Atlanta Daily World

Black Crackers Rout Nashville Cubs, 9-7; 11-4 In '48 Opener

The Atlanta Black Crackers displayed power at bat and smart fielding in opening their 1948 season in the Negro Southern League with a double victory over the Nashville Cubs, Sunday afternoon, before a banner crowd, at Ponce de Leon Park. After coming from behind to win the curtain-raiser, 9-7, the Black Crackers took full advantage of Nashville miscues to run up an, 11-4 margin in the nightcap.

Highlighting the thrill-packed contests were the colorful opening day ceremonies, which were held on the field just before the umpires yelled the old familiar, "Play ball!" Prof. C. L. Harper, one of Atlanta's leading educators and president of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People pitched the first ball, with Dr. R. B. Jackson, president of the Negro Southern League at bat, and King Moore, retired Atlanta business man behind the plate.

GAME ON AIR LANES

Another feature of the Black Crackers grand opening day was the play-by-play account of the first game on the air lanes via Radio Station WEAS (DECATUR 10ioKC). The announcer described the diamond battle from the special Radio Booth at the park.

After jumping to a two-run lead in the first frame on singles by Homer "Goose" Curry and Dusty Owens. the Black Crackers were trailing, 3-2 in the second, when the Cubs pushed over three runs on singles by Kelley Brooks and Harvey Young, together with a base on balls to Curtis Clark.

The score was tied up, 4-4 at the end of the third. then both teams tallied twice in the fourth for a 6-all count. In the sixth, "Butch" McCord. Nashville first baseman blasted the ball over the right-field sign boards for a home run to put the Cubs ahead, 7-6. McCord became the first player to be awarded a carton of "Old Gold" cigarettes for hitting a home run at Ponce de Leon Park.

DAVIS SPARKLES ON BASE PATHS

The Black Crackers deadlocked the count, 7-7 in the seventh. when Lomax "Butch" Davis came up with some clever base-running. After beating out an infield hit, the Black Crackers left-fielder stole second and third and crossed the plate on a wild throw. Two runs in the eighth on singles by Curry and Davis put the game on ice.

The Crackers touched "Lefty" Derrick for 15 hits, while Ralph Jones and Early King scattered 11 safeties. Sharing batting honors were Dusty Owens, "Butch" Davis, of Atlanta; "Butch" McCord and Kelley Brooks, of Nashville, with three hits apiece.

The Cubs came back strong in the night-cap, pounding Sack Morgan for four singles and three runs in the first inning. with Harvey Young. McCord and Clarence Davis leading the attack. Morgan walked two men in the second. when Nashville scored another run, was relieved by James Williams.

WILLIAMS BLANKS CUBS

Williams, the Black Crackers youthful right-hander blanked the Cubs from then on out, and was credited with eight strikeouts in five innings.

Meanwhile. the Crackers capitalized on timely hits and Nashville errors to pile up a convincing. 11-4 triumph.

"Butch" Davis copped batting honors with three straight singles while James Williams and Leon Wyatt connected for a pair of triples.

The Crackers collected 10 hits off Nathan Owens and Melvin "Slick" Coleman. and the Cubs touched Morgan for five hits and Williams for a single bingle.

FIRST GAME SUMMARY
Umpires: B. T. Harvey (Behind the plate); Joseph Doyle (On the bases).

NASHVILLE CUBS
AB R H
H. Young, ss 5 1 1
E. Williams, 2b ..... 5 0 0

... [continued box score details, but summarized as part of story]

TOTALS 44 11 15