A crowd of 9,000 fans saw the Newark Eagles defeat the Washington Homestead grays, 6 to 5, in 14 innings, at Griffith Stadium, Sunday, and then deadlock them, 1 to 1, in the second game of a twin bill; the latter game was scheduled to travel seven innings but went the regulation nine without a decision.
Lefty Jim Hill started for the Eagles in the first contest but was shelled to cover, in the third with no hands down, after giving the Grays a 3 to 1 edge. Frederick Hobgood, another left-hander, took over and held the Grays to two runs and nine hits for the remaining 12 innings; blanking them over the final five innings and stranding 17 men.
Ray Brown seemed to have the game well in hand until the ninth. He had a 4 to 3 lead which melted in a sudden rally. Easterling made an error on Thomas’s roller, Clarence “Pint” Israel walked and both advanced on Gibson’s passed ball. Stone scored both men to put the Eagles ahead, 5 to 4. The Grays tied it up in their half when Wilson walked, Whatley ran for him and Easterling’s smash to first baseman Pearson put both runners on when nobody covered first. Benjamin fanned but Ches Williams tied it up, 5 to 5, by singling to right and scoring Whatley.
Hobgood and Brown tightened for five innings, but the latter, in the fourteenth, was dented for the decisive run. With one away, Willie Wells doubled to right. Dandridge was purposely passed and Leon Day doubled to left to score Wells, ending the game.
The sensational play of Wells and Dandridge at short and second, was a feature. Both came up with a bevy of unbelievable catcher and contributed a double play that smacked of sheer magic. The throwing of Sam Bankhead, Grays’ shortstop, was also outstanding.
Max Manning and Johnny Wright pitched five-hit ball in the nightcap. The teams were tied 1 to 1, at the end of the ninth, with still no indication of who could break through first. Lenny Pearson’s 440 foot homer that landed high up in the left field bleachers, in the second inning, was the only score off Wright. The Grays scored in the fourth when Gibson walked; Wilson singled him to third from where he scored on Easterling’s long fly to center. Jud Wilson raked Manning for three singles after substituting for Buck Leonard who retired with an injured hand in the fifth inning of the first game.
Notes. In the fourth inning, Buck Leonard beat the throw from centerfield by inches. A few minutes later, however, Buck slid into the bag hands first and fractured the index finger on his right hand, an injury which forced him to retire in the fifth frame and my keep him inactive for two or three weeks. Leon Day, a good hitter was in left field in the first and second game. Max Manning was in attendance, along with other Negro League players, at the 1969 Senators Reunion in Chantilly. Young 18 year old Larry Doby played second base on the Newark team.
First Game Lineups. Eagles, Clarence Isreal-2b, Ed Stone-Rf, Willie Wells-SS, Lennie Pearson-1b, Ray Dandridge-2b, Leon Day-Lf, Charles Parks-C, Charlie Thomason-Cf, Jimmy Hill-P. Grays, Matthew Carlisle-Rf, Vic Harris-Lf, Sam Bankhead-SS, Josh Gibson-C, Buck Leonard-1b, Howard Easterling-3b, Jerry Benjamin-Cf, Ches Williams-2b, Ray Brown-P.
Second Game Lineups. Eagles, Clarence Israel-2b, Ed Stone-Rf, Willie Wells-SS, Lennie Pearson-1b, Ray Dandridge-2b, Leon Day-Lf, Charlie Thomason-Cf, Charles Ruffin-C, Max Manning-P. Grays, Dave Whatley-Rf, Vic Harris-Lf, Sam Bankhead-SS, Josh Gibson-C, Jud Wilson-1b, Howard Easterling-3b, Jerry Benjamin-Cf, Ches Williams-2b, John Wright-P.
Afro-American
