This program is from a California Winter League game between the Baltimore Colored Giants and the Joe Pirrone’s All Stars. California Winter League games were played at Hollywood Ball Park during the 1943 California Winter League season. The center section of this program includes preprinted lineups and batting orders for both teams for the game. The Baltimore Colored Giants behind the pitching of Satchel Paige won the game 11-8.
There were only two teams, Baltimore Colored Giants and Joe Pirrone’s All Stars, in the 1943-44 California Winter League. The Baltimore Colored Giants won the championship with a record of 7-5-1. There were supposed to also be teams from San Diego, Long Beach and service teams participating in the league. Details of what happened to these teams are not documented. These teams don’t show up in the official statistics for the league. Tommy “Sam” Sampson won the league batting title with a .433 batting average. Satchel Paige led all pitchers with three wins and one loss.
The Baltimore Colored Giants were virtually an all star team from the Negro Leagues. The starting lineup and batting order for Baltimore for this game were:
Player
|
Cowan Hyde |
Memphis Red Sox |
right field |
|
Cool Pappa Bell |
Homestead Grays |
center field |
|
Clyde Spearman |
Birmingham Black Barons |
left field |
|
Buck Leonard |
Homestead Grays |
first base |
|
Howard Easterling |
Homestead Grays |
third base |
|
Sam Sampson |
Birmingham Black Barons |
second base |
|
Ted Radcliffe |
Chicago American Giants |
catcher |
|
Jesse Walker |
Birmingham Black Barons |
short stop |
|
Satchel Paige |
Kansas City Monarchs |
pitcher |
|
Tom Moss |
|
pitcher |
Joe Pirrone’s All Stars team was made up of Major League players who came to the west coast to play winter league ball to earn extra money. The starting lineup and batting order for Pirrone’s All Stars were:
Player
|
Peanuts Lowery |
Chicago Cubs |
shortstop |
|
Charlie English |
Cincinnati Reds |
third base |
|
George Mettkovich |
Boston Braves |
right field |
|
Andy Pafko |
Chicago Cubs |
center field |
|
Gerry Priddy |
Washington Senators |
second base |
|
Rip Russell |
Chicago Cubs |
left field |
|
Larry Barton |
|
first base |
|
Roy Partee |
Boston Braves |
catcher |
|
Bobo Newsom |
Washington Senators |
pitcher |
|
Newell Kimball |
Philadelphia Phillies |
pitcher |
An interesting footnote to this program is that it is autographed by Satchel Paige.
Baltimore Colored Giants - California Winter League (1943-44)