In action late last week and over the weekend the Harrisburg Giants, having dropped the series opener Thursday at the Grounds, captured three of four contests against the New York Yankees of 1937 to win the series and finish their initial week of the 2006-I season at 5-3. This is particularly encouraging since their opponents for the week – the Yanks and the St. Louis Stars – were the Giants biggest nemesis in 2005-II. Last year the Giants were 2-8 against these two clubs and, in the season finale, the Stars captured the Hoverter-Reed Trophy.
In wrapping up the first week; the Giants lost the opener to the Yanks, 7-6, on Thursday and were clobbered Friday night 9-2. In that game, however, Bill Dickey was injured on the base path and did not appear behind the plate over the weekend. Lefty Gomez struggled, walking five and hitting two, but with excellent offensive backing was able to hurl a complete game for the Bronx Bombers. George Selkirk’s three run eighth inning homer put the game out of reach. Gisentaner did not pitch badly but he took the defeat for the Giants.
NYY 000 210 042 – 9 11 1 WP – Lefty Gomez
HBG 000 100 010 – 2 5 1 LP – Lefty Gisentaner
HR – Selkirk
On Saturday, the sun rose again and the now 2-3 Giants took the field in the late afternoon before a crowd of 2,871 at West End Grounds. Geechie Corbett, off a rough start in the opener, looked in 2005 form as he yielded a first inning run but nothing more in hurling the Giants to a 3-1 victory. Geechie scattered 7 hits and issued a walk in pitching a complete game gem. The Yanks bunched their hits – getting three in the first but only one run & three more in the seventh leaving the bases full. Mack Eggleston’s two run 6th inning homer provided the margin.
NYY 100 000 000 – 1 7 0 LP – Red Ruffing
HBG 001 002 00x – 3 7 1 WP – Geechie Corbett 1-1
HR – Eggleston
The action moved 45 miles down the road to Lancaster’s Rossmere Base Ball Park on Sunday due to Pennsylvania’s Blue Laws prohibiting professional baseball in Harrisburg on Sundays. Promoter Tommy Shield’s excellent hospitality was enjoyed by 3,472 fans in the Red Rose City. As usual the Sunday offering was a double header; and the Yanks could not grab either encounter from the home standing Giants.
Ping Gardner started and struggled through six stanzas yielding four runs on 7 hits and three walks including two doubles to DiMaggio and one to substitute catcher Jorgens, Meanwhile the Giants were pounding Pearson for 16 hits and 11 runs featuring a bases clearing double by Ben Taylor. Counting Poles pinch hit single … all nine positions in the batting order contributed at least one hit. Rap Dixon led the way with three hits including a double, two steals, 2 runs and a ribbie.
NYY 102 002 000 – 4 7 1 LP – Monte Pearson
HBG 420 000 50x – 11 16 0 WP – Ping Gardner 1-0
HR – none
In the nightcap, the Giants won an exciting game with some two out bottom of the ninth magic when Beckwith singled (for his fourth consecutive hit) and Rev Cannady followed with his second double of the game. This action came after the Yanks chipped away with solo runs in the 8th and 9th to tie the game at 7-7. The Giants had jumped out in front with a four spot in the first triggered by a DiMaggio blast and the Giants found themselves trailing for most of the game. The Brown Bomber – John Beckwith – knocked in 5 runs sparking the comeback prior to scoring the game winner in the ninth. Beckwith struck two towering home runs. Reliever Lucas pitched 6 strong innings of relief to keep the Yanks from pulling away while Beckwith did his stick work.
NYY 410 000 011 – 7 11 0 LP – Bump Hadley
HBG 012 020 201 – 8 14 0 WP – Sam Cooper 2-1
HR – DiMaggio, Beckwith 2 (3)
This week the 1927 Murderer’s Row Yanks visit Cottage Hill Field where the Giants will set up shop. Following the Yanks in will be the 1925 champion Hilldale Club of the Eastern Colored League. The Giants schedule does not get any easier.
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