Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Saint Louis Browns

July 14, 2008 Island Park, Harrisburg
A – 2,413
Umpires – Art Fields, Julip Arp

StL 001 000 009 -10 14 0 LP – Jim Palmer
Hbg 032 100 54x - 15 18 1 WP – Willie Gisentaner
HR – Rev Cannady (2), John Beckwith 2 (3), Rap Dixon (2)


The Harrisburg Giants ended their season opening 8 game losing streak in spectacular fashion this afternoon on the island. The Giants scored 15 runs on 18 hits including four circuit clouts. John Beckwith (4 for 28 entering the game) went 4 for 5 with 6 ribbies. Dixon (.405 on the season) and Cannady added three hits each. This first win was a laugher until the 9th with the Giants entering the last inning. Willie Gisentaner was in control but when he yielded a leadoff double Manager Charleston turned the game over to Sam Cooper. Cooper faced three men who all reached; Wilbur Pritchard did Cooper one better facing four without an out. Finally, it was Miles Lucas turn and he got lucky with his second batter – after a double – when the ballpark barely held Brooks Robinson’s deep sacrifice fly. Baby Doll Jacobsen singled in the game’s final run before Lucas retired the last two batters. The entire lineup reached and scored in that closing stanza.

Same two teams tomorrow and what promises to be an intense game with Charlie being hit with purpose pitches in both of the last two games and Earl Weaver managing the Brownies. It will be Chas Henry versus Miguel Cuellar.

Saint Louis Cardinals

July 11th, 2008 Island Park, Harrisburg
A - 3,145
Umps - Julip Arp, Art Fields

StL 012 301 040 -12 WP - Dizzy Dean
hbg 000 210 010 - 4 LP - Chas Henry
HR - John Mize, Lou Brock 2, Oscar Charleston, Enos Slaughter

July 12th, 2008 Island Park, Harrisburg
A - 3,206
Umps - Art Fields, Julip Arp

StL 011 005 000 - 7 WP - Bob Gibson
hbg 000 001 003 - 4 LP - Daltie Cooper
HR - Ken Boyer, John Beckwith, Edgar Wesley

July 13th, 2008 Rossmere Base Ball Park, Lancaster
A - 4,002
Umps - Joe Dennison, John Craig

StL 010 010 410 - 7 WP - Pop Haines Save - Lindy McDaniel
hbg 000 004 100 - 5 LP - Geechie Corbett
HR - Enos Slaughter, Red Schoendienst

Umps - John Craig, Joe Dennison
StL 001 030 010 - 5 WP - Slim Sallee Save - Lindy McDaniel
hbg 000 003 100 - 4 LP - Cliff Carter
HR - none


NOTES: Rap Dixon is hitting .375 (12 for 32); Oscar Charleston .393 (11 for 28). The Crawfords post the Negro League clubhouse lead with a 4-0 + 12 record; the Cardinals topped that from the National League side with a 4-0 +13 record. Net in are the Saint Louis Browns which will feature Satchel Paige, The Giants are feeling confident about grabbing a win from the Brownies but Manager Charleston is making no guarantees.

Crawford Series

2008-II Opener, July 7th. Island Park, Harrisburg, PA
Attendance 6,001
Umpires: Julip Arp, Art Fields

Pittsburgh 100 020 230 - 8 12 1 WP - Satchel Paige
Harrisburg 020 110 000 - 4 7 0 LP -- Satchel Paige
HR - Oscar Johnson, Josh Gibson, Jud Wilson


Paige of the Crawfords, 9IP, 7H, 4R, 4ER, 10K, 0W
Paige of the Giants, 9IP, 12H, 8R, 8ER, 6K, 0W

Satchel Paige celebrated the 102nd anniversary of his birth in spectacular fashion by pitching for both clubs today at Island Park. Unfortunately his pitching didn't live up to the usual standards. Combined though, he did pitch two complete games while striking out 16 batters and walking none. The game itself was much more competitive than the final score indicated.

The Crawfords jumped in front when Cool Papa Bell singled, stole and scored on Rap Dixon's single. The Giants came back in the bottom of the 2nd with extra base hits by Heavy Johnson and Rev Cannady and a sacrifice fly by Frank Grant produced two runs. Johnson slammed a homer in the bottom of the 4th stretching the hometown lead to 3-1. In the top of the next inning, Sam Bankhead singled and scored on Judy Johnson's triple. Pat Patterson's sacrifice fly tied the game at 3-3. The Giants came right back in the bottom, on Rap Dixon's two out single, a steal and Oscar Charleston's tiebreaking single.

The Crawfords went in front for good when Josh Gibson and Jud Wilson hit back to back homers. The fords added three insurance runs in the 8th. Paige, for the Crawfords, earned the win by recording the last 13 outs while yielding no hits.

The two teams will grapple again tomorrow at 3:00 on the Island. It will be Daltie Cooper for the Giants versus Hall of Fame southpaw Willie Foster for the Crawfords.

July 8th. Island Park, Harrisburg, PA
Attendance 4,981
Umpires: Art Fields, Julip Arp

Pittsburgh 100 020 230 - 8 12 1 WP - Willie Foster
Harrisburg 020 110 000 - 4 7 0 LP - Daltie Cooper
HR - Jud Wilson

The Pittsburgh Crawfords beat the Harrisburg Giants for the 7th consecutive today on the island. Jud Wilson homered for the second game in a row. Herb Dixon rapped four hits for the Giants in a losing cause.

July 9th, 2008 Island Park, Harrisburg
A - 3281
Umps - Arp, Craig

Pgh 100 013 002 - 7 WP - Harvey S - Double Duty Radcliffe
Hbg 120 100 101 - 6 LP - Red Ryan
HR - Bell, Cannady, Jenkins

July 10th, 2008 Island Park
A - 2872
Umps - Craig, Arp

Pgh 310 003 200 - 9 WP - Leroy Matlock
Hbg 030 003 000 - 6 LP - Willie Gisentaner
HR - Josh Gibson, Fats Jenkins


NOTES: The Pittsburgh Crawfords captured their 10th consecutive game Thursday afternoon on the Island. The fords four game sweep with a 12 run margin provided a target for the 15 remaining Negro League teams. The three best performances advance to the second round of games.Cool Papa Bell was 7 for 16 (.438), a couple of doubles, a homer, 5 steals, three walks, 5 runs scored, and 5 knocked in. Josh Gibson and Jud Wilson each slammed two homers in the series; as did Fats Jenkins for the good guys.

On Deck: Pittsburgh Crawfords

TEAM: Pittsburgh Crawfords

WHERE AND WHEN: Island Park, Harrisburg, PA, 12:00 p.m., Monday; 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

CRAWFORD PROBABLE STARTERS: RHP Satchel Paige, LHP Willie Foster, LHP Leroy Matlock, and RHP Roosevelt Davis

HARRISBURG PROBABLE STARTERS: RHP Satchel Paige, RHP Daltie Cooper, RHP Geechie Corbett, and LHP Willie Gisentaner

CRAWFORD TOP HITTERS: HOFers 1B Oscar Charleston, C Josh Gibson, CF Cool Papa Bell, 3B Judy Johnson, DH Jud Wilson

HARRISBURG TOP HITTERS: CF Oscar Charleston, 1B Ben Taylor, 2B Frank Grant, 3B John Beckwith, RF Rap Dixon

NOTES: The Crawfords hold a 12-8 edge, including five in a row on the way to the 2008-I Hoverter-Reed title. The opener will be played on Paige's 102nd birthday. In a unique twist only possible in fantasy baseball Satch will pitch for both teams. This year's Giants schedule will feature 32 all-star squads from each of 16 Major League and 16 Negro League franchises. After 32 series the three franchises from each organization with the best records will play the final six series with the best from each organization (after two series) advancing to the 2008-II Hoverter-Reed Cup.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

On Deck

ON DECK FOR THE GIANTS

TEAM: 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates

WHERE AND WHEN: Cottage Hill Field, Steelton, PA, 3:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday

PIRATE PROBABLE STARTERS: RHP Jack Chesbro (26-6 2.17), Deacon Phillippe (20-9 2.05), Jesse Tannehill (20-6 1.95), SAm Leever (16-7 2.39)

HARRISBURG PROBABLE STARTERS: RHP Cliff Carter (5-8 5.32) in the opener, RHP Geechie Corbett (5-8 5.21) on Tuesday, LHP Willie Gisentaner (5-6 5.02) Wednesday, and RHP Chas Henry (3-4 3.34) in the finale.

PIRATE TOP HITTERS: HOFers RF Honus Wagner (.330) and LF Fred Clarke (.316); CF Ginger Beaumont (.357), 1B Kitty Bransfield (.305)

HARRISBURG TOP HITTERS: CF Oscar Charleston (.319), 1B Ben Taylor (.300), 3B John Beckwith (.285), RF Rap Dixon (.260)

NOTES: 1902 is the only year that Pittsburgh, these Pirates, and Philadelphia, Connie Mack's Athletics, both captured their respective NL and AL pennants. Unfortunately, this was the last year before the birth of the World Series.

1925 Hilldale Daisies

April 11 West End Grounds, Harrisburg
Attendance 1,919
Umpires Julip Arp, Art Fields
HILL 100 020 010 - 4 LP - Phil Cockrell
HBG 201 011 10x - 6 WP - Willie Gisentaner, Save - S. Cooper
HR - Ben Taylor (4)
Feature: Hall of Famer Ben Taylor paced the Lawmakers attack with a pair of hits, including his 4th round tripper, and a sac fly. Willie Gisentaner hurled six strong innings and Wilbur Pritchard and Sam Cooper brought it home. Rap Dixon, Oscar Charleston and John Beckwith also had two hits each as the Giants pounded 12 safeties off Phil Cockrell. The same two teams will be back in action tomorrow at the uptown grounds.


April 12 West End Grounds, Harrisburg
Attendance 1,942
Umpires Art Fields, Julip Arp
HILL 202 013 002 - 10 WP - Red Ryan
HBG 000 000 220 - 4 LP - Chas Henry
HR - none
Feature: On March 30th I played a game at a Barack Obama rally and today, April 12, I played this game at a rally for Obama. This time the candidate was not present not that he witnessed the first game but he was in the building. Red Ryan picked up the win for Hilldale but was also at one point warming up for Harrisburg. Only in fantasy or simulated baseball can that happen. Otto Briggs three hits paced the Hilldale Daisie attack. The action moves to Lancaster for tomorrow's doubleheader.
April 13 Rossmere Base Ball Park, Lancaster, PA Sunday Doubleheader
Attendance 2,561
Umpires Julip Arp, Art Fields
HIL 422 100 410 - 14 WP - Nip Winters
Hbg 000 010 030 - 4 LP - Daltie Cooper 4-7 3.92
HR - Wise Johnson (2)

Umpires Art Fields, Julip Arp
HIL 102 103 020 - 9 WP - Rube Currie
Hbg 000 001 000 - 1 LP - Ping Gardner 4-8 7.07
HR - none
Feature: The Hilldale Club, featuring Hall of Famers Biz Mackey, Judy Johnson, and Louis Santop swept this doubleheader in Lancaster. A relaxed Nip Winters won the first game despite permitting 11 baserunners. The Hilldale hitters pounded 22 hits enabling the relaxation. In the nightcap, Frank Warfield led the 16 hit attack with four safeties, George Carr and Mackey had three each. Rube Currie pitched a nifty five hitter for the victory. The losses leaft the Giants 12 games under .500 with only 42 games to play.

1986 New York Mets

April 7 West End Grounds, Harrisburg
Attendance: 1,985
Umpires: Julip Arp, Art Fields
NYM 201 001 000 000 006 - 10 WP - Roger McDowell
HBG 000 000 400 000 001 - 5 LP - Willie Fordham 2-1 7.71
HR - Kevin Mitchell
Feature: Dwight Gooden was rolling along with two hit shutout into the 8th when he weakened yielding a walk to pinchitter Jenkins and a single to Spottswood Poles. Rick Anderson failed to shut the door and the teams went to the 9th tied at 4. Four Giant relievers matched Doug Sisk and Roger McDowell in keeping the score tied. However, in the top of the 15th Willie Fordham didn't have the stuff facing 11 batters and allowing six runs to take the loss. McDowell hurled a game five innings permitting only one run for the win.

April 8 West End Grounds, Harrisburg
Attendance: 1,984
Umpires: Art Fields, Julip Arp
NYM 201 010 000 - 4 LP - Randy Nieman
HBG 001 011 11x - 5 WP - Ryan 10-7
HR - Fats Jenkins (3)
Feature: Jenkins hits game winner in bottom of 8th; Red Ryan hurls two scoreless innings for the victory.April 9 West End Grounds, Harrisburg
Attendance: 1,578
Umpires: Art Fields, Julip Arp
NYM 000 302 013 - 9 LP Bob Ojeda
HBG 009 120 11x -14 WP Cliff Carter 5-8
HR - Howard Johnson, Oscar Charleston (14), Cliff Carter (1), John Beckwith (8)

April10 West End Grounds, Harrisburg
Attendance: 1,632
Umpires: Julip Arp, Art Fields
NYM 103 101 000 - 6 WP Sid Fernandez
HBG 000 200 010 - 3 LP Geechie Corbett 5-8
HR - Hernandez
Feature: The series ended 2-2 with the Giants bats coming alive against superior Mets pitching. Gooden, Darling, Ojeda and Fernandez pitched to a composite E.R.A. of 6.17. Hopefully this hitting attack will continue. In the key third game (4/9), Cliff Carter, Giant hurler, had a better game at the plate than on the mound as he went 2 for 3, with a Grand Slam and a walk. He went the route as a pitcher but permitted 9 runs to score.

TWIB: 4/7-13

On the season, the Giants have a 47-57 .452 record which leaves them only four games over .500 for the six season run. Oscar Charleston is enjoying a banner year with a .313 average, 13 homers, and 75 ribbies. Rap Dixon is hitting .268, 9, 49 but with 18 steals and 64 runs scored.

This week the action moves to West End Grounds (4th & Seneca in uptown Harrisburg) before returning to Lancaster next Sunday for a double header. Here is the schedule

at West End Grounds
4/7-10 1986 New York Mets: Gary Carter, Dwight Gooden, Daryl Strawberry
4/11-12 1925 Hilldale Club: Biz Mackey, Judy Johnson, Louis Santop

at Rossmere Base Ball Field
4/13 1925 Hilldale Club

UPCOMING EVENT
April 26th, 3:00, the 1954-57 Harrisburg Giants will be honored at a banquet at 2020 Market Street. Tickets are $25 and can be ordered from Willie Fordham at 765-7565. There will be a nice ceremony including my presentation on Rap Dixon and all living members of this great team will be in attendance.

1916 Indianapolis ABCs

April 4
Island Park, Harrisburg (A- 2,673)
Umpires Art Fields, Julip Arp
Indy 024 002 000 - 8 LP - Frank Wickware
HBG 003 010 60x - 10 WP - Willie Fordham (2-0 6.23)
HR - none

Feature: Both lineups included Hall of Famers Oscar Charleston and Ben Taylor; that kind of shared lineup can only happen in fantasy baseball. Twice Indy's Taylor put Harrisburg's Charleston out at first and once Harrisburg's Taylor put his own self out. The ABCs jumped to the early lead 6-0 chasing Willie Gisentaner in the 3rd but the Giant's bullpen slowed the Indy train enough to permit the Giants bats to catch and pass them. The Giants scored 6 times after Carlos Washington stirring "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" on his trumpet. The rally began when Taylor and John Beckwith singled to start the inning and after two outs - Bunny Downs drew a walk, and then Fats Jenkins, Spotswood Poles, Rap Dixon and Oscar Charleston stroked hits leaving the Giants up 10-8. Wilbur Pritchard held the ABCs in check in the 8th and 9th to earn the save; Willie Fordham, despite two shaky innings, picked up the win, his second of the season.

***

102 April 5
Island Park, Harrisburg (A-2,413)
Umpires: Art Fields, Julip Arp
Indy 023 100 330 - 12 WP - Jim Jeffries
HBG 106 000 001 - 8 LP - Red Ryan 9-7 4.20
HR - Russell Powell, Fats Jenkins (2)

#103-104 April 6
Rossmere Base Ball Park, Lancaster (A-2,698)
Umpires: Julip Arp, Art Fields
Indy 100 021 100 - 5 WP - Dizzy Dismukes
HBG 000 000 000 - 0 LP - Daltie Cooper 4-6 3.43
HR - none

Umpires: Art Fields, Julip Arp
Indy 420 310 040 - 14 WP - Steel Arm Johnny Taylor
HBG 101 023 500 - 12 LP - Miles Lucas 6-4 4.79
HR - Rap Dixon (9), Oscar Charleston (13)

Feature: The Indianapolis ABCs, after losing the opener, captured three straight and made a run on the Hoverter-Reed but in the end fell short. Their best performance was Dizzy Dismukes shutout. He yielded doubles to Oscar Charleston and Spottswood Poles and nothing else. Given the fact that Giant bats were hot, scoring 10 runs per game against the other ABC hurler, Dismukes performance stood out even more. Oscar Charleston, appearing in both lineups, demonstrated his Hall of Fame skills, by pounding 15 hits in 35 trips for a .429 batting average, four doubles, a triple, and a homer for a .686 slugging percentage, drawing 7 walks and being hit by one pitch for a .535 on base percentage and a spectacular 1.221 OPS! Ben Taylor, also playing for both teams, acquitted himself well going 11 for 31 (.355 AVG), with all singles (.355 SLG), and a walk (.375 OBP) and a 0.73 OPS. Ol' Ben also stole a base.

1984 Detroit Tigers

through games of March 30th the Harrisburg Giants had a record of 45-51 .469 ... the next opponent on the schedule was the 1984 Detroit Tigers (104-58 .642), managed by Sparky Anderson, which not only won the AL pennant and later the World Series but never trailed all year as they took first place on opening day and never trailed. Earlier this week they visited Island Park in Harrisburg; here is a summary of those games:

March 31
Attendance 2,421
Umpires Julip Arp, Art Fields
Det 010 001 013 - 6 WP - Milt Wilcox
Hbg 012 020 000 - 5 LP - Miles Lucas (6-3 4.28)
HR - none

April 1
Attendance 2,561
Umpires Art Fields, Julip Arp
Det 044 010 110 - 11 WP - Juan Berenguer
Hbg 220 003 000 - 7 LP - Ping Gardner (4-7 6.46)
HR - Lou Whittaker, Kirk Gibson

April 2
Attendance 2,389
Umpires Julip Arp, Art Fields
Det 130 220 200 - 10 WP - Dan Petry
Hbg 040 021 000 - 7 LP - Daltie Cooper (4-5 3.44)
HR - Kirk Gibson, Larry Herndon, Edgar Wesley (4), Ruppert Jones

April 3
Attendance 2,509
Umpires Art Fields, Julip Arp
Det 000 000 000 - 0 LP - Jack Morris
Hbg 000 100 000 - 1 WP - Geechie Corbett (5-7 5.20)
HR - none

NOTES: For the second straight series the Giants escaped a sweep with a well pitched game in the finale. Chas Henry was the hero last time with a 3-2 win over the Saint Louis Stars; this time it was Geechie Corbett who limited the Tigers to three hits while walking five and permitting no runs. He was matched, almost, by Tiger ace Jack Morris who allowed only two hits. The only run came in the bottom of the 4th, when Rap Dixon led off with a walk and moved to 2nd on a ground out. Then Harrisburg's Hall of Fame first baseman - Ben Taylor - singled sharply to right to score Dixon. Corbett took care of his business the rest of the way. The loss stymied the hopes of the Tigers to make the Hoverter-Reed Cup Round Robin at the end of the season.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

This Week in Baseball

Mar 31-April 3 - action returns to Island Park in Harrisburg with the Detroit Tigers of 1984 invading the island to take on the Giants. Here are the expected pitching matchups:
March 31 Milt Wilcox v Cliff Carter
April 1 Juan Berenguer v Ping Gardner
April 2 Dan Petry v Daltie Cooper
April 3 Jack Morris v Geechie Corbett

Then it is the Indianapolis ABCs coming to town for single games on the island on Friday and Saturday followed by the traditional Sunday doubleheader at Lancaster's Rossmere Base Ball Park. The ABCs have yet to announce their rotation but the Giants are prepared to throw
Willie Gisentaner and Chas Henry in the Capital City followed by Carter & Gardner in the Red Rose City doubleheader on the 6th.

In addition to this exciting action, the 2008 edition of the Harrisburg Senators open up their season with the following events:
April 1 Open Workout Session with free hot dogs
April 2 Annual Welcome the Senators Banquet at the Hilton
April 3 Opening Night v Akron Aeros (I intend on attending)
April 4 v Akron Aeros (ditto)
April 5 v Akron Aeros
April 6 v Akron Aeros
April 26 Harrisburg Giants Banquet at 2020 Market Street
June 30 12th annual Harrisburg Senators Negro League Commemorative Night

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Devil

Willie Wells collected 9 hits including a home run to lead the Saint Louis Stars to a three games to one triumph over the slumping Harrisburg Giants (45-51 .469). Cool Papa Bell delivered five hits, and a couple of steals. Mule Suttles had four hits, three of them long. All told those three Hall of Famers collected 18 hits in 50 at bats for a .360 average. Harrisburg's Hall of Famer - Oscar Charleston - went five for 13 (.385) in his own right including stepping up big in game seven knocking in two and magnificently handling the pitching staff as the Giants eked out a 3-2 win to avoid the sweep.

at Cottage Hill Field, Steelton, PA
March 28
Attendance - 2295
Umpires - Art Fields, Julip Arp
StL 001 111 110 - 6 WP - Leroy Matlock
Hbg 000 001 200 - 3 LP - Daltie Cooper (4-4 3.08)
HR - none

March 29
Attendance - 2303
Umpires - Julip Arp, Art Fields
St L 100 102 000 - 4 WP - Ted Trent
Hbg 100 000 001 - 2 LP - Geechie Corbett (4-7 5.73)
HR - A.D. Creacy

at Rossmere Base Ball Park, Lancaster, PA
March 30
Attendance - 2,781 (236,328 ytd, 84 dates)
Umpires - Art Fields, Julip Arp
StL 205 001 000 - 8 WP - Ted Radcliffe
Hbg 000 000 000 - 0 LP - Willie Gisentaner (4-6 4.88)
HR- J.H. Russell, Mule Suttles,

Umpires - Julip Arp, Art Fields
StL 000 001 001 - 2 LP - Logan Hensley
Hbg 101 001 00x - 3 WP - Chas Henry (3-3 2.73) Save - Sam Cooper
HR - Frog Redus, John Beckwith (7), Willie Wells

NOTE: Double Duty Radcliffe threw a two hit shutout in the first game of the Sunday doubleheader and caught game two; however at the plate he went O for 9 and stranded 11 baserunners. Chas Henry, Pepe Lucas, and Sam Cooper put together a stellar game scattering 11 hits and a pair of walks but yielding only two solo home runs.

Catching Up

Since the last post, the Giants bats have completely fallen on hard times and the pitching has fallen off a bit also. Accordingly the Giants find themselves with a 44-48 record with 14 series remaining before the Hoverter-Redd Cup Round Robin.

The most recent series saw the Jints taking on the "We Are Family" Pirates from 1979 in a four game set at Steelton's Cottage Hill Field.

March 24
Attendance - 2325
Umpires - Julip Arp, Art Fields
Pgh 010 001 000 - 2 LP - John Candelaria
Hbg 001 010 10x - 3 WP - Lefty Lucas 6-2 3.89
HR - none

March 25
Attendance - 2,116
Umpires - Fields, Arp
Pgh 530 700 001 - 16 WP - Bert Blyleven Save - Jim Bibby
Hbg 000 010 000 - 1 LP - Ping Gardner 4-6 5.87
HR - none

March 26
Attendance - 1,972
Umpires - Arp, Fields
Pgh 300 000 000 - 3 WP - Bruce Kison
Hbg 000 000 000 - 0 LP - Cliff Carter 4-8 5.36
HR - Dave Parker, John Milner

Match 27
Attendance - 1,678
Umpires - Fields, Arp
Pgh 031 000 000 - 4 LP - Don Robinson
Hbg 404 001 00x - 9 WP - Sam Cooper 3-5 4.37
HR - Oscar Charleston (12), William Owens (2), Bill Madlock

The Giants came back behind a sterling, seven inning, 4 hit, no run, relief performance by Sam Cooper to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates in the last game of a four game series to earn a split. Oscar Charleston paced the attack going 2 for 4, with a walk, double and a round tripper, scoring three and knocking in two. Pitcher Cooper also had an RBI single.

SEASON TO DATE LEADERS
Avg Oscar Charleston, .304
HR Oscar Charleston, 12
RBI Oscar Charleston, 65
W-L Red Ryan, 9-6
E.R.A. Daltie Cooper 2.92

The Giants have won 44, lost 48; are scoring a paltry 4.16 RPG while allowing 5.05 RPG. Next team in will be the Saint Louis Stars featuring Cool Papa Bel, Willie Wells, and Mule Suttles.

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Coming Attractions!

Kids! Be sure to look in the April 4th edition of the Harrisburg Patriot for this year’s special Newspaper in Education feature on baseball and the Harrisburg Senators. It will be an insert in the paper that day and include interesting articles, tricky puzzles, pictures, important statistics and Senators schedule. Don’t miss this great annual feature. Let’s play two!!

Parents! Be sure to consider attending – and bringing your children – to the Harrisburg Giant banquet on April 26th at 1 p.m. at the 20/20 Club at 2020 State Street in Harrisburg, PA. Tickets are only $25. The guest speaker will be Al Burrows of the New York Black Yankees. All surviving members of the Harrisburg Giants will be in attendance including Zeke Jones, Peter Dickey and Bobby Pae. I will give a brief talk on Rap Dixon and display some memorabilia. Call Willie Fordham (545 7565) or Jim Weedon (233 3950) for tickets.

Monday, March 03, 2008

Back to .500

March 1, 2008
West End Grounds
Harrisburg, PA
CAG 001 000 101 00 - 3 LP - Marshall
HBG 200 000 100 01 - 4 WP - Ryan
HR - Poles (2)

Spottswood Poles, two out, inside the park home run in the bottom of the 10th inning gave the homestanding Giants a tough, hardfought win at the uptown grounds. Jimmy Lyons gambled and failed to make the shoestring grab; the ball rolled to the wall while the speedy Poles rounded the diamond.

March 2 [doubleheader]
Rossmere Base Ball Park
Lancaster, PA
CAG 200 000 000 004 - 6 WP - Marshall
HBG 010 100 000 000 - 2 LP - S. Cooper
HR - Lyons, Torriente

Jimmy Lyons who gambled and failed to catch Poles game winner yesterday; returned the favor in Lancaster with his own inside the park game winner. Cristobal Torriente added a second two run shot of the 12th to put the game out of reach.

CAG 002 110 000 - 4 WP - Williams S - D.Brown
HBG 100 000 000 - 1 LP - Henry
HR - none

The American swept the doubleheader behind stellar pitching from starter Tom Williams and Dave Brown out of the bullpen.

Friday, February 29, 2008

1921 Chicago American Giants

This is Rube Foster's team he founded it, played for it, managed & coached it, administered it and owned it. In 1920, the C.A.G. captured the initial Negro National League pennant. Since 2007-II, the C.A.G. holds a 21-17 edge over the Harrisburg Giants. A sweep by the hometeam would tie the knot.

February 29, 2008
West End Grounds, Harrisburg
Attendance: 2,401
Umpires: Art Fields & Julip Arp
CAG 000 102 100 - 4 8 0
HBG 000 003 000 - 3 7 0
HR - none
SB - Oscar Charleston (14), Dave Malarcher 2, Bingo DeMoss, John Beckwith (2)
WP - Otto Sparks Save - Jack Marshall
LP - Red Ryan 6-5 4.94
Feature: C.A.G. built a 3-0 lead that held until starter Sparks weakened; yielding consecutive hits and a long fly tying the game in the bottom of the 6th. However, Bingo DeMoss tripled off Ryan leading off the 7th and scored on Cristobal Torriente's grounder. Jack Marshall retired five in a row but gave up a two out 9th inning single to Bunny Downs setting up power hitting pinch hitter Edgar Wesley as the potential winning run. Marshall struck him out to insure the American Giants will leave town on Sunday still holding the career edge.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

1925 Pittsburgh Pirates

This was the last championship team in Pittsburgh for 35 years. Down 3-1 versus Walter Johnson's last hurrah Senators; the Bucs rallied for three straight wins to take the 1925 title. They treated the Harrisburg Giants just as rudely taking 3 of 4 at Island Park, Harrisburg

2/25 Pittsburgh 2, Harrisburg 0
Attendance: 1906
HR - Glenn Wright, Pgh
WP - Specs Meadows
LP - Willie Gisentaner 2-5 5.34

Three Fingered Gisentaner pitched well, 7IP, 6 H, 2 R, but his opponent - Meadows - was spectacular facing the minimum 27 batters, yielding two singles both erased by double plays.

2/26 Harrisburg 6 Pittsburgh 1
Attendance: 1878
HR - Rap Dixon (5)
WP - D. Cooper 3-2 3.16
LP - Ray Kremer

Rev Cannady and Hen Jordan each knocked in two runs in the 4th to lead the Harrisburg Giants to the victory.

2/27 Pittsburgh 7 Harrisburg 2
Attendance: 2009
HR - Rap Dixon (6), KikI Cuyler
WP - Tom Sheehan
LP - Chas Henry 1-1 4.20

Twin runs in the 5th, 7th, and 8th for the Pirates portended the victory. Tom Sheehan went a gutsy 6 innings and Jug Handle Johnny Morrison hurled the final three for the save. Cuyler, Carey, Wright, and Grantham had two hits each for the Corsairs.

2/28 Pittsburgh 5 Harisburg 3
Attendance: 2265
HR - John Beckwith (5)
WP - Babe Adams
LP - Geechie Corbett 4-3 4.35

Wiley veteran Babe Adams pitched 8 solid innings scattering 10 hits but no walks while yielding three runs.

YTD
Harrisburg 31-29
AVG .243 led by Oscar Charleston .307, Beckwith .294, O.Johnson .286
HR 42 led by Charleston 9, Dixon 6, Beckwith 5, O.Johnson 4
SB 62 led by Charleston 13, Dixon 10, Jenkins 10, Poles 9
Runs 4.28 RPG led by Charleston 37, Dixon 36
E.R.A. 4.43 led by Daltie Cooper 3.16
Runs Allowed 4.88

Monday, February 25, 2008

2006-II

The last time I posted - October 2006 - the Harrisburg Giants had a 55-55 record on their way to an 83-71 record against some of the greatest teams of all-time. Some have voiced the opinion that such a record is unrealistic and that the Giants could not have won series against such teams as the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers, and capture 23 of 30 versus contemporary major league teams. I must point out that this season (2006-I)as well as all years but one (2007-II)found a composite Harrisburg Giants team featuring as many as three Hall of Famers taking on a specific major league team from a specific season. In other words, it pitted the best players in the admittedly brief existence of the Giants versus a single year's team. In the exception year (2007-II) that same composite Harrisburg Giants took on composite major league teams and suffered a losing season. The overall record of the Giants - now in their 6th season of competion on this blog is 418-404 .509. While it might be suprising to some; given the rules of engagement (again, a composite all-star team vs. single season teams) I feel the result is within the realm of possibility.

For those who need a refresher; all games are played using the APBA Major League Baseball Game. APBA has been the cadillac of baseball simulation games since its debuted in 1951.

Tomorrow, the 2008-I season will pick up where it is about 1/3 of the season.