1947 Negro World Series

Background

The Cleveland Buckeyes were making their second appearance in the World Series after winning the NAL pennant (they subsequently beat Washington in four games for the title). In a time where both leagues had teams play an uneven number of games, Cleveland had a winning percentage of .778 with their 42–12 record, which exceeded the Kansas City Monarchs (52–32, .619) for the pennant.

As for the Cubans, they had started play in the NNL in 1935 but had disbanded for two years before returning in 1939. They were part of a distinct history that had employed many international players that ranged beyond just Cuba, such as Puerto Rico. With a record and percentage of 43-19-1 (.694), they outmatched the Newark Eagles (50–38–1, .568).

This would ultimately prove to be the penultimate Series ever played by the two Negro leagues. Integration of black players into Major League Baseball in 1947 had shifted attention in the newspapers and crowds away from the Negro Leagues as defectors like Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby took center stage for the National League and American League.

Buckeyes Al Smith, Sam Jethroe, Quincy Trouppe, Webbo Clarke, and Sam Jones would join the major leagues in the following years while Cubans Minnie Minoso, Ray Noble, Pat Scantlebury, and Lino Donoso also joined the major leagues.

Summary

Matchups

Game 1

The first game of the series would end up proving very little, despite the potential for it. The Buckeyes chased the Cubans' starting pitcher in Dave Barnhill out after one inning on three runs in five hits, and they rocked Pat Scantlebury for two more runs for a total of five in two innings. However, Scantlebury settled down and allowed no further runner to score for the next four innings, and New York gradually chipped at the lead over the next few innings, which included three runs in the fifth off starter Chet Brewer. Both teams relied on chance hitting, since each had two extra base hits (Cleveland had five singles and New York had six). The best hitter of the day proved to be shortstop Silvio Garcia of the Cubans, who went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs. However, growing rain meant that the game was called a tie after six innings.

Game 2

Game 3

Game 4

Catcher Ray Noble would help lead the Cubans to victory with a grand slam in the fifth inning as the Cubans went from a one-run lead to being up 7–0 as Cleveland did themselves no favors by committing four errors.

Game 5

Game 6

In the Series, Cleveland had a lead in the first two games, yet managed to win just once. Games 3–5 saw them lead in exactly zero innings, but Cleveland finally broke some ground to start Game 6 at home. They rocked Luis Tiant Sr. for three runs, as he faced just eight batters in two innings before being relieved by Pat Scantlebury. He held the ship mostly afoot despite Cleveland's lead lead swelling to 5–0. Scantlebury finished the game for New York with seven innings of relief, and the Cubans came alive in the sixth inning on the strength of two hits, a hit-by-pitch, and two straight errors to make it 5–3. Ultimately, they would make the best of two doubles and six singles to go with seven walks and four errors committed by Smith to score six runs in three innings as Cleveland (mustering three doubles on nine hits with only three walks) could only watch as the Cubans clinched the title. Three players in the game had three-hit games, which included Scantlebury (3 for 5), Willie Grace (3 for 4 while driving in four runs) and Leon Kellman (3 for 5).

New York was buoyed by two .400 hitters in the Series in Minnie Minoso (.423) and Claro Duany (.421), while only Leon Kellman hit exceptionally for Cleveland, leading the way with a .450 average.

References

References

1. Holway, John B.. (2001). "The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues: The Other Half of Baseball History". Hastings House Publishers.
2. "1947 Negro American League Season Summary".
3. "1947 Negro National League II Season Summary".
4. "1947 Negro League World Series".
5. "September 26, 1947: Few notice as Negro League World Series visits Chicago – Society for American Baseball Research".
6. (4 October 2017). "On this day in Latinx history: The New York Cubans celebrate their 1947 Negro World Series title".