Negro Leagues Game of the Day on This Date in 1928 (June 23rd)

Saturday, June 23rd – The Birmingham Black Barons face the Chicago American Giants at Schorling Park. In pre-game warm-ups, Chicago right fielder Ruben Jones and second baseman Charlie Williams collide. Neither will start the game, although Jones will eventually feel well enough to come in later to replace pitcher George Harney, who started in right field in his place. Lemuel Hawkins moves from his normal 1B position to play second in place of Williams.

Here are the starting lineups:

Birmingham Black Barons (19-20)
1. Geechie Meredith, RF
2. George McAllister, 1B
3. Chuffy Alexander, LF
4. Roy Parnell, CF
5. Charles Wesley, 2B
6. Ray Sheppard, 3B
7. Dewitt Owens, SS
8. Bill Perkins, C
9. Robert Poindexter, P

Chicago American Giants (16-20)
1. Stanford Jackson, 3B
2. Lemuel Hawkins, 2B
3. John Hines, C
4. Pythias Russ, SS
5. Jim Brown, 1B
6. Sandy Thompson, LF
7. Jelly Gardner, CF
8. George Harney, RF
9. Eddie Miller, P

Veteran Robert Poindexter pitching against two-way player P/SS/3B Eddie Miller.

Birmingham opens the scoring in the top of the second inning. After a Charles Wesley out, Ray Sheppard doubles to right field. Dewitt Owens follows with a single to center, plating Sheppard and taking second on the throw home. Bill Perkins then singles to right, scoring Owens. Pitcher Poindexter grounds to 3B Stanford Jackson, but Lem Hawkins, playing 2B instead of his normal 1B position, can’t come up with the attempted force out throw at second. Geechie Meredith singles home Perkins, and Birmingham leads 3-0.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lemuel Hawkins singles, and after John Hines and Pythias Russ both make outs, but advance Hawkins to second, Jim Brown singles home Hawkins. Sandy Thompson makes the 3rd out, and the score is 3-1 Birmingham after 6 innings.

On to the bottom of the seventh, where Jelly Gardner draws a lead-off walk. Ruben Jones bats for George Harney, and beats out an infield single to 3B Sheppard. The Black Barons bring in Satchel Paige to save the game. Eddie Miller singles, cutting the lead to 3-2. Stanford Jackson is hit by a Paige pitch, loading the bases. Lemuel Hawkins delivers the 2 RBI single, putting Chicago ahead. Paige works out of further difficulty, but Chicago now leads 4-3, and Eddie Miller holds Birmingham off for the final two innings and a Chicago victory.

NOTES: Eddie Miller gets the complete game victory, giving up 3 runs (2 earned), 6 hits, 0 walks, and striking out 2. Lemuel Hawkins is the hitting star, going 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored. Dewitt Owens goes 3-3 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored in a losing effort.

Other NNL scores:
St. Louis Stars-8, Kansas City Monarchs-0 (Muehlebach Field)

Eastern Scores:
Hilldale Club-3, Baltimore Black Sox-2 (Hilldale Park)

Lemuel Hawkins mug shot 1931