Negro Leagues Game of the Day on This Date in 1928 (May 24th)

Thursday, May 24th – The New York Lincoln Giants visit the Hilldale Club at Hilldale Park. 

Here are the starting lineups:

New York Lincoln Giants (5-4)
1. Willie Gray, CF
2. John Henry Lloyd, 2B
3. George Carr, 1B
4. Charlie Mason, RF
5. Bill Riggins, 3B
6. George Scales, SS
7. Julio Rojo, LF
8. Charlie Spearman, C
9. Connie Rector, P

Hilldale Club (3-2)
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. Neck Stanley, P

35-year-old Arkansan Connie Rector opposes 23-year-old rookie left-hander Neck Stanley, the #6 pitcher on a 6-man staff.

Willie Gray opens the game by singling to left field, but is cut down trying for a double by LF Clint Thomas. John Henry Lloyd singles to right field. An infield single by George Carr to 3B Judy Johnson puts two runners on. Then Lloyd and Carr pull a double steal, 3B Johnson failing to cover third for the catcher throw. Charlie Mason smashes a hard grounder to Johnson, who makes the great play to stop it, but then elects to try to get Lloyd going home, which fails. Riggins hits a long fly to center where Oscar Charleston makes a great catch. Mason had figured there was no way the ball was going to be caught, and he is already around second base, and is doubled up on the throw back in, ending the inning with New York leading 1-0.

On to the bottom of the 2nd, where after an out by Walter Cannady, Clint Thomas doubles to center field. Judy Johnson fouls out to 3B Riggins, but both Otto Briggs and Neck Stanley walk, loading the bases. Warfield hits a ball into left field where Julio Rojo, normally a catcher, cannot come up with the catch, allowing 2 runs to score. 2-1 Hilldale after 2 innings.

In the bottom of the 3rd, with two out, Walter Cannady singles and steals second. Clint Thomas doubles to left, driving him in, and increasing the Hilldale lead to 3-1 after three innings.

No more scoring happens until the bottom of the 8th, where after Charleston grounds out to 2B Lloyd, Mackey, Cannady, Thomas (on a misplay by Rojo) and Johnson (on a misplay by SS Scales) all single, resulting in two more runs scoring. New York is unable to score in the 9th and the final is 5-1 Hilldale.

NOTES: “Julio Rojo is a wonderful catcher, but as an outfielder he closely resembles something the Thomas Cat dragged out of an open garbage can and then left in disgust.” – Rollo Wilson, Pittsburgh Courier. Neck Stanley gets the complete game win, allowing 1 run, 7 hits, 2 walks, and striking out 1. Clint Thomas is 3-5 with two doubles, 2 RBI, and 1 run scored.

NNL Scores:
Birmingham Black Barons-9, Cleveland Tigers-6 (Game #1, Rickwood Field)
Birmingham Black Barons-9, Cleveland Tigers-5 (Game #2, Rickwood Field)

Clint Thomas-Hilldale