Grays vs. Black Barons

For my next Diamond Legacies 1948 game, the Homestead Grays battled the Birmingham Black Barons at Rickwood Field. The Negro National League champion Grays started Tom Parker (2.78 ERA). The Negro American League champion Black Barons gave the ball to Bill Powell (2.79 ERA).

Both pitchers came out of the gate strong, allowing no runs through the first three innings. In the top of the fourth, Sam Bankhead doubled and Eudie Napier walked to put two men on for the Grays with nobody out. Charles Gary then hit a hard smash that Birmingham third baseman John Britton fielded on one hop. He then stepped on the bag and fired to second baseman Piper Davis, who threw to first to complete a triple play. That is the only time I've had that happen in one of my Diamond Legacies games. 

The contest remained scoreless into the top of the sixth when Buck Leonard singled and Luke Easter followed with a walk for Homestead. Following a Bankhead groundout, Napier launched a Bill Powell changeup over the centerfield wall to put the Grays up 3-0. Parker meanwhile continued to flummox the Black Barons hitters. Willie Mays, who walked and stole a base, was the only Birmingham batter to reach third base in the entire game. Parker retired the last ten hitters in a row to complete the shutout.

Homestead 3, Birmingham 0