1942 East-West Game - Second Game (Negro League)

The second East-West Game of 1942 was held on August 18, two days after game one. Unlike the Comiskey Park affair, the turnout was very poor (10,791 fans instead of 44,897). One benefit to the contest was that it was a fundraiser for the United States Army and Navy Relief, raising over $9,000 for that cause. The game was not billed as another East-West Game, but as the Army-Navy Relief Game; still, it did feature the same rosters as did the game two days prior.

As in the first 1942 matchup, the East won handily, this time by a 9-2 margin, as the West made six errors (by six different players) in looking horribly outclassed. It did not help that they were absent star pitcher Satchel Paige, who was injured and was used as a coach at third base instead of pitching.

For the East, SS Willie Wells (3 for 4, 3 2B, R, 2 RBI) led the offense but others certainly lent a hand, including 2B Sam Bankhead (2 for 5, 2 R) and RF Wild Bill Wright (2 for 4, 2B, R, RBI). No starting position player was held hitless. Jonas Gaines, Dave Barnhill and Leon Day each tossed two shutout innings, but the win went to the only East hurler to allow a run, starter Gene Smith.

For the West, RF Ted Strong (2 for 3), LF Willard Brown (2 for 4, 2 RBI) and 2B Tommy Sampson (2 for 3) had multiple hits, though both Strong and Sampson also made errors (as did Bankhead and Wells among the East offensive stars). SS Ralph Wyatt singled and walked in his two plate appearances and scored one of the West runs. Their best pitcher of a poor group was Verdell Mathis (2 UER, 4 H in 3 1/3 IP) as both Gene Bremer (5 R in 2 2/3 IP, 6 H, 3 BB) and Alvin Gipson (2 R in 3 IP) were not up to the task. Their worst performer on offense was 1B Buck O'Neil, who went 0 for 4.