum see Foster, Andrew “Rube” Kansas City Athletics (8/ 28/48) Kansas City Monarchs (7/ 5/20), (9/24/20), (5/7/2¡), (8/30/25), (9/¡2/26), (9/ 22/35), (7/4/37), (9/¡9/37), (7/4/38), (7/4/4¡), (7/20/4¡), (9/¡4/4¡), (6/¡8/42), (6/ 2¡/43), (7/2/44), (8/6/44), (8/26/45), (7/6/47), (7/ ¡7/47), (7/7/48); fans (9/ ?/29); and night baseball (5/9/30), (5/¡2/30), (6/ 2¡/30), (8/2/30); and NNL membership (2/¡3/20), (5/2/3¡); opening days (5/ 9/20), (4/30/2¡), (5/6/22), (4/28/23), (5/3/24), (5/2/25), (5/¡/26), (4/23–25/27), (4/ 28/28), (4/26/29), (5/9/30), (5/8/37), (5/¡3/38), (5/ ¡4/39), (5/¡2/40), (5/¡¡/4¡), (5/¡0/42), (5/¡6/43), (5/ 7/44), (5/6/45), (5/5/46), (5/4/47), (5/¡/48); pennants (9/24/23), (¡0/3/24), (7/ 7/25), (9/28/25), (7/5/26), (7/4/29), (9/?/29), (7/4/39), (8/3¡/39), (7/4/40), (9/8/40), (7/6/4¡), (9/?/4¡), (7/4/42), (7/?/46), (9/¡/46), (9/6/48); playo›s (9/¡8–9/29/26), (9/ 8/37), (9/¡¡–9/23/48); won– lost records (¡0/2/2¡), (¡0/ ¡/22), (9/9/28), (7/6/30), (7/4/38), (7/4/44); World Series (¡0/3–¡0/20/24), (¡0/¡– ¡0/¡0/25), (9/8–9/29/42) Keenan, James (¡2/¡6/22), (2/23/24), (¡/6/26), (¡/¡¡/27), (5/¡9/27) (2/2¡/28), (¡/ ¡5/29), (2/23/29), (2/¡7/30), (9/20/30) Keller, Charley (9/30/46) Kemp, Ducky (4/¡5/45) Kent, Richard (¡/26/22),

(¡2/7/22), (¡2/6/23), (2/ 9/24), (4/9/25), (¡/¡¡/27), (¡/27/27), (¡/¡4/30), (3/ 20/30) Kenyon, Harry (7/5/23), (2/27/25n), (5/¡/26) Keys, G.B. (¡2/7/22), (¡2/6/23), (2/9/24), (2/2/25), (4/9/25), (¡/6/26), (9/2/26) (¡/¡¡/27), (¡/27/27), (¡/¡4/30), (3/ 20/30) Kieran, John (4/¡9/48) Killefer, Bill (7/3/47) Kimbro, Henry (6/¡6/40) Kincannon, Harry (8/26/34), (8/24/35) King, Leonard (4/30/2¡) Klein, Chuck (7/6/47) Klep, Eddie (5/5/46) Knox, Elwood (2/¡3/20) LaGuardia, Fiorello (5/¡8/35), (5/¡0/4¡), (9/¡3/42) LaMarque, Jim (9/23/46), (8/22/48), (9/23/48) Lancaster, Roy (7/5/30) Lanctot, Neil (2/¡8/43n) Landis, Kenesaw Mountain (2/¡8/43), (4/26/45) Langford, Sam: benefit game for (9/20/36) Latimer, ? (4/30/2¡) League Park (Cleveland) (9/ ¡6/45), (6/6/48) Leak, Curtis (¡/5/44), (¡/5/47), (¡/¡9/48) LeBlanc, Julio (5/9/20) Lee, Scrip (¡0/¡2/24), (¡0/20/24), (5/2/25) Lemon, Bob (9/30/46), (7/ 7/48) Lend-A-Hand Club (Washington D.C.) (9/9/43) Leonard, Walter “Buck” (8/ ¡¡/36), (5/¡5/37), (7/28/38), (6/4/39n), (9/2¡/4¡), (7/ 2¡/42n), (9/2¡/43), (¡0/5/43), (7/2/44), (9/¡7/44), (7/ ¡8/47); debut with Homestead Grays (4/22/34); EastWest game appearances (8/ ¡¡/35), (8/8/37), (8/¡8/40), (7/27/4¡), (8/¡/43) Leuschner, William (¡/¡0/35), (6/20/39), (¡/3/4¡), (2/ 23/4¡), (¡/23/43), (¡/5/44), (2/24/47), (¡/¡9/48) Levis, Oscar (4/24/24), (5/ 3/25), (8/¡5/25) Lewis, Cary B. (2/¡3/20)

203 Lewis, Ira (¡2/3/20) Lewis, Joe (5/¡0/24), (¡0/¡¡/24) Lewis, John Henry (¡/25/36) Lewis, Milton (¡0/¡0/27) Lewis, R.S. (8/26/23), (2/ 2/25), (4/9/25), (¡/27/27) Lewis, Rufus (9/¡7/46), (9/ 24/46), (9/29/46), (8/22/48) Linares, Rogelio (7/25/43) Lincoln Giants (7/¡¡/20), (5/26/24), (8/¡4/27), (8/ 4/29), (9/¡/29), (7/5/30); disbandment (9/20/30); ECL membership (¡2/¡6/22), (5/ ¡9/27), (2/2¡/28); opening days (4/24/24), (4/26/25), (5/¡–¡3/26), (5/¡/27), (4/ 29/28), (4/27/29); won–lost records (9/7/25), (7/4/29) Lindsay, Leonard (9/¡3/43) Linton, Ben (¡/¡9/45) Lloyd, John Henry (4/30/2¡), (8/6/2¡), (¡/26/22), (8/ ¡6/22), (7/4/24), (5/26/25), (2/23/29), (9/¡/29), (5/ 29/3¡), (9/¡0/33) Lockett, Lester (9/23/43), (6/ 29/47) Lockhart, Hubert (¡0/2/26), (¡0/9/26), (¡0/2/27), (¡0/ 3/27), (¡0/¡0/27), (¡0/¡3/27) Longley, Red (7/4/38), (9/ 2/43) Lorenzo, Jesus (4/26/29) Louis, Joe (8/6/39), (9/¡9/46) Louisville White Sox (5/2/3¡) Love, Slim (¡/¡4/24) Lowe, William (7/28/28) Lucadello, Johnny (¡0/5/4¡) Luna Bowl (Cleveland) (4/ 28/28) Lundy, Dick (5/¡6/20), (5/ 26/25), (¡0/¡/26), (4/27/29), (9/7/3¡), (5/7/32), (3/¡0/34), (6/28/34) Mack Park (Detroit) (7/7/29) (7/¡4/29) Mack Park (Zanesville, Ohio) (7/28/38) Mackey, Raleigh “Biz” (4/ 24/24), (¡0/4/24), (¡0/¡¡/24), (¡0/¡8/24), (¡0/8/25), (¡0/ ¡0/25), (5/20/26), (3/9/27), (4/27/29), (6/3/29), (5/ 29/3¡), (¡/25/36) (9/¡9/37) Madison, Robert (7/4/38) Majestic Hotel (Cleveland) (¡/20/32) Major leagues and integration

(2/5/33) (8/9/42), (2/¡8/43), (¡/¡9/45), (4/7/45), (4/¡6/45) (4/26/45), (¡0/23/45), (2/ 9/46), (4/4/46), (5/¡4/46), (4/¡0/47), (7/3/47), (7/6/47), (7/¡7/47), (7/29/47), (8/ 26/47), (7/7/48), (7/8/48), (8/24/48), (8/¡¡/48), (8/ 28/48), (¡¡/9/48) Malarcher, Dave (6/26/23), (7/5/23), (¡2/6/23) (6/ 26/24), (8/¡8/24), (5/¡0/25), (9/2¡/26), (9/28/26), (¡0/ 9/26), (¡0/¡4/26), (7/6/27), (9/24/27), (¡0/4/27), (6/ 30/28), (3/¡¡/33) Manella, ? (5/2¡/2¡) Manley, Abe (¡/¡¡/35), (¡/ 25/36) (3/7/36), (3/22/36), (¡/¡9/37), (¡/28/38), (2/ ¡8/39), (6/20/39), (¡2/9/39), (2/2/40), (2/23/40), (¡/3/4¡), (2/23/4¡), (2/¡4/42), (2/ 28/42), (¡/23/43), (¡/5/44), (3/3/44), (2/20/46), (¡/5/47), (2/24/47), (¡/¡9/48) Manley, E›a (5/¡8/35), (6/ 20/39), (¡2/9/39), (2/2/40), (¡/3/4¡), (2/23/4¡), (2/¡4/42), (2/28/42), (¡/23/43), (¡/ 5/44), (3/3/44), (¡/¡9/48), (¡¡/9/48) Manning, Max (9/4/46), (9/ ¡9/46), (9/25/46), (9/30/46), (7/27/47), (8/24/48) Marcelle, Oliver (5/26/25), (¡0/3/26), (¡0/¡¡/27), (4/ 27/29) Margolis, William (3/28/43), (2/24/47) Markham, John (5/9/30), (9/ 24/43), (9/29/43), (¡0/3/43) Marquez, Luis (8/24/48), (9/ 26/48) Marshall, Jack (5/9/20), (4/ 28/28) Marshall, William “Jack” (8/ ¡¡/36) Martin, B.B. (2/20/37), (2/ ¡9/38), (¡2/¡¡/38), (2/¡2/39), (¡2/9/39), (¡2/29/40), (2/ 23/4¡), (¡2/27/4¡), (3/28/43), (¡/5/44), (3/5/44), (6/¡8/44) Martin, J.B. (¡2/¡¡/37), (2/ ¡9/38), (3/5/38), (¡2/¡¡/38), (¡2/9/39), (2/2/40), (¡2/ 29/40), (¡/3/4¡), (2/23/4¡), (¡2/27/4¡), (2/¡4/42), (¡2/ 27/42), (¡/23/43), (3/28/43), (¡/5/44), (3/5/44), (8/

Index ¡3/44n), (¡2/¡5/44), (6/ ¡7/45), (¡2/¡2/45), (2/20/46), (8/¡5/46), (2/24/47), (¡2/ 29/47), (¡¡/29/48) Martin, Pu› (4/28/28) Martin, W.S. (3/20/30), (¡2/ ¡¡/38), (¡2/9/39), (¡2/29/40), (2/23/4¡), (¡2/27/4¡), (2/ ¡4/42), (2/2¡/42), (3/28/43), (3/5/44) Martinez, Horacio (7/25/43), (7/2/44) Martin’s Park (Memphis) (5/¡3/38), (9/¡8/38) Maryland Park (5/¡¡/23), (¡0/ 5/24) Mason, Benjamin (¡/¡0/33) Matchett, Jack (5/¡2/40), (9/ 8/42), (9/29/42), (9/¡8/45) Mathis, Verdel (7/4/42), (9/2/43), (7/29/45), (5/¡/48), (6/6/48) Matlock, Leroy (9/¡3/30), (7/ 25/32), (9/¡5/35), (9/¡8/35), (8/23/36), (8/9/37), (5/¡0/4¡) Matthews, John (2/¡3/20), (¡2/ 3/20), (¡2/6/23) Mayo, George (2/23/29) Mays, Willie (8/¡¡/48), (9/ ¡¡/48), (9/¡2/48), (9/30/48) Mayweather, Eldridge (3/7/42) McAllister, Frank (5/¡3/38), (3/7/42) McCall, Bill (6/26/24), (¡0/ 4/24) McClure, Bob (2/27/25) McCrary, Fred (2/28/42), (9/29/42), (4/¡5/45), (¡/ ¡9/48) McCurrine, Jim (5/¡2/46) McDaniels, Booker (5/¡6/43), (8/27/44) McDevitt, John J. (¡2/¡6/22) McDonald, Luther (9/25/28), (8/24/35) McDonald, Webster (5/¡/26), (9/20/26), (¡0/2/26), (¡0/ 3/26), (¡0/4/27), (7/25/32), (2/¡0/34), (3/¡0/34), (6/ 28/34), (9/¡6/34), (8/26/36), (¡/¡9/45) McDu‡e, Terris (5/¡5/37), (9/¡9/37), (5/¡4/38), (5/ 9/42), (5/¡0/42), (7/2/44), (8/¡8/44), (¡0/¡/44), (4/ 7/45), (5/6/46), (5/4/47) McGraw, John J. (2/5/33) McHenry, Henry (¡2/8/3¡), (8/¡8/40), (7/20/4¡), (5/ ¡0/42), (5/4/47)

Index McKinnis, Gready (7/4/43), (8/¡/43), (9/26/43), (9/ 29/43), (8/6/44), (8/26/45) McNair, Hurley (¡0/3/24), (¡0/¡2/24), (¡0/¡8/24), (¡0/ 20/24), (9/20/26) Memphis Red Sox (7/¡5/23), (8/26/23) (5/9/30), (5/ ¡2/30), (7/28/38), (7/4/42), (9/2/43), (9/27/43), (¡/5/44), (6/¡8/44), (6/¡7/45), (6/ 6/48); NAL playo›s (9/ ¡8/38); NNL membership (6/2¡/24), (¡/6/26), (¡/ 27/27), (¡/23/3¡); opening days (5/2/25), (4/23–25/27), (4/28/28), (4/26/29), (4/ 25/30), (5/8/37), (5/¡3/38), (5/¡4/39), (5/¡2/40), (5/ ¡¡/4¡), (5/¡0/42), (5/¡6/43), (5/7/44), (5/6/45), (5/4/47), (5/¡/48), pennants (7/4/38); won–lost records (7/7/25), (7/4/39), (7/4/44) Mendez, Jose (¡0/4/24), (¡0/ ¡9/24), (¡0/20/24), (¡0/3/25), (9/2¡/26), (¡0/3¡/28) Meyers, George (¡0/2/22) Miller, Bob (8/22/23) Miller, Eddie “Buck” (5/ ¡0/25), (¡0/¡0/27), (6/30/28), (9/24/28), (9/30/28) Miller, Henry (7/27/47) Miller, Percy (9/20/25) Mills, Charles (2/¡3/20), (¡2/ 3/20), (¡/26/22) Milwaukee Bears (4/28/23), (7/¡5/23) Minneapolis-St. Paul Gophers (3/28/42) Minosa, Orestes “Minnie” (5/2/48), (8/28/48) Mirabel, Juanelo (6/25/25) Mitchell, Alonzo “Hooks” (¡0/5/26), (2/¡9/38), (2/¡2/39) Mitchell, George (2/¡5/33), (2/¡9/38), (¡2/¡¡/38), (2/ ¡2/39), (¡2/29/40), (2/23/4¡), (¡2/27/4¡), (2/2¡/42), (¡/ 23/43), (4/¡¡/43), (¡/¡9/45), (2/24/47) Mitchell, William (¡2/¡¡/38) Molina, Augustin (2/¡3/20), (5/¡9/27) Monroe, Al (3/¡¡/33), (2/ 20/37), (3/20/37) Montalvo, Estaban (5/¡8/24), (5/¡9/27) Montreal Royals (¡0/23/45), (2/9/46)

204 Moody, Frank (5/¡2/40) Moore, Dobie (5/6/22), (¡0/ 3/24), (¡0/¡¡/24), (¡0/¡2/24), (¡0/¡8/24), (¡0/20/24), (9/ ¡9/25) Moore, Henry L. (2/20/37), (2/¡9/38), (9/25/38), (¡2/ ¡¡/38) Moore, Roy (¡0/2/22) Moreland, Nate (6/¡6/40), (5/4/47) Morney, Leroy (3/3¡/34), (9/9/34), (5/¡0/4¡) Morris, Barney (5/4/35), (5/ ¡5/37), (5/¡3/39), (6/¡¡/44) Morris, Harold (¡0/4/24) Morton, Ferdinand, Q. (3/ 8/35), (3/7/36), (7/5/36), (¡/¡9/37), (¡/28/38) Moss, Porter (7/28/38), (7/ 6/4¡), (5/¡6/43), (7/¡8/43), (8/¡/43), (9/27/43) Mothel, Dink (¡0/¡¡/24), (¡0/ 20/24), (¡0/¡/25), (9/¡8/26), (9/¡9/26), (9/20/26), (¡2/ 8/3¡) Muchnick, Isadore (4/¡6/45) Muehlebach Stadium (Kansas City) (¡0/¡¡/24), (¡0/¡2/24), (8/2/30); see also Ruppert Stadium (Kansas City) Municipal Stadium (Cleveland) (9/¡3/45) Munro Elias Baseball Bureau (2/26/32), (5/7/32n), (3/ 3/44) Murray, Mitch (9/20/25), (9/ 27/25), (6/27/27), (¡0/2/28) Murray, Ray (7/7/48) Musial, Stan (9/30/46) Nashua (New England League) (4/4/46) Nashville Elite Giants (Detroit, Columbus) (6/28/34), (9/ 22/35); founding of (¡/7/2¡); franchise moves (5/4/35); NNL membership (3/20/30), (¡/23/3¡); opening days (4/25/30), (4/29/33), (5/ ¡2/34); won–loss records (7/6/30), (7/8/33), (7/4/34), (7/4/35); see also Baltimore Elite Giants; Washington Elite Giants National Baseball Hall of Fame (¡2/9/30), (¡/20/47), (7/3/47) The National Pastime (2/ ¡8/43n) Negro American League:

champions (9/8/37), (9/ ¡8/38), (8/3¡/39), (9/8/40) (9/?/4¡), (9/7/42), (9/¡3/43), (9/3/44), (9/3/45), (9/¡/46), (9/¡5/47), (9/23/48); contested pennants (7/4/37); founding of (2/20/37); franchise changes (2/¡9/38), (2/¡2/39), (6/20/39), (¡2/ 9/39), (¡2/29/40), (¡2/27/4¡), (¡2/27/42), (3/5/44), (2/ 24/47), (¡¡/29/48); meetings (¡2/¡¡/37), (2/¡9/38), (¡2/ ¡¡/38), (2/¡2/39), (¡2/9/39), (2/23/40), (¡2/29/40), (2/ 23/4¡), (¡2/27/4¡), (2/2¡/42), (3/7/42), (¡2/27/42), (3/ 28/43), (3/5/44), (¡2/¡5/44), (¡2/¡2/45), (2/24/47), (¡2/ 29/47); o‡cial baseball (¡2/¡¡/37); playo›s (9/8/37), (9/¡8/38), (8/3¡/39), (9/¡¡– 9/23/48); and post-season series with NNL (9/¡9/37) Negro League Baseball: The Rise and Ruin of a Black Institution (Lanctot) (2/¡8/43n) Negro Major Baseball League (3/28/42) Negro National League (¡920– ¡93¡) (NNL): associate members (¡2/3/20), (5/ 7/2¡n), (¡/26/22), (¡2/7/22); champions (9/24/20), (¡0/ 2/2¡), (¡0/¡/22), (9/24/23), (¡0/3/24), (9/28/25), (9/ 29/26), (9/25/27), (¡0/5/28), (9/?/29), (9/¡3/30), (7/ 4/3¡n); constitution (2/ ¡3/20); disbandment of (3/26/32); founding of (2/¡3/20); franchise changes (7/¡5/23), (¡2/6/23), (2/ 9/24), (6/2¡/24), (2/2/25), (¡/6/26), (7/¡9/26), (¡/ 27/27), (7/6/27), (2/2¡/28), (3/20/30), (¡/23/3¡); inaugural game (5/2/20); meetings (2/¡3/20), (¡2/3/20), (¡/ 26/22), (¡2/7/22), (¡2/6/23), (2/9/24), (2/2/25), (¡/6/26), (¡/¡¡/27), (¡/27/27), (5/ ¡9/27), (2/2¡/28), (¡/¡4/30), (3/20/30), (¡/23/3¡); playo›s (9/¡9–9/28/25), (9/¡8– 9/29/26), (9/¡9–9/25/27), (9/22–¡0/5/28), (9/¡3/30) Negro National League (¡933– ¡948): collapse of (¡¡/29/48); constitution (2/¡5/33),

205 (2/24/47); franchise changes (4/29/33), (¡0/7/33), (2/ ¡0/34), (6/28/34), (¡/¡¡/35), (6/¡8/36), (3/5/38), (4/8/39), (6/20/39), (4/¡¡/43); meetings (¡/¡0/33) (2/¡5/33), (3/ ¡¡/33), (4/29/33), (6/23/33), (¡/¡3/34), (2/¡0/34), (3/ ¡0/34), (6/28/34), (¡/¡¡/35), (3/8/35), (¡/25/36), (3/7/36), (3/22/36), (6/¡8/36), (¡/ ¡9/37), (3/20/37), (¡/28/38), (3/5/38), (2/¡8/39), (2/2/40), (2/23/40), (¡/3/4¡), (2/ 23/4¡), (2/¡4/42), (2/28/42), (¡/23/43), (4/¡¡/43), (¡/5/44), (¡2/¡2/45), (2/20/46), (¡/ 5/47), (2/24/47), (¡/¡9/48); o‡cial baseball (5/4/35), (3/22/36), (6/¡8/36), (5/ ¡4/38), (¡/5/44), (¡2/¡5/44); pennant controversies (¡0/ 7/33), (7/5/36), (9/2¡/36); playo›s (¡0/7/33), (9/¡¡– ¡0/2/34), (9/¡3–9/2¡/35), (9/2¡/36), (9/¡4–9/¡7/48); schedule (6/28/34), (3/ 22/36), (3/20/37), (2/¡8/39), (¡/3/4¡) Negro Southern League (3/ 2/20), (¡/27/27), (5/2/3¡n) Neil, Ray (6/¡5/47) Neil Park (Columbus) (4/ 30/2¡), (4/29/33), (5/4/35) New Orleans Creoles (4/¡8/47) New Orleans-St. Louis Stars see St. Louis Stars (NAL) New York Black Yankees (4/ 29/32), (9/9/34), (9/30/34), (¡/25/36), (8/26/36), (9/ 20/36), (6/26/38), (6/¡6/40), (7/20/4¡), (2/¡4/42), (2/ 28/42), (3/7/42), (6/4/44), (6/28/47); and league membership (5/23/32), (2/¡0/34), (6/¡8/36), (¡¡/29/48); opening days (5/¡5/37), (5/¡4/38), (5/¡3/39), (5/5/40), (5/ ¡0/4¡), (5/9/42), (5/¡5/43), (5/6/44), (5/5/46), (5/4/47), (5/2/48); won–lost records (9/¡4/36), (7/?/38), (7/4/39), (9/¡0/39), (9/8/40), (9/?/4¡), (9/7/42), (7/5/43), (9/6/43), (9/4/44), (7/4/45n), (9/ 3/45), (6/30/46), (9/4/46) New York Cubans (9/22/35), (5/¡0/36), (6/¡6/40), (7/ 20/4¡), (6/¡4/42), (7/25/43), (6/¡¡/44), (7/2/44), (8/

27/44), (9/4/44), (4/¡8/47), (7/6/47), (7/¡8/48); admission of, to NNL (¡/¡¡/35); NNL playo›s (9/¡3–9/2¡/35), (9/2¡/4¡); opening days (5/ 4/35), (5/9/36), (5/¡5/37), (5/¡3/39n), (5/5/40), (5/ ¡0/4¡), (5/9/42), (5/¡5/43), (5/6/44), (5/5/45), (5/5/46), (5/4/47), (5/2/48); pennants (9/¡/35), (9/?/4¡), (9/8/47); won-lost records (7/4/35), (9/¡4/36), (7/4/39), (9/ ¡0/39n), (9/8/40), (9/7/42), (7/5/43), (9/6/43), (9/4/44), (7/4/45), (6/30/46), (9/4/46); World Series (9/¡9–9/28/47) New York Giants (ML) (7/ ¡7/47), (8/¡¡/48) New York Times (4/¡9/48) Newark Browns (3/¡3/32), (5/7/32), (7/4/32) Newark Dodgers (2/¡0/34), (5/¡2/34), (7/4/34), (5/4/35) (7/4/35), (¡/25/36) Newark Eagles (9/¡9/37), (6/¡8/40), (5/¡0/4¡), (5/ 9/42), (7/2/44), (8/¡8/44), (8/5/45), (8/¡¡/46); opening days (5/9/36), (5/¡5/37), (5/¡4/38), (5/¡3/39), (5/ 5/40), (5/3/42), (5/¡5/43), (5/6/44), (5/5/46), (5/4/47), (5/2/48); pennants (6/ 30/46), (9/4/46); sale of (¡¡/9/48); won–lost records (9/¡4/36), (7/?/38), (9/ ¡0/39), (9/8/40), (7/6/4¡), (9/?/4¡), (9/7/42), (7/5/43), (9/6/43), (9/4/44), (7/4/45), (9/3/45), World Series (9/¡7– 9/29/46) Newark Stars (¡/6/26), (5/¡– ¡3/26), (7/¡0/26) Newberry, Jimmy (7/3¡/48), (9/26/48), (¡0/3/48) Newcombe, Don (8/5/45), (4/ 4/46) Newsome, Omer (4/24/24) Night baseball (5/9/30), (5/¡2/30), (6/2¡/30), (8/ 2/30), (7/25/32), (8/¡3/32), (9/¡8/32), (9/27/34), (9/ 20/35), (6/¡8/42), (9/2/43) No-hitters see Pitching Noble, Rafael (9/24/47) Nugent, Gerry (2/¡8/43) Nunn, William G. (¡/¡9/37) Nutter, Isaac (¡/¡¡/27), (5/ ¡9/27), (9/¡4/27), (2/2¡/28)

Index Oldham, Jimmy (6/¡¡/23) Olemar Field (Irvington Field, N.J.) (5/4/35) Oms, Alejandro (9/28/24), (5/3/25) O’Neil, Buck (7/2¡/42n), (8/ ¡/43), (9/29/46), (9/30/46) Oriole Park (Baltimore) (9/ ¡9/37), (5/¡0/42) Ostermueller, Fritz (8/26/47) Overton, John (4/9/25) Owens, Aubrey (6/26/23), (8/26/23) Owens, Jesse (9/20/36), (4/ 8/39n), (2/24/47) Owens, Raymond (8/27/39) Padron, Luis (8/¡9/22), (5/ 3/24), (5/2/25), (5/9/25) Page, Allen (¡0/¡/44) Page, Ted (4/29/32), (8/¡3/32) Paige, Satchel (9/25/27) (4/ 29/32), (7/8/33), (9/30/34), (9/22/35), (9/20/36), (8/ 9/37), (9/¡9/37), (9/26/37), (8/¡8/40), (5/¡8/4¡), (7/4/4¡), (7/20/4¡), (9/¡4/4¡), (6/ ¡8/42), (9/8/42), (9/¡0/42), (9/¡3/42), (9/29/42) (2/ ¡8/43), (5/¡6/43), (6/2¡/43), (7/¡8/43), (8/6/44), (8/ 27/44), (¡0/¡/44), (9/¡7/46), (9/¡9/46), (9/24/46), (9/ 29/46); and contracts (5/ 4/35), (5/¡5/37), (6/¡8/40), (5/¡0/4¡); and East-West game (8/26/34), (8/23/36), (8/¡6/42), (8/¡/43), (8/ ¡3/44), (7/29/45); ejection of, from game (6/27/27); nohitters (7/8/32), (7/4/34); other pitching feats (7/ ¡9/28), (9/9/34), (8/¡¡/35), (7/2¡/42); signing of, by Cleveland Indians (7/7/48); strikeouts (4/26/29), (7/ ¡4/29), (6/5/33), (7/4/34), (5/¡0/36), (8/¡¡/36), (6/ 4/43), (7/2/44); tour with Bob Feller (¡0/5/4¡) (9/ 30/46) Palma, ? (5/¡0/30) Palmero, Emilio (¡/¡4/24) Parker, Tom (5/¡5/37), (3/ 7/42) Parkway Field (Louisville, Ky) (5/7/44) Parnell, Red (8/26/34), (8/ 9/37) Parrott, Harold (4/7/45)

Index Partlow, Roy (5/¡3/39), (9/ 24/39), (6/¡8/42), (7/2¡/42), (8/30/42), (9/¡0/42), (9/ 24/43), (9/28/43), (¡0/3/43), (7/2/44), (5/¡4/46), (5/2/48) Passon, Chick (6/28/34) Passon, Harry (2/¡0/34), (3/ ¡0/34), (¡/¡¡/35) Passon Field (Philadelphia) (5/¡2/34), (¡0/¡/34), (¡0/ 2/34) Patrick, Van (6/6/48) Patterson, Pat (9/20/35), (8/ 9/37), (8/¡¡/46) Pearson, Lennie (8/¡6/42), (9/20/42), (5/5/46) Pedroso, Eustaquio (5/6/22) Peebles, A.J. (2/¡5/33), (3/ ¡¡/33) Pelican Stadium (New Orleans) (9/¡9/44), (¡0/¡/44) Perdue, Frank M. (3/2/20) Perdue, W.H. (2/9/24) Perez, Javier (7/25/43) Perfect games see Pitching Perkins, Bill (5/¡5/37), (6/ ¡6/40) Perry, Alonzo (9/30/48) Perry Stadium (Indianapolis) (5/8/37n), (9/8/37n), (9/ ¡9/37) Petway, Bruce (¡2/7/22) Philadelphia Hilldales (¡/ ¡9/45) Philadelphia Independent (2/ ¡8/43n) Philadelphia Phillies (2/¡8/43) Philadelphia Royal Giants (3/9/27) Philadelphia Stars (3/24/34) (9/22/35), (8/26/36), (9/ 20/36), (6/26/38), (6/¡6/40), (7/20/4¡), (5/¡0/42), (6/ 2¡/43), (8/2¡/43), (6/4/44), (7/2/44), (5/6/45), (¡/5/47); NNL playo›s (9/¡¡–¡0/2/34); opening days (5/¡2/34), (9/ 9/34), (9/30/34), (5/4/35), (5/9/36), (5/¡5/37), (5/ ¡4/38), (5/¡3/39), (5/5/40), (5/¡0/4¡), (5/9/42), (5/ ¡5/43), (5/6/44), (5/5/45), (5/5/46), (5/4/47), (5/2/48); pennants (9/3/34); won–lost records (7/4/34), (9/¡/35), (7/5/36), (9/¡4/36), (7/?/38), (7/4/39), (9/¡0/39), (9/8/40), (9/?/4¡), (9/7/42), (7/5/43), (9/6/43), (9/4/44), (7/4/45), (9/3/45), (6/30/46), (9/4/46)

206 Philadelphia Tigers (4/29/28) Philips, Homer (¡2/3/20) Pickering, F.D. (¡2/9/39) Pierce, Bill (8/¡8/24) Pierce, Steve (¡/¡¡/27), (¡/27/27) Pillette, Herman (¡0/20/23) Pitching (8/¡4/2¡), (9/29/26), (7/¡9/28), (7/28/28), (9/ 9/34); emery ball (8/2/30); no-hitters (6/6/2¡), (7/ 25/22), (8/¡9/22), (9/4/24), (7/¡3/26), (¡0/3/26), (5/ ¡5/27), (7/3¡/27), (8/¡4/27), (¡0/8/27), (6/27/28), (7/ 4/29), (9/5/3¡), (9/7/3¡), (7/8/32), (7/4/34), (6/8/36), (5/¡6/37), (9/¡9/37), (7/ ¡4/38), (6/27/4¡), (8/30/42), (6/6/43), (9/27/43), (5/5/46), (7/3¡/48); one-hitters (7/ 5/20), (5/7/2¡), (6/¡¡/23), (5/¡0/24), (6/26/24), (7/ 26/24), (5/9/25), (8/¡5/25), (9/6/26), (5/20/28), (4/ 26/29), (5/7/32), (6/5/36), (8/26/36), (6/¡8/39), (7/ 29/39), (7/6/4¡), (7/3¡/42), (6/7/44), (9/2¡/44), (8/5/45), (8/26/45), (6/¡5/47); perfect games (2/27/25), (8/¡2/45), (4/¡8/47); spitballs (¡0/3/24), (¡0/¡¡/27), (2/¡5/33), (8/ 26/36); strikeouts (3/30/24), (4/26/29), (7/¡4/29), (8/ 2/30), (6/5/33), (7/4/34), (6/8/36), (8/¡¡/36), (9/ ¡9/37), (5/30/40), (6/27/4¡), (8/¡4/4¡), (7/3¡/42), (5/ ¡5/43), (6/4/43), (8/2¡/43), (6/4/44), (7/2/44) Pittsburgh Courier (7/2¡/42) Pittsburgh Crawfords (8/ ¡8/28); 7/25/32), (8/¡3/32) (9/9/34), (9/30/34), (8/ 24/35), (9/22/35), (3/22/36), (5/¡0/36), (6/5/36), (9/ 20/36), (6/26/38); ballpark (4/29/32); and league membership (5/23/32), (2/28/42); and NNL playo›s (¡0/7/33), (9/¡3–9/2¡/35), (9/2¡/36); opening days (4/29/33), (5/ ¡2/34), (5/4/35), (5/9/36), (5/¡5/37); pennants (7/4/35), (9/¡4/36); and USBL (¡/ ¡9/45); won–lost record (7/ 8/33), (7/4/34), (9/¡/35), (7/?/38) Pittsburgh Keystones (¡/ 26/22), (5/6/22), (¡2/7/22)

Pittsburgh Pirates (ML) (8/ 9/42), (7/8/48) Poindexter, Robert (9/20/27), (6/27/28), (4/26/29) Pollard, Fritz, Sr. (3/28/42) Pollard, Nat (5/4/47), (¡0/ 3/48) Pollock, Syd (7/4/32), (2/ 23/4¡), (3/28/43), (¡/5/44), (2/24/47) Polo Grounds (New York) (9/¡7/46), (7/6/47), (7/ 29/47) Pompez, Alejandro (¡2/¡6/22), (¡/24/25), (¡/6/26), (¡/¡¡– ¡3/27), (2/2¡/28), (¡/¡5/29), (2/23/29), (2/¡7/30), (¡/ 25/36), (3/22/36), (5/¡5/37), (6/20/39), (2/2/40), (¡/3/4¡), (2/23/4¡), (¡/23/43), (¡/ 5/44), (3/3/44), (3/5/44), (2/20/46), (¡/5/47), (2/ 24/47), (¡/¡9/48) Ponce de Leon Park (Atlanta) (5/¡2/40) Pope, Willie (9/26/48n) Porter, Andy (9/26/37), (5/ ¡0/42) Posey, Cumberland (2/23/29), (6/¡0/37), (8/¡8/40), (¡2 /¡2/45), (2/20/46); criticism of ANL by (2/¡7/30); death of (3/28/46); on Double Duty Radcli›e vs. Buck Leonard (7/27/4¡); on league baseballs (5/4/35); at league meetings (¡2/7/22), (¡/¡5/29) (¡/20/32), (¡/¡0/33), (2/ ¡5/33), (3/¡¡/33), (¡/¡3/34), (3/¡0/34), (6/28/34), (¡/ ¡¡/35), (¡/25/36), (¡/28/38), (¡2/¡¡/38), (2/¡8/39), (6/ 20/39), (¡2/9/39), (2/2/40), (2/23/40), (¡/3/4¡), (2/ 23/4¡), (¡2/27/4¡), (2/¡4/42), (¡/23/43), (¡/5/44), (3/3/44); on Nat Strong’s decision to leave ECL (3/8/28); and player-rights dispute (3/ 3¡/34); on Satchel Paige (9/ 22/35); and signing of Buck Leonard (4/22/34); on Slim Jones (¡2/¡0/38); and suit against Josh Gibson (5/ ¡0/4¡); views of Negro Major Baseball League (3/28/42); views of ¡940 post-season (9/8/40); views of W. Rollo Wilson as commissioner (5/5/34), (3/8/35)

207 Posey, Ethel (3/28/46), (2/ 24/47) Posey, Seward (3/¡0/34), (3/ 22/36), (¡/3/4¡), (2/23/4¡), (¡/23/43), (¡/5/44), (3/3/44), (2/24/47), (¡/¡9/48) Powell, Bill (8/22/48) Powell, C.B. (2/2/40) Powell, Willie (¡0/6/26), (¡0/ ¡3/26), (8/¡4/27), (9/25/27), (¡0/2/27), (¡0/¡0/27), (¡0/ ¡3/27), (9/23/28), (9/25/28) Powers, Jimmy (2/5/33) Pryor, Anderson (8/¡8/24) Radcli›e, Ted “Double Duty” (9/¡3/30), (7/8/32), (3/ ¡¡/33), (5/4/35), (5/¡8/35), (2/20/37), (9/¡8/38), (7/ 27/4¡), (6/4/44), (6/7/44), (8/¡3/44), (9/2¡/44) Radio and television (5/29/3¡), (2/26/32), (9/9/33), (8/7/42), (9/8/42), (6/6/48) Rainey, Joe (2/¡4/42) Ramirez, Ramiro (8/¡6/22) Reach (sporting goods company) (4/27/29) Rector, Connie (5/¡/27), (7/ 5/30), (9/20/30) Red Bird Stadium (Columbus, Ohio) (9/28/43) Redding, Dick “Cannonball” (7/¡¡/20), (7/3¡/2¡) Redland Field (¡2/3/20), (4/ 30/2¡), (5/2¡/2¡), (¡/26/22) Redus, Wilson (4/28/28) Renfro, Othello (9/23/46) Rhodes, J. Roland (4/¡5/45) Rickey, Branch (2/5/33), (¡/ ¡9/45), (¡0/23/45), (8/26/47), (4/¡9/48) Ricks, Bill (7/29/45), (6/30/46) Rickwood Field (Birmingham) (¡0/3/43), (9/¡7/44) Riggins, Orville “Bill” (8/ ¡8/24), (9/¡/29), (4/29/32) Rigney, Hank (6/20/39), (¡2/ 9/39) Rile, Ed “Huck” (5/2/20), (5/ 6/22), (8/¡6/22), (4/28/23), (5/22/23), (6/¡¡/23), (6/ 26/23), (¡0/20/23) Rizzuto, Phil (9/30/46) Roadside Hotel (Philadelphia) (6/28/34), (3/5/38) Roberts, Curt (9/¡5/48n) Roberts, Ric (4/26/45) Roberts, Roy (8/6/2¡), (4/ 26/25), (¡0/¡3/26), (¡0/3/27)

Robinson, Bill “Bojangles” (7/5/30), (9/30/34) Robinson, George (¡/24/25), (7/2¡/25) Robinson, Jackie: East-West game appearance (7/29/45); and publication of autobiography (4/¡9/48); signing of, by Brooklyn Dodgers (4/ ¡0/47); signing of, by Kansas City Monarchs (5/6/45); signing of, by Montreal Royals (¡0/23/45); tryout with Boston Red Sox (4/¡6/45) Robinson, Neil (7/4/38), (8/ 2¡/38), (9/¡8/38), (8/6/39), (7/¡8/43), (8/¡/43), (6/¡8/44) Robinson, William “Bobbie” (7/7/29) Roddy, Burt M. (¡/27/27) Roesink, John (¡/20/32), (2/ ¡5/33), (4/29/33), (5/4/35) Rogan, Wilber “Bullet Joe” (7/5/20), (4/28/23), (7/5/23), (¡0/3/24), (¡0/¡¡/24), (¡0/ ¡2/24), (¡0/¡4/24), (¡0/ ¡8/24), (5/9/25), (5/¡0/25), (8/30/25), (9/¡9/25), (9/ 26/25), (9/28/25), (¡0/¡/25), 9/¡8/26), (9/¡9/26), (9/ 25/26), (9/29/26), (4/23– 25/27), (7/6/27) Rogers, William (9/20/27), (¡0/¡/27) Rogosin, Donn (7/2¡/42n) Rojo, Julio (9/20/30) Rosemore Park (Lancaster, Pa.) (6/20/25) Rosner, Max (¡/¡0/35) Ross, William (5/2/25) Rossiter, George (¡2/¡6/22), (¡/¡¡–¡3/27), (2/2¡/28), (¡/ ¡5/29), (2/23/29), (2/¡7/30), (¡/20/32) Ru‡n, Leon (5/¡0/4¡), (6/ 30/46), (5/4/47), (¡/¡9/48) Ruiz, Silvino (6/¡6/40) Ruppert Stadium (Kansas City) (5/¡3/38), (9/20/42); see also Muehlebach Stadium Ruppert, Jacob (7/5/30) Ruppert Stadium (Newark, N.J.) (5/9/36), (5/¡4/38) Rush, Joe (¡2/6/23), (2/2/25), (4/9/25), (¡/6/26) Russ, Pythias (7/6/27), (9/ 20/27), (¡0/4/27), (4/28/28), (9/29/28) Russell, Branch (9/¡3/30) Russell, John Henry (4/28/28)

Index Russwood Park (Memphis) (5/7/44) Ryan, Red (4/24/24), (¡0/ 5/24), (¡0/6/24) St. Clair, Harry (¡2/3/20), (2/2¡/28), (¡/¡4/30) St. Louis Browns (¡0/8/23), (7/¡7/47) St. Louis Giants (2/¡3/20), (5/9/20), (9/24/20), (4/ 30/2¡), (¡0/2/2¡), (¡/26/22) St. Louis Stars (NNL) (¡0/ 2/22), (5/22/23), (9/¡2/26), (7/29/28), (8/¡¡/28); ballpark of (5/6/22), (9/¡9/25), (¡0/ 2/28), (5/7/32n); fans of (9/ 27/25); NNL membership (¡/26/22); NNL playo›s (9/22–¡0/5/28), (9/¡3/30); opening days (5/6/22), (4/ 28/23) (5/3/24), (5/2/25), (4/23–25/27), (4/26/29), (4/ 25/30), (5/2/3¡); pennants (9/¡9/25), (7/4/28), (7/6/30), (7/4/3¡); won–lost records (7/7/25), (7/4/29), (9/¡3/30) St. Louis Stars (St. Louis–New Orleans, Harrisburg–St. Louis) (NAL) (5/8/37), (2/¡9/38), (5/¡4/39), (7/ 4/39), (8/3¡/39), (5/¡2/40), (5/¡¡/4¡), (2/¡4/42), (2/ 2¡/42), (2/28/42), (3/7/42), (4/¡¡/43), (5/¡5/43), (7/ 5/43), (¡/5/44), (¡2/¡5/44), (2/24/47) Salary caps (¡/6/26), (¡/¡¡– ¡3/27), (¡2/¡¡/37), (¡/¡9/48) Salazar, Lazaro (9/¡8/35) Salmon, Harry (5/2/25), (9/ 20/27), (4/26/29) Sampson, Tommy (8/¡/43), (9/¡7/44) Santiago, Jose (8/28/48) Santop, Louis (4/24/24), (¡0/¡8/24), (5/29/3¡), (5/ 9/42) Santop’s Bronchos (5/¡9/27) Saperstein, Abe (2/¡2/39), (2/23/40), (8/¡8/40), (¡2/ 27/4¡), (2/28/42), (3/28/42), (2/¡8/43n), (3/5/44), (7/ 7/48) Say Hey (Mays) (8/¡¡/48) Saylor, Alfred (9/2¡/43), (9/ 28/43), (5/7/44), (9/3/44), (9/¡9/44), (9/24/44) Scales, George (5/¡5/37), (8/ 9/37), (6/¡6/40)

Index Scantlebury, Pat (7/2/44), (4/¡8/47), (5/4/47) Schaine, Mike (5/¡3/38) Schorling, John (¡/¡¡–¡3/27), (¡/27/27), (3/23/40) Schorling’s Park (Chicago) see American Giants Park Scoring feats (9/¡/29), (6/ 28/47); high scoring games (6/28/2¡), (6/4/22), (6/ 26/23), (5/¡8/24)(6/30/25), (8/30/25), (8/¡4/27), (6/ ¡0/35), (5/9/36), (6/5/36), (5/¡4/38), (6/4/39), (7/ 22/39), (9/2¡/4¡), (6/8/44) Scott, Elisha (2/¡3/20) Scott, Joe (9/¡¡/48), (9/29/48) Seay, Dick (5/¡5/37) Semler, James (2/¡0/34) (6/ 28/34), (6/20/39), (2/2/40), (¡/3/4¡), (2/23/4¡), (¡/23/43), (4/¡¡/43), (¡/5/44), (3/3/44), (2/24/47), (¡/¡9/48) Shackleford, John (¡/¡9/45) Shaw, Ted (4/25/30) Shaw, W.J. (3/2/20) Shepard, Samuel (¡/26/22) Shibe Park (Philadelphia) (9/ 29/42), (6/2¡/43), (9/20/45) Shipp, Jesse, Jr. (7/¡¡/20) Shires, Nate (¡2/27/4¡) Shrewberg Field (Chicago) (5/4/35) Simmons, R.S. (¡2/27/4¡), (3/ 7/42), (¡2/27/42), (3/28/43) Simms, Bill (9/¡9/37) Smith, Al (9/2¡/47), (7/8/48) Smith, Charles (9/¡/29), (7/ 5/30) Smith, Clarence (5/2/25), (¡0/ ¡2/27) Smith, Cleo (9/28/24) Smith, Douglass (3/¡0/34), (¡/3/4¡), (¡/23/43) Smith, Eugene (6/27/4¡), (8/ ¡4/4¡), (3/7/42) Smith, Ford (9/¡9/46), (9/ 29/46) Smith, Gene (5/4/47) Smith, Hilton (5/¡6/37), (9/ 8/37), (9/¡9/37), (5/¡3/38), (6/¡8/42), (8/¡6/42), (9/ ¡0/42), (5/6/45), (9/¡7/46), (9/25/46), (9/30/46) Smith, Howard (¡2/3/20) Smith, Theolic (5/¡4/38), (3/ 7/42), (8/¡/43) Smith, Wendell (3/28/42), (3/3/44), (5/6/44), (4/¡6/45), (9/20/45), (4/¡9/48)

208 Snaer, Lucian (4/28/23) Snow, Felton (8/¡¡/36) Souell, Herb (9/¡7/46), (9/23/46), (7/27/47) Spalding (sporting goods company) (4/28/28) Sparrow, Roy (9/¡0/33) Spearman, Bill (5/2/25) Spearman, Charles (9/¡/29) Spearman, Clyde (9/¡4/35), (9/¡8/35), (9/2¡/35) Spearman, Henry (3/20/37), (9/24/39) Spedden, Charles (¡2/¡6/22), (2/23/24), (¡/24/25), (¡/ 6/26) Spitballs see Pitching The Sporting News (¡¡/9/48) Sportsman’s Park (St. Louis) (7/4/4¡), (¡0/5/4¡) Sprague Field (Newark) (3/¡3/32) Stack, Eddie (6/30/28) Stamps, Hulan (4/23–25/27) Stanley, John “Neck” (9/ ¡4/35), (6/8/36), (5/5/40), (7/20/4¡), (5/5/45) Statistics (2/26/32), (¡/3/4¡), (3/7/42n), (¡/5/44), (3/3/44), (3/5/44) Stearnes, Norman “Turkey” (5/2/25), (4/23–25/27), (9/ ¡3/30), (¡2/8/3¡), (3/¡¡/33), (8/26/34), (6/¡0/35) Steele, Ed (¡0/3/43) Stephens, Jake (9/4/24), (8/ 2/30), (9/9/34) Stevens, Frank (5/¡0/25), (4/ 28/28) Stewart, Marcus (4/9/25) Stone, Ed (5/¡0/4¡), (9/20/42), (5/6/46) Streeter, Sam (4/28/24), (7/ 26/24), (4/23–25/27), (9/ 25/27), (7/2¡/29), (9/¡0/33), (9/¡3/35), (5/¡0/36) Strikeouts see Pitching Strong, Joe (7/3¡/27), (5/ ¡8/35) Strong, Nat (¡2/¡6/22), (2/ 23/24), (5/26/24), (¡/24/25), (¡/6/26), (¡/¡¡–¡3/27), (2/ 2¡/28), (3/8/28), (¡/¡5/29), (2/¡5/33), (2/¡0/34), (¡/ ¡0/35) Strong, T.R. “Ted” (9/¡9/37), (2/¡9/38), (¡2/¡0/38), (2/ ¡2/39), (8/¡6/42), (9/23/46), (9/29/46) Strothers, C.W. (¡/24/25),

(¡/¡¡–¡3/27), (9/¡4/27), (7/ ¡4/33) Suarez, ? (4/30/2¡) Suttles, George “Mule” (4/ 28/28), (9/30/28), (9/¡3/30), (5/7/32), (8/¡¡/35), (5/ ¡5/37), (6/4/39) Swayne Field (Toledo) (4/ 8/39) Sweatt, George (¡0/¡2/24), (¡0/¡4/24), (9/2/26), (9/ 2¡/26), (9/28/26), (¡0/9/26) Tabor, R.H. (3/2/20) Tate, J.G. (¡2/3/20), (2/23/22) Tatum, Reece “Goose” (7/ 6/47) Taylor, Ben (2/24/23), (¡2/ 8/23), (2/23/24), (2/23/29), (5/7/32), (¡/¡¡/35) Taylor, C.I. (2/¡3/20), (¡2/ 3/20), (¡/26/22), (2/23/22) Taylor, Jelly (7/4/38) Taylor, Jim (¡2/6/23), (2/ 9/24), (7/26/24), (9/27/25), (¡/¡0/33), (2/¡5/33), (3/ ¡¡/33), (9/¡0/33), (3/¡0/34), (7/5/36), (¡2/29/40), (¡2/ 27/4¡), (2/2¡/42), (2/24/47), (¡2/29/47), (4/3/48) Taylor, John (4/30/2¡), (4/ 26/25) Taylor, Johnny (9/¡/35), (9/ ¡5/35), (9/20/35), (9/2¡/35), (9/¡9/37), (9/26/37), (6/ 26/38), (6/¡6/40), (5/¡0/4¡), (5/6/46), (5/4/47) Taylor, Olivia (2/23/22), (¡2/ 7/22), (¡2/6/23), (2/9/24), (6/2¡/24) Television see Radio and television Terrell, S.M. (2/2¡/28) Thomas, Clint (¡0/¡9/24), (4/ 25/25), (6/25/25), (4/29/32) Thomas, Dave “Showboat” (9/7/3¡), (9/22/35), (4/7/45), (5/4/47) Thompson, Gunboat (5/9/20) Thompson, Henry “Hank” (9/23/46), (7/¡7/47), (9/ 22/48) Thompson, James (¡0/¡4/26) Thompson, Lloyd (¡2/¡6/22), (¡/20/32), (6/¡5/32) Thompson, Samuel “Tommy” (5/9/36) Thurman, Bob (7/¡8/47), (9/ 29/48) Tiant, Luis (5/¡0/30), (5/7/32),

209 (9/¡/35), (9/2¡/35), (5/6/44), (4/¡8/47), (5/4/47), (7/6/47), (7/27/47) Tin Plate Field (Monessen, Pa.) (7/28/38n) Tindle, Levy (4/29/33) Titus, James (2/20/37) Toledo Crawfords (4/8/39), (5/¡3/39), (6/20/39), (7/ 4/39), (2/23/40) Toledo Rays (¡/¡9/45) Toledo Tigers (4/28/23), (7/ ¡5/23) Torriente, Cristobal (6/28/2¡), (8/¡4/2¡), (8/¡6/22), (5/ 27/23), (6/¡¡/23), (6/26/23), (¡0/20/23), (6/26/24), (4/ 27/25), (5/2/25), (5/9/25), (5/¡0/25), (9/¡8/26), (9/ 20/26), (4/23/38) Townes, Jim (5/29/3¡) Trautman, George (¡/¡9/48) Treadwell, Harold (8/¡6/22), (9/24/28), (9/30/28) Treat ’Em Roughs (5/¡6/20) Trent, Ted (9/23/28), (9/ 25/28), (9/30/28), (¡0/5/28), (9/¡3/30), (5/7/32), (5/¡2/34), (8/26/34), (9/¡6/34), (¡0/ 2/34), (5/4/35), (9/25/38) Trimble, William E. (2/2¡/28), (¡/¡4/30), (3/20/30) Triple plays (8/¡8/24), (5/ 3/25), (7/29/28), (9/¡3/30), (6/27/3¡), (7/25/43), (6/ 29/47) Trouppe, Quincy (5/4/35), (5/¡0/4¡), (9/¡3/45), (9/ ¡6/45) Trujillo, Rafael (5/¡5/37) Tucker, Henry (¡2/¡6/22) Tyler, Charles (2/¡0/34), (3/ ¡0/34), (6/28/34), (¡/¡¡/35), (¡/25/36) Tyler, Steel Arm (4/23–25/27) Umpires (4/28/23), (¡2/6/23), (¡0/3/24), (¡/24/25), (3/ 25/25), (6/20/25), (¡/¡¡– ¡3/27), (4/23–25/27), (2/ 2¡/28), (2/26/32), (5/7/32), (¡/¡¡/35), (2/28/42), (9/ 29/42), (6/¡8/44), (4/¡5/45), (6/¡7/45), (9/¡4/48) United States Baseball League (USBL) (¡/¡9/45) Vann, Robert L. (4/29/32) Veeck, Bill (2/¡8/43), (7/3/47), (7/7/48)

Veeck — as in Wreck (Veeck) (2/¡8/43) Vernon, Mickey (9/30/46) Vincennes Hotel (Chicago) (¡/23/3¡) Vincent, Irving “Lefty” (5/ 5/34) Walker, A.M. (2/20/37) Walker, Charlie (¡/20/32), (¡/ ¡3/34) Walker, Edsel (9/9/43), (9/¡9/44), (9/23/44) Walker, George (7/29/39) Walker, Hoss (6/27/3¡) Walker, Jesse “Hoss” (9/ 24/39), (6/¡8/44) Walker, Mose (¡/¡4/30), (3/ 20/30), (5/¡0/30) Walker, William O. (¡2/8/23) Ward, Pinky (7/28/28) Warfield, Frank (5/9/20), (¡0/2/22), (4/24/24), (¡0/ 3/24), (¡0/4/24), (¡0/5/24), (¡0/¡4/24), (¡0/20/24), (6/ 25/25), (8/¡5/25), (4/27/29), (5/29/3¡), (9/7/3¡), (7/24/32) Washington, Edgar (5/9/20) Washington, Isaac (2/2¡/28), (2/23/29), (2/¡7/30) Washington, Johnny (6/29/47) Washington, Namon (9/¡/29) Washington, Pete (9/7/3¡) Washington Black Senators (3/5/38), (5/¡4/38), (7/?/38) Washington Elite Giants (¡/ 25/36), (3/7/36) (6/5/36), (9/20/36); move to Baltimore (3/5/38); NNL playo›s (9/2¡/36); opening days (5/ 9/36), (5/¡5/37); pennants (9/¡7/36); won–lost records (7/5/36), (9/¡4/36) Washington Park (Indianapolis) (5/2/20), (5/9/20) Washington Pilots (5/7/32), (7/24/32), (7/25/32) Washington Potomacs (¡2/ 8/23), (4/24/24); see also Wilmington Potomacs Waters, Jock (¡/3/4¡) Watkins, G.C. (2/20/37) Watson, Amos (6/28/47) Weeks, Duncan (6/2¡/27) Weeks, Reginald (6/2¡/27) Weeks, William (¡2/¡6/22), (¡/24/25), (6/2¡/27) Welch, W.S. (3/28/43), 2/ 24/47), (¡2/29/47) Wells, Willie (9/29/28), (¡0/

Index 5/28), (9/¡3/30), (5/7/32), (6/¡0/35), (5/¡5/37), (9/ ¡9/37), (6/4/39n), (5/¡0/4¡), (5/3/42), (5/6/44) Welmaker, Roy (5/5/40), (5/ ¡0/4¡), (9/¡0/42), (9/¡7/44), (9/24/44), (9/¡3/45), (9/ ¡8/45), (¡/¡9/48) Wesley, Charles (8/22/23) Wesley, Edgar (5/¡/26) West, Jim (6/27/3¡), (5/9/36), (9/¡9/37) Westport Park (Maryland) (5/ ¡/27) Westwood Field (Dayton) (5/ 9/20) WEWS (Cleveland) (6/6/48) WGN (Chicago) (9/9/33) Whatley, Dave (9/20/42) White, Burlin (3/28/42) White, Chaney (2/27/25), (¡0/ 9/26), (¡0/¡0/26), (8/2/30) Wichita Tournament (8/¡¡/35) Wilkins, Barron (6/4/22) Wilkinson, J.L. (2/¡3/20), (¡2/3/20) (¡/26/22), (¡2/ 7/22), (¡2/6/23), (2/9/24), (2/2/25), (4/9/25), (¡/6/26), (¡/¡¡–¡3/27), (¡/27/27), (2/2¡/28), (¡/¡4/30), (3/ 20/30), (5/2/3¡), (¡/¡3/34), (2/20/37), (¡2/¡¡/37), (2/ ¡9/38), (¡2/¡¡/38), (2/¡2/39), (6/20/39), (¡2/9/39), (6/ ¡8/40), (¡2/29/40), (2/23/4¡), (¡2/27/4¡), (¡2/27/42), (3/ 28/43), (3/5/44), (¡2/¡2/45), (2/24/47), (¡2/29/47), (5/ ¡/48n) Wilkinson, Richard (2/24/47) Williams, A.D. (¡2/6/23), (4/ 9/25) Williams, Andrew “Stringbean” (5/¡0/24) Williams, Bob (5/¡5/43) Williams, Bobby (8/¡6/22), (9/28/26) Williams, Chester (9/22/35), (8/¡¡/36) Williams, Harry (8/9/37) Williams, Henry (6/27/27) Williams, J.R. (2/2¡/42) Williams, Johnny (8/¡8/46) Williams, John (9/30/28) Williams, L.R. (¡2/3/20), (¡/ 20/32), (2/¡0/34), (6/28/34) Williams, Lefty (8/¡4/27) Williams, Leonard (¡/¡9/37) Williams, Marvin (8/2¡/43), (¡/¡9/48)

Index Williams, Nish (5/9/36) Williams, Poindexter (7/¡4/29) Williams, Smokey Joe (7/ ¡¡/20), (3/30/24), (8/¡4/27), (7/2¡/29), (8/2/30), (9/20/30), (4/22/34) Williams, Tom “Stringbean” (5/9/20), (5/30/20), (¡0/ 20/23), (5/3/24) Willis, Jim (4/28/28) Wills, Harry (9/20/36) Wilmington Potomacs (4/ 25/25n), (7/2¡/25); see also Washington Potomacs Wilson (sporting goods company) (4/23/27), (5/4/35), (¡/5/44), (¡2/¡5/44) Wilson, Art (9/¡7/44), (9/ 30/46), (7/29/47), (9/29/48) Wilson, Charles (5/9/20) Wilson, Dan (8/6/39), (3/ 7/42) Wilson, Herb (7/28/28) Wilson, Jud (4/27/29), (8/ 26/34), (5/9/36), (9/24/44) Wilson, Lefty (7/4/38) Wilson, Tom (¡/7/2¡), (3/ 20/30), (¡/¡0/33), (2/¡5/33), (3/¡¡/33), (9/¡0/33), (¡/ ¡3/34), (3/¡0/34), (¡/25/36), (3/7/36), (3/22/36), (7/5/36), (¡/¡9/37), (¡/28/38), (2/ ¡2/39), (2/¡8/39), (6/20/39), (¡2/9/39), (2/2/40), (2/ 23/40), (¡2/29/40) (¡/3/4¡), (2/23/4¡), (5/¡0/4¡), (¡2/ 27/4¡), (2/¡4/42), (2/28/42), (8/9/42), (¡/23/43), (¡/5/44), (3/3/44), (3/5/44), (7/2/44), (9/4/44), (¡2/¡5/44), (2/ 20/46), (¡/5/47), (2/24/47), (5/¡5/47)

210 Wilson, W. Rollo (2/¡0/34), (9/30/34), (6/2¡/43), (4/ 7/45); as league o‡cial (¡/¡5/29), (9/?/29), (3/¡0/34), (3/24/34), (3/3¡/34), (4/ 2¡/34), (5/5/34), (6/28/34), (9/29/34), (¡/¡¡/35), (3/8/35) Winter leagues (¡/¡4/24), (2/ 27/25) Winters, Nip (7/25/22), (5/ ¡0/24), (9/4/24) (¡0/4/24), (¡0/¡¡/24), (¡0/¡4/24), (¡0/ ¡9/24), (¡0/4/25), (5/¡/27) Wolfolk, Lewis (4/28/23) World Series (¡0/3–¡0/20/24), (¡0/¡–¡0/¡0/25), (¡0/¡– ¡0/¡4/26), (¡0/¡–¡0/¡3/27), (9/8–9/29/42), (9/2¡– ¡0/5/43), (9/¡7–9/24/44), (9/¡3–9/20/45), (9/¡7– 9/29/46), (9/¡9–9/28/47), (9/26–¡0/5/48) World War II (2/¡4/42), (¡/ 23/43), (3/28/43), (4/¡¡/43), (6/4/44) Worth (sporting goods company) (5/4/35), (3/22/36), (6/¡8/36) Wright, Bill (8/¡¡/36), (9/ 24/39), (8/5/45), (5/6/46), (¡/¡9/48) Wright, Ernest (¡2/27/4¡), (¡2/ 27/42), (3/28/43), (3/5/44), (¡2/¡2/45), (2/24/47), (¡2/ 29/47), (6/6/48), (¡¡/29/48) Wright, John (9/26/43), (9/ 29/43), (8/¡8/44), (9/¡6/45), (2/9/46), (7/27/47) Wright, Zollie (5/9/36) Wrigley Field (Chicago) (9/ 29/42), (7/¡8/43), (9/3/44), (6/¡7/45)

Wrigley Field (Los Angeles) (9/30/46) Wyatt, Ralph (9/¡3/43) Yankee Stadium (New York) (7/5/30), (9/20/30), (9/9/34), (9/30/34), (9/22/35), (2/ 2/40), (7/20/4¡), (9/¡3/42), (8/27/44), (9/30/46), (5/ 2/48) YMCA: Indianapolis (¡2/ 3/20), (2/20/37n); Christian Street, Philadelphia (¡2/ ¡6/22), (¡2/8/23), (¡/24/25), (2/2¡/28); Detroit (¡/¡¡– ¡3/27); ¡35th St., New York (¡/¡¡/35), (3/7/36); Pine Street, St. Louis (2/9/24), (2/2/25), (¡/27/27) Yokely, Laymon (5/¡5/27), (9/29), (7/5/30) York Hotel (Baltimore) (¡/ 3/4¡) Young, Edward “Pep” (5/ ¡2/46) Young, Frank (2/¡3/20), (¡/ 26/22), (¡0/¡2/24n), (¡0/ ¡8/24), (4/9/25), (¡0/3/26), (¡0/¡¡/27), (9/8/37), (¡2/ ¡¡/37), (¡2/¡¡/38), (6/20/39), (¡2/9/39), (¡2/29/40), (2/ 23/4¡), (5/¡0/4¡), (¡2/27/4¡), (9/20/42), (¡2/27/42), (2/ ¡8/43n), (8/¡3/44n), (¡2/ ¡2/45), (2/24/47), (¡2/29/47) Young, Leandy (9/¡7/44) Young, W.H. (¡¡/9/48), (¡¡/ 29/48) Young, William “Pimp” (5/ 7/32) Zapp, Jim (9/¡5/48)