1947 Negro World Series

Negro World Series

Negro World Series (4-1): New York Cubans (42-16, NNL) over Cleveland Buckeyes (NAL)

Introduction

The 1947 Colored World Series was the sixth Colored World Series between the eastern Negro National League and western Negro American League. This series marked the only time that a Cuban team won the Series, though the New York Cubans did have a couple pitchers and a backup catcher from the USA and a second baseman from the Dominican Republic. Still, unlike early "Cuban" teams of the Negro Leagues, the team was predominately composed of players from that island.

The Teams

Cleveland Buckeyes

Cleveland had won the Negro American League behind player-manager Quincy Trouppe. Catcher Trouppe (.352), shortstop Al Smith and OF Sam Jethroe (.340) would all make the majors. 1B Archie Ware hit .349 and 3B Clyde Nelson .333. Sad Sam Jones (4-2) would make the majors from the staff, which was led by old-timer Chet Brewer (12-6, 3.82 RA, tied for the NAL lead in wins and second in RA) and future major leaguer Webbo Clarke (11-2). Cleveland had won the 1945 Negro World Series.

New York Cubans

New York was guided by another catcher, José María Fernández. They went 42-16 to win the Negro National League title. 1B Lorenzo Cabrera was fourth in the league in average (.352) and 3B Minnie Minoso (.294) and C Ray Noble (.325) would both go on to the majors as did two-way star Pat Scantlebury (10-5; .366) and pitcher Lino Donoso (8-2). Scantlebury and Luis Tiant Sr. (10-0) tied for third in the NNL in wins. Other regulars were 2B Rabbit Martinez (.208), SS Silvio Garcia (.324), OF Claro Duany (.297), OF Pedro Pagés (.237), OF Cleveland Clark (.338) and C Louis Louden (.290).

The Games

• September 19 in New York, NY: Veteran star Dave Barnhill had nothing on Cleveland, who fails to make it through the second, leaving with a 2-0 deficit and two on. Johnny Cowan greets reliever Pat Scantlebury with a 3-run homer. New York rallied to tie it in the bottom of the 5th. Jethroe reaches third base in the 7th for Cleveland, but is stranded when rain comes down, ending the game with a 5-5 tie.

• September 21 in New York: Cleveland scored three in the first, the Cubans tied in the third, the Buckeyes scored four in the fourth, New York matched them in the bottom of the inning and things remained deadlocked until the 9th. Smith then delivered his third hit, a bases-loaded hit down the line to win it against Donoso.

• September 23 in Cleveland, OH: Barney Morris shut out the hosts while Gene Smith matches him most of the way. With the game tied at 0 in the 9th, New York pounces on reliever Sad Sam Jones for six runs to end it.

• September 24 in Philadelphia, PA: Barnhill holds the Buckeyes in check for seven and Noble hits the second grand slam in Negro World Series history in a 9-4 win as New York takes a 2-1 lead.

• September 26 in Chicago, IL: Under chilly conditions, New York wins again, Donoso shutting down Cleveland to two runs while Cleveland aces Brewer and Clarke combine to give up 15 hits and 9 runs.

• September 27 in Cleveland: The hometown fans are disappointed as their boys commit four errors behind Gene Smith in a 6-5 loss. Cleveland leads, 5-0, after 5, before crumbling. Scantlebury gets the win in relief of Tiant.

Summary

New York got strong offensive performances from Minoso (.423), Duany (.421), Noble (.400), Garcia (.389), Louden (3 for 8), Scantlebury (4 for 8) and Cabrera (.316) while averaging 7 runs per game. The pitching was inconsistent buyt Morris (1-0, 0.00) and Scantlebury (1-0, 2.25 RA) fared well.

For Cleveland, Panama's León Kellman hit .450, but Jethroe (.316) was the only other player over .300 (pitcher Brewer went 3 for 6). Trouppe was just 2 for 19. Jones (0-1, 54.55 RA), Gene Bremer (0-1, 10.13 RA) and Brewer (0-1, 9.00 RA) were all atrocious on the mound and the team made four errors in game 2, then repeated that figure in games 4 through 6, not a recipe for success.

Source: The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway