1933 Indianapolis ABCs/Detroit Stars

1933 Indianapolis ABCs/Detroit Stars / Franchise: Indianapolis ABCs/Detroit Stars / BR Team Page

Record: 17-31, finished 9th in Negro National League (1933 NNL) - did not complete season

Managed by Candy Jim Taylor

Ballpark: Perry Stadium, Hamtramck Stadium

History, Comments, Contributions

The 1933 Indianapolis ABCs were a team in the new Negro National League's debut season, but battled attendance problems and moved to become the Detroit Stars. They did not complete the season nor did they return the next year. Some of their players left earlier, as the Homestead Grays raided their team for Jimmy Binder and Jim Williams, causing Homestead to be kicked out of the NNL.

Their top offensive performer was CF Jerry Benjamin, who hit .318/.401/.395 (116 OPS+) with 13 steals and 30 runs in 36 games; he also fielded .986, well above league norms. He finished second in the NNL in swipes behind legendary Cool Papa Bell of Pittsburgh. The only other starter to reach a 100 OPS+ (and doing so exactly) was 1B Granville Lyons (.271/.317/.432). Hall-of-Famer Ray Dandridge broke in at age 19 as their starting shortstop but hit only .182/.196/.255 (21 OPS+) while fielding .887; better days were obviously ahead.

Other regulars were C Paul Hardy (.183/.239/.207, 21 OPS+), 2B Anderson Pryor (.145/.243/.177, 15 OPS+), 3B Binder (.300/.338/.386, 95 OPS+), LF Williams (.288/.307/.356, 78 OPS+) and RF Clarence Smith (.244/.292/.289, 57 OPS+). The most-used bench players were corner infielder George Gill (.328/.386/.391, 110 OPS+) and middle infielder Black Bottom Buford (.250/.286/.333, 66 OPS+), though 15 people played at least 10 games of their 48 contests.

The staff's ERA+ of 78 matched the offense's OPS+. Percy Bailey (3-3, 2.38, 180 ERA+) was the clear ace, with three other hurlers starting 5 or more games: Columbus Vance (3-7, 4.63, 92 ERA+), Dave Snowden (1-4, 6.39, 67 ERA+) and Ewing Waddy (1-4, 6.95, 62 ERA+). Veteran Logan Hensley was 3rd on the team in wins (2-2, 4.60, 93 ERA+).

All stats listed are per the Seamheads database 12/24/2020

Awards and Honors

• All-Star: Percy Bailey