Here is the report from the first day of Week 4 in the Buck O’Neil Project.
Birmingham took the opener from St. Louis 7-4. Babe Ruth hit his first homer, and Christy Matthewson could not get out of the first inning. Josh Gibson’s average dropped to .556 after a 2-4 performance.
Detroit dominated Washington 6-1, scoring 5 runs in the third inning. Ralph Kiner hit his seventh home run, and brothers Alex and Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe each had 2 hits. By a roster creation error, Double Duty also pitched 1-1/3 innings for Washington. That seems like it qualifies for today’s Player Focus.
Newark dominated Kansas City 8-1. Walter Johnson did not give up a hit until the seventh inning. John Beckwith and Sammy T. Jones each had 2 RBI.
New York rode a 3-run first inning to outlast Pittsburgh 3-2. Pete Hill drove in 2 runs for the victors, and Neil Robinson homered for Pittsburgh.
Today’s Player Focus post is on Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe, a pitcher and catcher who played for some of the greatest Negro Leagues teams.
npr.org
Results
STL 4 at BIR 7
WHG 1 at DSG 6
NWK 8 at KMG 1
PCG 2 at NYC 3
Summaries
ST. LOUIS AT BIRMINGHAM
Stars........... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 - 4 9 1 Black Barons.... 5 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 - 7 14 0 Win:Rusie(2-0) Loss:Mathewson(0-4) Homeruns- B.Ruth(1st)
Babe Ruth cracked a homer and had 2 RBI as the Birmingham Black Barons outscored the St. Louis Stars 7 to 4.
Birmingham wasted no time and took the lead in the first inning as they scored 5 runs on 6 base hits. That was all the runs Amos Rusie(2-0) needed. Birmingham out-hit St. Louis for the game, 14 hits to 9.
Christy Mathewson(0-4) was tagged with the loss. He surrendered 6 hits and no walks in 2/3 of an inning.
WASHINGTON AT DETROIT
Homestead Grays. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 - 1 6 0 Stars........... 0 0 5 0 0 0 1 0 - 6 9 0 Win:Alexander(3-1) Loss:Roberts(0-3) Homeruns- R.Kiner(7th)
In a lop-sided win the Detroit Stars tallied 5 runs in the 3rd inning and ripped the Washington Homestead Grays by a 6 to 1 count.
Pete Alexander(3-1) was in control of the game from the outset. He allowed only 5 hits and 1 walk in 8 innings dropping his ERA from 4.32 to 3.55. For the game Detroit out-hit Washington 9 to 6.
Robin Roberts(0-3) absorbed the loss. He was knocked around, surrendering 5 runs in 2 and 1/3 innings.
NEWARK AT KANSAS CITY
Eagles.......... 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 1 1 - 8 13 0 Monarchs........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 - 1 3 4 Win:Johnson(2-2) Loss:Feller(1-2) Homeruns- G.Goslin(1st)
Walter Johnson didn’t allow a hit until the 7th inning as the Newark Eagles defeated the Kansas City Monarchs by a score of 8 to 1 at Muehlebach Field.
Johnson(2-2) was simply too much for the Kansas City batters. He allowed just 3 hits and no walks in 9 innings lowering his ERA from 4.44 to 3.51. The right-handed Johnson lost his chance for a no-hitter when Frank Thomas doubled with two outs in the 7th inning. The game was a scoreless duel until the 6th inning.
Bob Feller(1-2) was given the loss. Newark’s manager was very impressed with his pitcher, Johnson, ‘He had unusually good pitch placement this afternoon. It was almost unfair – but a beautiful game to watch from where I sat’
PITTSBURGH AT NEW YORK
Crawfords....... 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 - 2 5 0 Black Yankees... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 3 12 1 Win:Walsh(3-0) Loss:Maddux(2-1) Save:Fingers(5th) Homeruns- N.Robinson(1st), M.Ott(2nd)
The New York Black Yankees and the Pittsburgh Crawfords locked up in an exciting one-run game at the ballpark. The final score was the New York Black Yankees 3, the Pittsburgh Crawfords 2.
Ed Walsh(3-0) earned his pay with a solid performance for New York. He went 7 innings and surrended up 3 hits and 1 walk. Walsh mowed down 9 Pittsburgh batters and was touched for 2 homeruns. Pittsburgh threatened in the 9th but their rally came up short.
Walsh was helped out by Rollie Fingers who recorded his 5th save. Greg Maddux(2-1) was the loser. He allowed 3 runs and 12 hits in 6 and 2/3 innings.