Pride of Smoketown: The 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords (Champions of Black Baseball)

The 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords team, one of the dominant teams in Negro League history, is often compared to the legendary 1927 “Murderer’s Row” New York Yankees. The squad from “Smoketown”—a nickname that the Pittsburgh Courier often applied to the metropolis better-known as “Steel City”—boasted four Hall-of-Fame players in outfielder James “Cool Papa” Bell, first baseman/manager Oscar Charleston, catcher Josh Gibson, and third baseman William “Judy” Johnson. The team also included such stalwarts as Sam Bankhead, William Bell, Jimmie Crutchfield, Andrew “Pat” Patterson, Leroy Matlock, and Sam Streeter. With a roster full of such illustrious stars, it is easy to see why the Crawfords were dominant. Nonethless, the team unexpectedly had to scratch and claw its way to the Negro National League pennant by defeating the New York Cubans in a thrilling seven-game championship series.This book includes articles on the players from the 1935 squad, as well as one who was absent. The Crawfords might have dispatched the Cubans more easily had they retained the services of pitcher Satchel Paige, a fifth Hall of Famer who had been a member of their 1934 squad. However, Paige and Crawfords owner Gus Greenlee were at odds and Paige shunned the Crawfords in 1935, although his shadow still loomed large over the Pittsburgh franchise. In light of Paige’s prominence and the fact that he had been expected to pitch for the Crawfords, a feature article about his accomplishments in 1935 and a game article about his failure to appear for game at Yankee Stadium in September of that year also are included here.This volume contains exhaustively-researched articles about the players, front office personnel, Greenlee Field, and the exciting games and history of the team that were written and edited by 25 SABR members. The inclusion of historical photos about every subject in the book helps to shine a spotlight on the 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords, who truly were the Pride of Smoketown.Biographies:SAM BANKHEAD by Dave WilkieJAMES (COOL PAPA) BELL by Dave WilkieWILLIAM BELL by Kevin Larkin and Frederick C. BushTED BOND by Richard BogovichERNEST “SPOON” CARTER by Frederick C. BushOSCAR CHARLESTON, PLAYER-MANAGER by Tim OdzerJIMMIE CRUTCHFIELD by William H. JohnsonROOSEVELT DAVIS by Jay HurdJOSH GIBSON by William H. JohnsonCURTIS “POPEYE” HARRIS by Wes SingletaryDAVID WILLIAM “BILL” HARVEY by Matthew CleverCARL HOWARD by Richard BogovichHOW WE HAPPENED UPON HOWARD: UNEXPECTED COLLABORATION LEADS TO INFORMATION ABOUT LITTLE-KNOWN NEGRO LEAGUE PITCHER by F.B., R.B., B.N.BERTRUM HUNTER by Paul HofmannWILLIAM “JUDY” JOHNSON by Thomas KernHARRY KINCANNON by Margaret M. GripshoverLEROY MATLOCK by Richard BogovichCLARENCE “SPOONY” PALM by Jon HensonANDREW “PAT” PATTERSON by William H. JohnsonBILL PERKINS by Bob LeMoineSAM STREETER by Alan CohenCHESTER WILLIAMS by David WilkieGUS GREENLEE, OWNER by Brian McKennaROY SPARROW, PUBLICITY MAN by Margaret M. GripshoverGREENLEE FIELD by Jeb StewartA NOTE ON ADDITIONAL PLAYERS WHO SOMETIMES APPEAR ON PITTSBURGH’S 1935 ROSTER by Frederick C. BushSPRING TRAINING FOR THE 1935 PITTSBURGH CRAWFORDS by Mark Blaeuer1935 PITTSBURGH CRAWFORDS SEASON TIMELINE by Bill NowlinAUGUST 11, 1935:THE EAST-WEST ALL-STAR GAME, COMISKEY PARK by Frederick C. BushSEPTEMBER 22, 1935: PAIGE TAKES THE MONEY BUT NOT THE MOUND IN 12-2 WIN OVER PHILADELPHIA STARS, YANKEE STADIUM by Mark S. SternmanTHE 1935 NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: PITTSBURGH CRAWFORDS V. NEW YORK CUBANS by Rich PuerzerGUS GREENLEE AND THE CRAWFORD GRILLS by Leslie HeaphyGUS GREENLEE AND THE EAST-WEST ALL-STAR GAME:ORIGINS AND CONFLICT (1932-1944) by Duke GoldmanWHERE WAS SATCHEL IN 1935? PAIGE AND GREENLEE FEUDED AS CRAWFORDS RULED THE NNL by Frederick C. BushKINGS OF THE HILL:THE STORY OF THE PITTSBURGH CRAWFORDS by Jeremy Beer