Looking back at the September 6th doubleheader between the Elite Giants and Black Yankees, a couple of random thoughts crossed my tiny brain. If you recall, the Giants dropped both games, 3-1 and 4-1 in the nightcap. First, what a shame we don't have detailed game accounts for most Negro League contests including this one.
But what can we draw from the box scores that we have for these games? First, no home runs by either team. The Elite Giants hit 21 homers in over 1000 recorded at bats in 1937, according to Seamheads. This translates to a 1.8% home run rate. Which exceeded the League average of 1.4%. Yikes, I thought.
As usual, I was wrong. This rate is only a tad lower than the 1.9% recorded by the 1937 NL pennant winning Giants. And it's more than double that of the 1937 Nats (.7%). And, by the way, the New York Black Yankees (also .7%).
So what about the park. Well, Dexter Park was a pitcher's park. And an oddly configured one at that. It was 430 feet down the left field line!! Then just 418 in left center, 431 in center and an incredible 443 in right center. But the right field line was only 310. Keep in mind that the average MLB run home run this year travelled just over 400 feet. So in Dexter Park, most modern home runs would be long fly balls.
Indeed, in 1927 Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig brought an "All-Star" barnstorming squad to Dexter Park. In pre-game batting practice/home run derby, Gehrig managed just one homer and the Babe none in fifteen tries. Barthel, Baseball's Peerless Semipros.
Back to our doubleheader. The Elite Giants were held to 12 hits and just two runs in 18 innings. And only one extra baser - a double by Felton Snow in the first game. Campanella got the only credited Giants' RBI in the two games. Jim West was the offensive standout for the Giants, going 4 for 7 and scoring the second game's only Giants' run. The 25 year old first baseman had a monster year for the Giants with a .939 OPS. Oh, and the Giants stole no bases, stranded 18 base runners and failed to capitalize on nine bases on balls issued by Yankees pitching.
Giants' pitching fared about the same. Jimmy Direaux allowed 10 hits and 6 walks in the first game while striking out three. Andy Porter and Bill Byrd pitched the second game - Byrd coming on in the seventh. Porter was tagged for four runs in six innings - he struck out three and walked one. He would end the season with a 4.68 ERA.
On the defensive side of the ledger, Henry Kimbro got an outfield assist in a double play in the second game. And an unusual double play in the first game - Walker (ss) to Hughes (2b) to Mackey (c). Was Mackey backing up first - or did Hughes gun down a runner at the plate? Sadly, we'll probably never know.
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