1917 Brooklyn Royal Giants

A Calendar, Including Newspaper Clippings, of the 1917 Brooklyn Royal Giants

1917 Brooklyn Royal Giants

Stories are placed in order of the date they appeared.

April 5, 1917

Washington, DC
"Asks $50,000 For Arm. - Professional Ball Player Sues W., P. and B. Railway Company. - Alleging that he lost an arm as a result of injury received when a passenger August 19 last at Elkton, Maryland, James D. Despert, then a professional ball player connected with the Brooklyn Royal Giants, has filed suit in the District Supreme Court to recover $50,000 in damages from the Washington, Philadelphia, and Baltimore Railroad Company. He says a hard object was thrown from a passing freight train and struck him on the arm, inflicting an injury that caused amputation. As a result of the loss of his arm, the plaintiff says, he cannot play professional ball and is in a weakened and crippled condition. He is represented by Attorneys William R. Harr and C. C. Frazier."

April 25, 1917

Wilkes-Barre, PA
"The Royal Giants of Brooklyn, a team that has played in the South the greater part of the winter, will play here Wednesday and Thursday, April 25 and 26."
Wilkes-Barre, PA
"Calhoun Secures A Clever Player for Baron Bunch - Infielder Thomas of Pittsburgh, Will Guard Keystone Corner - Good Games are Booked - Brooklyn Royal Giants Will Be Attraction Tomorrow and Thursday - Although Manager Calhoun failed in his efforts to land either Bill Gleason or Eddie Warner, the two clever infielders of the Pittsburgh team, he did manage to hook onto Ben Thomas, of the Pirates. Thomas was last year with New Orleans, where he played shortstop. He batted .243 in 131 games, getting fourty-five runs, 105 safe hits, fourteen sacrifices and nineteen stolen bases and had a fielding average of .918. He is expected to be just the man wanted to steady up the field. The Brooklyn Royal Giants, the greatest negro baseball team in the business will be the attraction at Diamond Park, Wednesday and Thursday. This club is capable of giving any of the major league clubs a battle for supremacy. They will probably prove too strong for the Barons, who have had very little team practice."
Wilkes-Barre, PA
"Barons Play Well But Drop Contest To Royal Giants - Hard-Fought Game is Won by the Negroes by the Close Score of 4 to 3. - Pitchers Show Form - Manning, Tuero and Tencate Allow the Giants Only Five Bingles. - The Barons lost a splendidly played exhibition game to the Brooklyn Royal Giants yesterday afternoon at Diamond Park by the score of 4 to 3. Although the Calhounites outhit the gentlemen of color, they were unable to bunch bingles successfully, while the Giants managed to get their hits when they had men on bases, generally the result of passes. Manager Calhoun used Manning, Tuero and Tencate on the mound and all of them showed to excellent advantage. The local trio was somewhat wild, but this was due to the lack of work. When it is considered that the dusky aggregation has been playing ball for several months the showing of the Barons is highly pleasing to the fans. Manager Earle, of the Giants, used Lefty Harvey, one of the best negro pitchers in the game, against the Calhounites. The portsider had everything and the way he buzzed them through there was a caution. The locals had quite a time getting started and it looked for a while as, though they were going to be blanked, but they finally got onto the left-hander's slants and made it very interesting. In fact, the Barons had a number of chances to win, but lacked the decisive punch. Webster and Harvey were the only Giants who could hit the local pitchers. Webster getting three bingles and Harvey two. Orcutt and Reichle were high for the Barons, each bagging a brace of safeties. There was a fair sized crowd in attendance."

April 26, 1917

Wilkes-Barre, PA
"The Royal Giants of Brooklyn, a team that has played in the South the greater part of the winter, will play here Wednesday and Thursday, April 25 and 26."

Wilkes-Barre, PA
"Barons Break Even With Fast Giants By Clever Playing - Calhoun's Men Get to Pitcher Josh for Six Runs in Second Inning - Cavin Slams Pellet - Youthful Third Baseman Cracks Out Triple With Bases Filled to Limit - Outplaying the Brooklyn Royal Giants all the way, the Barons defeated their dusky opponents in easy fashion yesterday by the score of 10 to 2. It was fine revenge for the beating sustained by the locals Wednesday and the few fans in attendance were much pleased with the result. On the firing line for the locals were Beretski and Verbout, both of whom hurled fine ball. The Baron pitchers went so well that they allowed chocolate tinted rivals but five hits and two runs. Both markers were made while Beretski was on the mound. Verbout seemed to have everything and blanked the opposition. A coal black product of 125th street and Lexington Avenue by the name of Josh tried to pitch for the Royal Giants. The Barons went after him early and it was a very dark afternoon for Mr. Josh, who seemed to be much pleased when Umpire Brieger called off hostilities at the end of the eighth inning. The Barons went in a hitting mood and what they did to their rivals was very bitter medicine. They tallied once in the first inning and six more in the second. Cavin had much to do with the scoring, cracking out a triple with the bases clogged. The Calhoun clan sent three more runs across in the seventh inning, just by way of rubbing it in."

May 6, 1917

Harlem, NY
"Royals Vs Lincolns. - Two of New York's leading semi-professional teams, the Royal Giants and the Lincoln Giants, will be pitted against each other in a double header at Olympic Field, 136th street and Fifth Avenue, tomorrow. the teams will meet in the first of a series of ten games which will decide the colored championship of greater New York. Last season they met in a ten game series, and each team won four, the remaining two resulting in ties. Stringbean Williams and Cyclone Joe Williams will be the rival pitchers in the feature tilt."

May 30, 1917

Ridgewood, Queens, NY
"Cubans at Ridgewood - The Cuban Stars, who recently arrived from Havana, will make their second appearance of the season at the Ridgewood Grounds on Decoration Day, when they will clash in a double header with the Royal Giants. Three years ago the Cubans in Havana played against an all star American team that was composed mostly of members of the Royal Giants. The Royals will have Harvey and Williams on the mound and the Cubans will use Suarez and Calderon."

Inwood, Manhattan, NY
"Royal Giants Still At It. - The Royal Giants added two more victories to their long list by defeating the Cuban Stars at Ridgewood yesterday by scores of 2 to 1 and 8 to 4."

June 16, 1917

Trenton, NJ
"Royal Giants to Meet Globe Nine - Famous Colored Ball Club Will Endeavor to Take Third Straight From Locals - The Brooklyn Royal Giants, billed as the greatest aggregation of negro ball tossers in the United States, will endeavor to make it three straight over Tommy O'Hara's Globe Tire team tomorrow afternoon at Globe field, Prospect Street. The Giants twice defeated the Globe crew last year, but O'Hara feels confident of turning the tables in the third meeting. The Royal Giants will use either Stringbean Williams or Southpaw Harvey in the box, with all their regulars in their respective positions. Fritz Gaiser attempted to stop the Giants in both conflits, so it is more than likely Boice will be sent against the colored visitors. Boice has won six straight games for the Globe team, pitching wonderful ball in his last three starts. Only eleven hits have been made off his delivery in the last 27 innings, while five men have crossed the plate in the six games he has worked. He also has a record of 17 consecutive innings pitched in the last two games without being scored on, and followers of the team are pulling hard for him to beat Jaynes record of last season, when he pitched 21 innings without allowing a man to score."

"One Big Inning Gave Globe Game - Boyce Twirls in Form and Holds Brooklyn Royal Giants Safe - Globe Tire was only able to get to Tate, the hurler for the visitors in one inning but the Delaware River League champions counted enough runs in this frame to win the game. Boyce was on the hill for the Tiremakers and while touched for 10 safe drives he kept them so well scattered that the Brooklyn Royal Giants were able to count only two runs, one in the third and one in the fifth. The score was 5 to 2. This victory was the seventh consecutive win for Boyce and his work yesterday was responsible for the visitors going down to defeat. He was master of the game throughout. In the third Saidt and Lloyd singled and when Frost doubled both runners counted. Kramer also singled while Werner hit the first ball pitched to the left field fence, which was repeated a few moments later by Justice. Tate was sent to the showers after his bombardment and Williams sent to the mound. The side was retired without any further damage. Kramer's catch in the third off Santop's bat with Webster on second, was labeled for the score board. Lloyd's catch in the sixth off Pugh's bat which almost carried him off his feet and his throw to Justice netted one of the fastest double plays ever seen on Globe field. Lloyd also made two other catches that sent the big crowd wild."

June 17, 1917

Jersey City, NJ
"Baumgartner to Pitch. - Will Oppose Royal Giants in Jersey Today. - With Lefty Baumgartner, former Philadelphia National League pitcher, added to its roster, the Jersey City club expects to have little difficulty continuing its streak of victories over major league and semi-pro teams. Baumgartner will pitch against Lefty Harvey this afternoon in the first game of a double header with the Royal Giants. Jimmy Clinton and String Bean Williams will be the pitchers in the second game. Baumgartner last Sunday allowed only four hits. His engagement with the Jersey nine is his first in the semi-pro ranks since quitting the big league circuit."

June 24, 1917

Harlem, NY
"Royals at Olympic Field. - Will Play Two Games with Lincoln Giants. - The Royal Giants will resume their contests with the Lincoln Giants at Olympic Field this afternoon. The teams will play the fifth and sixth games of their ten game series. The Lincolns lead by three games to one. Dandy, who pitched splendid ball last Sunday, will work for the Lincolns in the first contest. In their first encounters at Olympic Field the Royals displayed a brand of ball that kept the fans on edge from start to finish. Both teams possess heavy hitters, hence the pitchers will have to travel at top speed to keep the scores down."

Harlem, NY
"Royal Giants in Harlem. - The Royal Giants, who rank among the independent vall teams in the East, will visit Olympic Field, 136th street and Fifth Avenue, on Sunday. They will clash with the Lincoln Giants in the fifth and sixth games of their ten game series. The series to date is even, each team having won two games. Dandy and Banks and Williams and Harvey will be the rival pitchers."

Harlem, NY
"Lincolns Break Even. - After Williams blanked the Royal Giants, 6 to 0, in the first game of a double bill at Olympic Field yesterday, the Royals came back with a vengeance and beat the Lincoln Giants in the second game, 11 to 1. Next Sunday the Cuban Stars will play two games with the Lincolns."

June 30, 1917

Camden, NJ
"Camden Triumphs Over Royal Giants - Jerseymen Take Brooklyn Lads Into Camp in Fast Game 6 to 2 - Santop, Visitors' First Baseman Hits Home Run With One on in the Fourth Round - In the presence of the largest crowd of the season, Camden Athletic Club yesterday defeated the Brooklyn Royal Giants by a score of 6 to 2. Although the Giants outbatted Camden, Cotter managed to keep the hits scattered, and the visitors made their only runs in the fourth inning, when Santop hit for a home run with one on base. Betts' fielding and Barr's steal of home in the eighth inning were other features. Cotton fanned ten men."

July 1, 1917

Brooklyn, NY
"Royals Divide Honors. - The Royal Giants, after being beaten by the Philly Giants, 9 to 3, scored over the Ironsides at Ridgewood yesterday, 7 to 5. On July 4 the Royals will play a double header with the Philly Giants at Ridgewood."

July 4, 1917

Brooklyn, NY
"On July 4 the Royals will play a double header with the Philly Giants at Ridgewood."

July 15, 1917

Brooklyn, NY
"Royals at Ridgewood. - The Royal Giants will be seen in action in a double header at the Ridgewood grounds in Brooklyn today against the Bushwicks. The teams came together twice before this season and broke even. Jimmy McGarry and Girard will pitch for the Bushwicks and Hobman and Mark, the Chinese player, will catch. Harvey and Williams will pitch for the Royals."

July 17, 1917

Brooklyn, NY
"Baumgartner to Pitch - Will Oppose Royal Giants in Jersey Today. - With Lefty Baumgartner, former Philadelphia National League pitcher, added to its roster, the Jersey City club expects to have little difficulty continuing its streak of victories over major league and semi-pro teams. Baumgartner will pitch against Lefty Harvey this afternoon in the first game of a double header with the Royal Giants. Jimmy Clinton and String Bean Williams will be the pitchers in the second game. Baumgartner last Sunday allowed only four hits. His engagement with the Jersey nine is his first in the semi-pro ranks since quitting the big league circuit."

July 18, 1917

Atlantic City, NJ
"Bacharach Giants Win - Atlantic City, New Jersey July 18 (Special). - The Bacharach Giants won a closely contested game from the Brooklyn Royal Giants here today, score 6 to 5. A timely single by Cumming won the game in the ninth inning."

July 21, 1917

Trenton, NJ
"Globe Ready for Brooklyn Giants - Globe Tire's next opponent at the Globe field will be the Brooklyn Royal Giants, the fastest colored baseball aggregation in the country. The game is scheduled for Saturday afternoon and marks the third meeting between the two clubs, each having won a game. On the Giants' first appearance here the Globe outfit came off on top of a 5 to 2 score, but on the occasion of O'Hara's pets visiting Brooklyn the Trenton boys fell under a 9 to 0 score. Special cars will be run on the Pennington Avenue line. The game will be called at 3:30 o'clock."

July 28, 1917

Philadelphia, PA
"The record of Roy Thomas's Stetson Hatmakers received a rude jar as the result of coming in contact with a team called Brooklyn Royal Giants. Prior to the meeting with the colored wonders the Stetson crowd boasted of a string of fourteen straight victories. Sad to relate, but that just proved to be the total runs collected by the visitors, as the score was 14-0. It is up to Thomas to begin all over again."

Philadelphia, PA "Stetson No Match for Royal Giants - AFter having won fourteen straight games from the strongest local teams, the Stetson Hatters stacked up against the Brooklyn Royal Giants and were most decisively defeated. The score was 14-0. The colored champions were in prime form with the bat and handed out nineteen hits four of which were two-baggers. The rabbit's foot which they brought with them from Brooklyn carried plenty of luck, because the Hatters were completely deceived by the underhand delivery of Morse, and in addition the home team was away of in holding, each of their five errors proving costly. Eddie Meyers, usually as steady as a cock foozled three times, and the outfielders were weak on ground balls. The visiting twirler allowed four hits, widely scattered andat no time was he in danger although Stetson had three men on base in the fifth with only one out, but Morse was too much for the next two batters. In the initial inning the Giants started to wallop the sphere, and their three runs in this session were enough, as Stetson could only collect nine big ciphers during the afternoon, while the visitors scooted around the bases with great speed. They played a fine game in the end, while the outstanding feature of the Stetson's fielding was McClay's catch of Webster's fly to the right field mitt, which he made while running with the ball."

July 29, 1917

Harlem, NY
"Lincolns are Favorites. - The Lincoln Giants and the Royal Giants will resume their baseball series at Olympic Field in Harlem on Sunday afternoon. They already have played six games in their ten game set and the Lincolns have the edge by a game. Sunday's double header will come pretty close to deciding the winner of the series. The Lincolns have been playing top notch ball since their winning visit to Atlantic city and are strong favorites over the rivals."

Harlem, NY
"Lincolns Vs. Royals. - Teams Will Clash at Olympic Field Today. - The Lincoln Giants and the Royal Giants will resuem their baseball series at Olympic Field in Harlem this afternoon. They already have played six games in their ten game set and the Lincolns have the edge by a game. Today's double header will come pretty close to deciding the winner of the series. The Lincolns have been playing top notch ball since their winning visit to Atlantic city and are strong favories over their rivals. Both teams are being strongly backed. The rivalry is exceptionally keen and good tussles are assured. Williams and Harney will pitch for the royals and Cyclone Joe Williams and Dandy for the Lincolns."

Harlem, NY
"Lincolns Lead in Series - By annexing both ends of a double bill with the Royal Giants at Olympic Field yesterday the Lincoln Giants lead in the ten game series by five games to one. The scores yesterday were 11 to 3 and 7 to 6. The second game was won in the ninth. Next Sunday the Lincolns will play the Danburys and Schenectady teams."

July 30, 1917

Trenton, NJ
"Brooklyn Giants Meet Globe Today - Globe Tire will play the Brooklyn Royal Giants, the champion colored team, here today in the third game of a series. As both clubs have won a game, this battle will be for blood. Globe won the first game, 5-2, and the darkies came back and won a 4-2 decision."

Trenton, NJ
"Globe Tire Drops Series to Giants - Brooklyn Royals Trim Tiremakers in Deciding Contest - Three Local Pitchers Used - The Brooklyn Royal Giants made it two victories out of three starts yesterday against Tommy O'Hara's Globe Tire outfit at the Prospect Street diamond, the dusky invaders carrying off the long end of 7 to 5 score. Three pitchers, 'Lefty' Lloyd, Fritz Gaiser and Danzer, the last named a new recruit, tried to stem the tide of defeat for Globe, but were not equal to the occasion. Globe got away to a good start and looked to have the contest well in hand with a four-run advantage, but the dark-skinned ball tossers came right back and grabbed the plunder. In the second inning Andy Werner hit the ball over the left field fence for a home run, but the paths were not populated. Welster duplicated the trick in the third inning under the same conditions. Morse, who was on the hill for the Giants, was rather soft picking for the Globe boys, but Harvey, who finished out, had Globe tied in knots. Lloyd labored on the hill at the outset for Globe but was later relieved by Fritz Gaiser. Fritz later gave way to Danzer. Dick Hutchinson dropped an easy fly in the fifth inning tht paved the way for Globe's defeat and he was promptly derriked by Manager O'Hara and Boice was sent in to bat for him in the sixth. Billy Lloyd was the fielding hro, starting two chain lightning double plays that choked off visiting rallies. Both teams did some pretty fielding, but the Giants had the class in the long run and won the series of three games."