Negro Leagues Game of the Day on This Date in 1928 (May 20th)

Sunday, May 20th – The Hilldale Club visits the Baltimore Black Sox at Maryland Park. It has been raining since noon, but the skies are clearing and the teams take the field at 3 p.m.

Here are the starting lineups:

Hilldale Club (2-2)
1. Frank Warfield, 2B
2. Jake Stephens, SS
3. Oscar Charleston, CF
4. Biz Mackey, C
5. Walter Cannady, 1B
6. Clint Thomas, LF
7. Judy Johnson, 3B
8. Otto Briggs, RF
9. Porter Charleston, P

Baltimore Black Sox (9-3)
1. Dick Jackson, 2B
2. Crush Holloway, LF
3. Jud Wilson, 3B
4. Pete Washington, CF
5. Rap Dixon, RF
6. Ben Taylor, 1B
7. Jack Eggleston, C
8. Scrappy Brown, SS
9. Laymon Yokely, P

24-year-old Porter Charleston, in his second season with Hilldale opposes Laymon Yokely, just 21-years-old but already establishing himself as the ace of the Baltimore pitching staff.

Frank Warfield is fanned by Yokely to begin the game. Jake Stephens lines to LF Holloway, who can’t keep the ball in his glove, and is charged an error. Charleston singles and then Mackey singles home Stephens. Walter Cannady flies out, bringing in Charleston. Clint Thomas rolls back to the pitcher Yokely to end the inning. 2-0 Hilldale after ½ inning.

No one can score until the top of the 4th, when Mackey takes Yokely deep over the left-field fence with an opposite field home run. Baltimore comes alive in the bottom of the 4th when Pete Washington doubles, Rap Dixon sacrifices him to 3rd, and Ben Taylor flies to CF Charleston, who in his rush to throw home drops the ball for an error, Washington scoring. Jack Eggleston then walks, but Scrappy Brown strikes out to kill the rally. 3-1 Hilldale after 4 innings.

On to the bottom of the 6th, where Jud Wilson singles to left, and Pete Washington homers. Rap Dixon fouls out to C Mackey, Ben Taylor grounds out, and Jack Eggleston strikes out. 3-3 after 6 innings.

In the top of the eighth, Stevens flies softly to CF Washington, then Charleston and Mackey both draw walks. Walter Cannady sacrifices them to second and third, but Thomas grounds out to 2B Jackson. In the bottom of the inning, Wilson doubles, but then gets thrown out at 3rd on Washington’s grounder. Dixon singles, and Taylor flies to right, advancing Washington to 3rd. With the two runners on, Eggleston grounds out to 2B Warfield.

The game goes to extra innings, where in the 10th Stevens flies out to CF Washington. Charleston singles, Mackey walks, and then Walter Cannady doubles home both runners. Thomas flies deep to the center field fence, advancing Cannady to 3rd. But Baltimore appeals and Cannady is called out for leaving 2nd too soon.

In the bottom of the 10th, Holloway singles, as does Wilson. Washington flies out to LF Thomas. Dixon singles, but with Holloway stopping at 3rd, Wilson gets caught off second, and is tagged out. Taylor hits a line drive that SS Stephens leaps up and catches, ending the game at 5-3 Hilldale in 10 innings.

NOTES: Porter Charleston gets the complete game victory, giving up 3 runs (2 earned), 10 hits, walking 3, hitting 1, and striking out 8. Oscar Charleston goes 3-4 with a walk and 2 runs scored. Biz Mackey is 3 for 3 with 2 walks, a home run, an RBI and 2 runs scored. Walter Cannady has 4 RBI. For Baltimore Jud Wilson is 3-4 with a double, a HBP, and a run scored, and Pete Washington goes 2 for 4, with a double, a home run, a walk, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored.

Other ECL/Eastern games:
New York Lincoln Giants-14, Atlantic City Bacharach Giants-7 (Catholic Protectory Oval)

NNL Scores:
Cleveland Tigers-3, Memphis Red Sox-2 (Game #1, Lewis Park)
Memphis Red Sox-6, Cleveland Tigers-3 (Game #2, Lewis Park)
Detroit Stars-6, Kansas City Monarchs-5 (Game #1, Muehlebach Field)
Kansas City Monarchs-9, Detroit Stars-1 (Game #2, Muehlebach Field)
Chicago American Giants-12, Cuban Stars (West)-0 (Game #1, Schorling Park)
Chicago American Giants-5, Cuban Stars (West)-0 (Game #2, Schorling Park)

Biz Mackey