Negro Leagues Game of the Day on This Date in 1928 (May 5th)

Saturday, May 5th – After a few days of non-league games, both leagues resume their schedules. The Birmingham Black Barons visit the Chicago American Giants at Schorling Park.

Here are the starting lineups:

Birmingham Black Barons:
1. George McAllister, 1B
2. Geechie Meredith, 2B
3. Roy Parnell, LF
4. Sandy Thompson, CF
5. Ray Sheppard, 3B
6. Poindexter Williams, C
7. Reuben Jones, RF
8. Dewitt Owens, SS
9. Jim Willis, P

Chicago American Giants
1. Jelly Gardner, CF
2. Dave Malarcher, 3B
3. Steel Arm Davis, RF
4. Jim Brown, 1B
5. Nat Rogers, LF
6. Pythias Russ, C
7. Bobby Williams, SS
8. Charlie Williams, 2B
9. George Harney, P

Rookie Jim Willis, signed from the Nashville Elites, goes up against soon to be 38 year old veteran George Harney. In the bottom of the 1st, Gardner walks, Malarcher sacrifices him to 2nd, and Steel Arm Davis doubles him home. 1-0 Chicago.

On to the bottom of the 3rd, where P Harney walks, Gardner sacrifices him to 2nd, Malarcher flies to right, and then Steel Arm Davis strikes again, this time with a two out triple, scoring Harney. 2-0 Chicago.

Meanwhile Harney is scattering Birmingham hits until the top of the 6th. Roy Parnell walks. Sandy Thompson singles to right, with Parnell advancing to 3rd. Thompson then steals 2nd. Ray Sheppard lines to SS Bobby Williams, but Poindexter Williams singles into right, scoring both Parnell and Thompson, and tying the score at 2-2.

In the bottom of the 7th, Pythias Russ grounds to SS Dewitt Owens, who overthrows McAllister at 1B for an error, Bobby Williams sacrificed Russ to 2nd base. With the game on the line, Willis gets a huge strikeout of Charlie Williams. Manager Malarcher lets P Harney bat, and Harney comes through with a single, scoring Russ and putting Chicago ahead 3-2, which Harney then makes stand up.

NOTES: Harney pitches a complete game, giving up 8 singles but only 2 runs.
Willis also went all the way, and was the tough-luck loser, giving up only 4 hits and 2 earned runs in his 8 innings.
Birmingham CF Thompson went 3 for 4 with a run scored. Steel Arm Davis had a double, triple, and two RBIs.

Other NNL Scores:
St. Louis Stars–9, Kansas City Monarchs– 8 (12 Innings, Stars Park)
Cuban Stars (West)–6, Memphis Red Sox-4 (Lewis Park)
Detroit Stars-8, Cleveland Tigers-5 (Mack Park)

ECL Scores:
Atlantic City Bacharach Giants-10, Philadelphia Tigers-6 (Pencoyd Field)

Steel Arm Davis Photos