Showing posts with label Negro League STARS Team. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Negro League STARS Team. Show all posts

Friday, February 15, 2013

STARS & STRIPES - The Games so far...

I'm doing some exhibitions with the two All-Star Negro League teams I've constructed, the Negro "Stars" & Negro "Stripes" team. They are doing a bit of a barnstorming tour in which they will play each other, and other MLB teams of the past.

At this point, the Stripes are undefeated at 3-0, and the Stars are 3-1 (only losing to the Stripes) -- in which both teams are a combined 5-0 against MLB teams, and outscoring those teams a combined 44 runs.

Keeping it cool: Cool Papa Bell.
The tour started with both teams playing each other in a see-saw battle between Negro League greats, I plan to do a game recap of this at some point -- it was a really good game, the Stripes edged the Stars 7-6. Both starting pitchers Satchel Paige (Stars) and "Smokey" Joe Williams (Stripes) were not factors as they both allowed plenty of runs in short outings. Paige did strikeout 6 however in his 4 IP (5 ER's allowed). Willard Brown and Cool Papa Bell were the stars from that game, each getting 3 RBI for the Stripes in their victory debut. Brown went 2-for-4, HR, 3B & scored twice; Bell 2-for-5, 3B, SB.

Game #2/ Stripes @ 25' Washington (A)
The Stripes get to be the first to face an MLB team, and their first challenger are the 1925 Washington Senators, both teams #2 SP's face off against one another; Willie Foster (Stripes) A-XYZ against aging Walter Johnson (Senators) B-X.

The game was scoreless until the top of the 3rd, when Josh Gibson slammed a 3-run HR off the "Big Train" Johnson. Judy Johnson added to the mix with a 2-run double in the 6th Inning. The Senators only run came off an RBI single in the bottom of the third, all 5 of Washington's hits were singles off Foster; Foster pitched 7 Innings of 0 ER/1 R, 4-hit ball with 6 strike outs & one walk allowed.

Game #2/ Stars vs. 46' Boston (A)
A close game through it's entirety, Ray Brown (Stars) allowed 2 ER & 5 hits in 8 innings, without a strikeout against the Ted Williams & the American League Champion Boston Red Sox. Tex Hughson for Boston, pitched 7 Innings, allowing only 5 hits & 2 ER's. Turkey Stearnes broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth, with a 2-run HR off of Boston reliever Clem Dreisewerd. Stripes' closer Jose Mendez came in for the save, including a strike out of Williams.
Stars' Bullet Joe Rogan.

Game #3/ Stars @ 98' Atlanta
This game belonged to the Stars' Bullet Joe Rogan (A-Y) who was pitching a no-hitter into the 7th Inning against the 1998 Atlanta Braves, which was broken up by Javy Lopez with a single to right. Rogan would go on to shutout the Braves in a complete one-hit gem against the Braves' John Smoltz (B-XYZ), allowing 3 walks while striking out three. Not only Rogan pitched a gem, he would be one of the offensive forces for the Stars, knocking in a 3-run HR off of Smoltz in the top of the 6th (ending his night). Cuban star OF-Christobal  Torriente (2-for-4, 3B, RBI, SB & 2 runs) and 1B-Mule Suttles (2-for-4, 3B, RBI & run) were factors as well.

Game #3/ Stripes vs. 86' New York (N)
I was curious to see how this scrappy Mets team would do against the Stripes, they swept the 1984 Detroit Tigers in a 4-game exhibition series -- which I felt was pretty impressive. They were far from impressive against the Stripes though, the Stripes exploded out of the gate and had a 7-run lead (after 2 innings), 15-run lead (after 4 innings), losing the game in a 20-0 shutout to the Stripes' Leon Day, who allowed only 2 hits & 4 walks, while striking out 8 Mets. The Mets allowed a ridiculous 22 hits!

Judy Johnson: The best Negro 3B ever.
LF-Pete Hill had a big day, who went 3-for-6, 2 HR's, 5 RBI, 3 runs & a steal; while 3B-Judy Johnson had a even bigger day, going 5-for-6, 2 HR's, 6 RBI, 2B and 2 runs. Catcher Josh Gibson added a 3-run HR, 1B-Jud Wilson went 2-for-6, 2-run HR & 3 runs, while Day (the star pitcher) went 2-for-4, with a ribbie and run. Each player in the starting lineup contributed with at least a hit, plus Bruce Petway (C) and Spot Poles (OF) contributed off the bench as well.

Mets' #3 starter Bobby Ojeda (A-YZ) allowed 7 hits, 7 ER & 2 BB's after only two innings; while Rick Aguilera came out for relief and allowed the same in hits & ER's in 2 innings as well.






Game #4/ Stars vs. 25' Washington (A)
The 1925 Washington Senators produced more better with the bat against the Stars, but this game was nowhere as close, as the Stars prevailed 14-5. Leadoff hitter Ossie Bluege (3B) was the Senators' star, going 2-for-5 with a HR, 2 RBI & double.First Baseman Joe Judge added a triple & 2 RBI.

The Stars' Rube Foster coasted through his first 5 innings with no runs allowed, until he ran into a mess and allowed 3 runs in the top of the 6th, to close the gap 4-3 Stars.

Firpo Marberry of the Senators allowed the game to get out of hand, including a Grand Slam by third baseman Biz Mackey (2-for-4, HR, 5 RBI) in the bottom of the 7th. Turkey Stearnes added a 2-run HR & Grant Johnson came off the bench to hit two RBI doubles in two at-bats. Buck Leonard finally broke out of his slump, hitting 5th, with 2 singles (including an RBI) in 4 at-bats.





Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Buck Leonard (Player Profile)


BUCK LEONARD (First Base)
Walter Fenner Leonard
Nickname: "Buck"
Career: 1933 - 1950

Teams
Brooklyn Royal Giants (1933)
Homestead Grays (34'-50')
Mexican League (51'-55')
Minor Leagues (1953)

Bats: Left / Throws: Left
Height: 5'10"     Weight: 185
Born: Sept 8, 1907 -- Rocky Mount, NC
Died: November 27, 1997 -- Rocky Mount, NC

Inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame (1972)
Lifetime Batting Avg: .341
vs. Majors (Exhibitions): .382

APBA Affiliations: Negro STARS Team (Barnstorming Tour)

  • Left-Handed part of the power tandem with Josh Gibson of the Homestead Grays for 9 consecutive Negro National League Championships (1937 - 1945).
  • Seasonal Averages from 1939 - 1945: .363, .372, .275, .265, .327, .290 & .375.
  • Smart, team player with smooth swing and smooth fielding. Considered the greatest Negro League First Baseman ever, many called him the "black Lou Gehrig".
  • In 1952, GM Bill Veeck (of the St.Louis Browns) asked if Leonard would like to play for the Browns, Leonard turned him down feeling that he was past his prime.
  • 1953: At age 48, Leonard batted .312 with 13 HR's in 62 games (Central Mexican League).
  • Ranked #65 overall of all baseball players ever, in Bill James' "The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract" (2001).

Louis Santop (Player Profile)

LOUIS SANTOP (Catcher)
Louis Santop Loftin (real name)
Nickname: "Big Bertha"
Career: 1909-1926

Teams
Fort Worth Wonders (1909)
Oklahoma Monarchs (1909)
Philadelphia Giants (09'-10')
New York Lincoln Giants (11'-14', 1918)
Brooklyn Royal Giants (14'-17', 1919)
Chicago American Giants (1915)
New York Lincoln Stars (15'-16')
Hilldale Daisies (17'-26')
Military Service (18'-19')
Santop Bronchos (27'-31')

Bats: Left / Throws: Right
Height: 6'4"     Weight: 240
Born: Jan 17, 1890 -- Tyler, TX
Died: Jan 6, 1942 -- Philadelphia, PA

Inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame (2006)
Lifetime Batting Avg: .406
vs. Majors (Exhibitions): .316

APBA Affiliations: Negro STARS Team (Barnstorming Tour)

  • One of the Negro League's earliest superstars, power hitter, earned the nickname "Big Bertha" for his tape-measured Home Runs during the dead-ball era.
  • Solid, strong-armed catcher who's excellent at blocking the plate.
  • Caught for "Smokey"/"Cyclone" Joe Williams & "Cannonball" Dick Redding.
  • Used to put on a pregame throwing demonstrations prior to playing MLB teams in exhibitions. Throwing from his knees to all the infield positions in front of all-white crowds; the fans loved it.
  • Served the Navy in World War I from 1918 - 1919.
  • Good mannered, but once got into a fight with Oscar Charleston, and broke three of Charleston's ribs in the process.
  • Eventually was relieved by up-and-coming catcher Biz Mackey, at the age of 35.



Monday, February 11, 2013

Negro League Stars

NEGRO LEAGUE - STARS Team
(Inducted in Baseball's Hall of Fame - Indicated in Orange)

Leonard: Considered the black Lou Gehrig.

C / P - Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe
MGR / 1B / OF - Buck O'Neill
2B / 3B - Tubby Scales
2B / SS - Grant "Home Run" Johnson
SS - John Henry "Pop" Lloyd
3B / C - Biz Mackey
3B / 1B - George "Tank" Carr
3B / SS - Newt Joseph
LF / 1B - Oscar Charleston
CF - Turkey Stearnes
RF - Christobal Torriente
OF / 1B - George Suttles
OF - Jimmy Crutchfield

SP - Satchel Paige   (A-XYZZ)
SP / OF - Ray Brown   (A-Z)
SP / OF - "Bullet Joe" Rogan   (A-Y)
SP / 1B- Rube Foster   (B-Z)
P - Maxwell Manning   (B-Z)
P - Dicta Johnson (B-Y)
P / RP - Jose Mendez   (C / B*-YZ)


Current Record: 3 - 1     (+18 Scoring)

SCHEDULED EXHIBITIONS                         W/L              Score     
Game #1 - @ Negro League Stripes                  L                   7 - 6
Game #2 - vs. 46' Boston (A)                               W                  4 - 2
Game #3 - @ 98' Atlanta (N)                                W                  8 - 0
Game #4 - vs. 25' Washington (A)                      W                 14 - 5


*** More Information in time. ***



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