The skies are ominous as we get ready for Game 1 at Greenlee Field in Pittsburgh - the New York Black Yankees vs. the Pittsburgh Crawfords. Black Yankees’ manager Bob Clarke has sent Barney Brown to the mound for Game 1, and Pittsburgh manager (and Hall of Famer) Oscar Charleston has nominated Hall of Famer Satchel Paige.
Despite George Giles’ leadoff walk, the Black Yankees went quietly in the top of the first. The Crawfords put two runs on the board in the bottom of the second on manager Oscar Charleston’s double off the right field wall and Ralph Burgin’s homer to right. The Crawfords added two more in the bottom of the third when Jimmie Crutchfield led off with a sharp single to left. With Dickie Seay at the plate, Crutchfield stole second. After Seay hit an infield popup, Sam Bankhead scored the Crawfords’ third run with a triple down the left field line. Hall of Fame catcher Josh Gibson then scored the Crawfords’ fourth run with a base hit up the middle.
The Black Yankees threatened in the top of the fourth, loading the bases. Jake Stephens led off with a walk. After Fats Jenkins struck out, Walter Cannady and George Scales hit back-to-back short singles to load the bases. But Satchel bucked up and got tough, whiffing Jim Williams and getting Marvin Barker on an inning-ending fly ball.
The Crawfords put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth to add to their lead. After Ralph Burgin was out on a fly ball and Judy Johnson struck out, pitcher Satchel Paige smacked a sharp single to right. Jimmie Crutchfield doubled off the left field wall, putting men on second and third, and Dickie Seay singled to left, scoring Paige.
As Paige continued to dominate the Black Yankees, the Crawfords threatened again in the bottom of the sixth. Judy Johnson led off the half-inning with a walk. Satchel laid down a perfect bunt, moving Johnson to second. After Jimmie Crutchfield was out on a fly ball to left, Dickie Seay reached on a one-base error by Black Yankees’ shortstop Jake Stephens. But Barney Brown managed to retire Sam Bankhead on a ground ball to right to close out the inning.
The Black Yankees didn’t manage more than one runner in the seventh or eighth. That brings us to the ninth. George Scales led off the inning with a base hit to right. After Jim Williams struck out and pinch hitter Spoony Palm was out on a fly ball to center, Ameal Brooks hit a sharp single into the left-center field gap, advancing Scales to third. But with the complete game (and the win) on the line, Paige bore own one last time and got George Giles on a popup to first baseman Oscar Charleston.
So with the Crawfords ahead one game to none, we’re back in Pittsburgh next time for Game 2.
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