September 11-October 2, 1934: Philadelphia Stars win first and only Negro National League championship

This article was published in “The Stars Shone on Philadelphia: The 1934 Negro National League Champions” (SABR, 2023), edited by Frederick C. Bush and Bill Nowlin.

The 1934 Negro National League Championship Series between the Philadelphia Stars and the Chicago American Giants was a closely contested, contentious nailbiter of a series. Not only did the Series go the full seven games, but the seventh game resulted in a tie that forced an eighth game to decide the series. The American Giants were also known as Cole’s American Giants, named after Robert A. Cole, who owned the team from 1932 to 1935. Managed by Dave Malarcher, the American Giants won the first half of the season in the Negro National League. The Stars, managed by Webster McDonald, who was also an important part of the pitching staff, won the season’s second half. Thus, the championship was to be determined by the first-half winner taking on the second-half champion in a best-of-seven series.

The American Giants featured a number of star players, including future Hall of Famers Willie Wells at shortstop, Turkey Stearnes in center field, Mule Suttles at first base, and Willie Foster on the mound. The Stars’ lineup included two future Hall of Famers in Biz Mackey at first base and catcher, and Jud Wilson in left field and first base. The Stars’ 21-year-old pitching phenom, Slim Jones, had a stellar 1934 season. The 6-foot-6 left-hander won 20 games, posted an ERA of 1.29 in league games, and started the East-West All-Star Game for the East team.

The week before the Championship Series was scheduled to start, the Stars and American Giants faced off in a doubleheader on Friday, September 7, in Philadelphia. The Stars won the first game, 2-1, behind the pitching of Slim Jones. The second game was tied at 1-1 when it was halted after seven innings because of darkness.1 These tight, low-scoring games portended the style of play that was to be found in the coming series.

The Championship Series was to begin in Philadelphia with a doubleheader on Saturday, September 8, but the games were rained out. Both teams did play on Sunday, September 9, at Yankee Stadium; however, they did not play each other. In the first game of a four-team doubleheader, the American Giants took on the New York Black Yankees. Chicago starter Ted Trent pitched a complete game and Turkey Stearnes homered in the 4-3 victory for the American Giants.

In the second game, the Stars faced off against the Pittsburgh Crawfords. The game featured a marquee pitching matchup of Slim Jones dueling with Satchel Paige. The Stars scored a run in the first, and Jones had a no-hitter through six innings before he allowed a run to score in the seventh. The game remained knotted at 1-1 into the ninth inning. In the bottom of the ninth, the Stars loaded the bases with no outs. Satchel Paige rose to the occasion, however, and struck out the next three batters. The tied game was then called because of darkness.

Jones struck out nine Crawfords batters while Paige punched out 12 Stars in what became a legendary game in Negro League baseball history. An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 fans attended the games at Yankee Stadium that day.2

Game One
September 11, 1934
Chicago American Giants 4, Philadelphia Stars 3
Passon Field, Philadelphia

The Series finally started on Tuesday, September 11, at Passon Field, the home park for the Stars. Veteran lefty Willie Foster started the game for the American Giants against Stars hurler Rocky Ellis. While a number of newspapers covered the game, and a line score and box score were published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, few details about the action in the game are available aside from what occurred in the ninth inning. What is known is that the American Giants scored a run in the top of the first and the Stars tallied once in the bottom of the second. There was no more scoring until the seventh, when the American Giants scored a run in the top of the inning and the Stars scored two in the bottom of the frame. The American Giants scored again in the eighth to tie the game, 3-3.

In the ninth, Slim Jones entered the game in relief of Ellis. American Giants catcher Larry Brown batted the ball to Stars third baseman Dewey Creacy, who made a wild throw that allowed Brown to reach second base. Mule Suttles then singled to deep right field, scoring Brown and giving the American Giants the lead. In the bottom of the ninth, the Stars had their chance. They loaded the bases, but with two outs Foster got Mackey to hit an easy groundball to second base to end the game. Foster allowed eight hits but walked only one and struck out 11 in earning the complete-game win. The series was to continue with a doubleheader at Passon Field two days later, on Thursday, September 13, but those games were again rained out, and the series moved on to Chicago.3

Game Two
September 16, 1934
Chicago American Giants 3, Philadelphia Stars 0
Cole’s Park, Chicago

Games Two and Three of the Series were played as a Sunday doubleheader at Cole’s Park, the home field of the Chicago American Giants. About 2,000 fans attended the games on the cold and windy day. Starting for the Stars was their ace, Slim Jones. The starting pitcher for the American Giants was Ted Trent who, as his mound opponent had done for the East team, had started for the West team in that season’s East-West All-Star Game.

The two pitchers held true to form, keeping the game scoreless until the sixth, when the American Giants put together a rally. Chicago’s second baseman, Jack Marshall, led off the inning with a single. Trent struck out, bringing up the top of the order and slugger Turkey Stearnes, who tripled to left-center and drove in Marshall for the game’s first run. American Giants third sacker Alex Radcliffe followed with a single that plated Stearnes, but that was the end of the scoring in the inning. In the eighth, the American Giants tallied another run when, with two outs, Trent doubled and Stearnes singled to knock him in. The American Giants cruised to an easy 3-0 victory as Trent held the Stars to four hits and four walks while striking out eight.

Game Three
September 16, 1934
Philadelphia Stars 5, Chicago American Giants 3
Cole’s Park, Chicago

Game Three featured a pitching matchup of Willie Foster, making his second start of the Series for the American Giants, against Stars pitcher-manager Webster McDonald. The 34-year-old McDonald had played for the American Giants from 1925 to 1929, and was now in his second season with the Stars. He threw with a submarine motion and featured a variety of pitches in his repertoire.

The Stars scored first, scratching out a run in the top of the third on two singles, a walk, and an error. In the bottom of the third, the American Giants answered with four singles, a fly out, and a fielder’s choice that resulted in three runs. The Stars tied it in the top of the fourth when shortstop Jake Dunn doubled and was driven home on Jack Marshall’s triple; Marshall then scored from third on a wild pitch. In the fifth, Willie Cornelius came in to relieve Foster, but he allowed two runs to score that gave the Stars a two-run lead. Cornelius was effective for the remainder of the game, but the Stars and McDonald held on to win 5-3. With the split of the doubleheader, the American Giants now led the series two games to one.4

Game Four
September 17, 1934
Chicago American Giants 2, Philadelphia Stars 1
Cole’s Park, Chicago

Game Four of the Championship Series was played on Monday, September 17 at Cole’s Park. Willie Cornelius started the game for the American Giants despite his four-inning relief stint the day before. Rocky Ellis was the starter for the Stars, following up on his strong start in Game One. This game featured remarkable pitching from both hurlers and was scoreless through five innings. In the sixth, the American Giants put together a rally, scoring two runs. The Chicago Tribune reported that Mule Suttles started the rally off with a single, Willie Wells followed with a double, and Jack Marshall singled them home. However, the Chicago Defender wrote that the rally consisted of an Alex Radcliffe single followed by doubles by Willie Wells and John Hines. Regardless of the specifics, the rally gave Chicago a 2-0 lead. In the top of the seventh, the Stars broke out, with Jud Wilson doubling and scoring on Biz Mackey’s single. However, the Stars could not add any additional runs, and the American Giants held on to win the game, 2-1. Cornelius pitched a complete game, showing no fatigue from having pitched four innings the previous day. The American Giants now had a seemingly commanding three-games-to-one lead in the series.5

Game Five
September 27, 1934
Philadelphia Stars 1, Chicago American Giants 0
Passon Field, Philadelphia

The Series now returned to Philadelphia. Although it was originally announced that Game Five would be played on Thursday, September 20, it did not take place until Thursday, September 27. During the break in the series, the Stars played a doubleheader against the New York Black Yankees at Passon Field on Sunday, September 23. Before a crowd of 3,000, the Stars won the first game, 4-1, behind the stellar pitching of Slim Jones, and the team was victorious again in the second game, winning 4-3.6 During this interim, it was also reported that Stars owner Ed Bolden was in a nearly fatal automobile accident on Saturday, September 22. Bolden suffered cuts and abrasions on his face and right leg in the accident.7

The Stars and American Giants finally played each other again in a game that started at 8:30 P.M. on Thursday, September 27. Bleacher seats sold for 30 cents, while grandstand seats were 40 cents. Willie Foster started the game for Chicago and Rocky Ellis started for the Stars; each was making his third start of the Series. The game was a pitchers’ duel and remained scoreless until the bottom of the eighth. With two out and two men on, Stars second sacker Dick Seay singled to score catcher Ameal Brooks, giving the Stars the sole run scored in the game. Foster was the hard-luck loser despite pitching a five-hit complete game. Ellis also scattered five hits in his hard-earned shutout victory. The Championship Series now stood at three games to two in favor of the American Giants.8

Game Six
September 29, 1934
Philadelphia Stars 4, Chicago American Giants 1
Passon Field, Philadelphia

Before Game Six, the Stars played and defeated the New York Black Yankees, 5-3, on Friday, September 28, in a 9:00 P.M. tilt in Belmar, New Jersey.9 On Saturday, September 29, at 2:30 P.M., Game Six of the Championship Series was played before 3,000 fans at Passon Field. Ted Trent toed the slab for the American Giants, and his counterpart was Paul Carter of the Stars, who was making his first appearance in the Series. Stars ace Slim Jones did not get the start, most likely because he was scheduled to face Satchel Paige at Yankee Stadium the next day in a repeat of the Stars-Crawfords/American Giants-Black Yankees doubleheader that had been so successful a few weeks earlier.

The American Giants struck first in the game when in the third inning, Turkey Stearnes slugged a solo home run to give the Chicagoans a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, the Stars rallied as Ameal Brooks hit a leadoff double and Pete Washington followed with another double to bring him home. After Carter and second baseman Dick Seay made outs, third baseman Dewey Creacy smacked a triple to left field that drove in Washington for a 2-1 Philadelphia lead before the inning ended on Jud Wilson’s fly out.

The Stars rallied once more in the fifth. Biz Mackey led off the inning with a home run over the right-field fence. Next, shortstop Jake Dunn singled and scored on a base hit by Brooks to increase the Stars’ lead to 4-1. Carter pitched well for the remainder of the game and neither team scored again as the Stars claimed the victory. The Stars had come back from being down three games to one to tie the Championship Series at three games apiece.

Unfortunately, two incidents marred the game and began the contentiousness that ultimately marked the remainder of the Series. In the second inning, Stars right fielder Mickey Casey reached first and advanced to second when American Giants pitcher Ted Trent misplayed the ball. Umpire Bert Gholston ruled that Casey had to return to first. An argument ensued, and in the heat of the discussion, Jud Wilson of the Stars punched Gholston. To everyone’s amazement, Wilson was not ejected from the game after order had been restored. Then, in the seventh inning, American Giants first baseman Joe Scott was awarded first base on catcher’s interference. Stars catcher Ameal Brooks took exception to the call and shoved home-plate umpire John Craig in the face. A second dispute resulted and, again, the transgressor – this time Brooks – was allowed to remain in the game. As a result of these two plays and the Stars’ victory, American Giants manager Dave Malarcher protested the game by submitting a letter that detailed his protest to Negro National League Commissioner Rollo Wilson, who had attended the game.

A meeting was quickly scheduled for Sunday, September 30, between Stars owner Ed Bolden, American Giants owner Robert Cole, and Commissioner Wilson. Bolden reportedly threatened to pull his team from the Series if Wilson and Brooks were not allowed to play for the Stars. Malarcher’s protest was rejected, and the result of the game stood, with the Series now tied at three games apiece.10 In a follow-up editorial, Philadelphia Tribune reporter Ed Harris expressed his displeasure with the actions of the players, but also conveyed disappointment with the inaction of the umpires. He commented, “Unhappy precedents were set, out-and-out diamond lawlessness perpetrated and overlooked, and the National Association took a kick in the pants.”11

Game Seven
October 1, 1934
Chicago American Giants 4, Philadelphia Stars 4
Passon Field, Philadelphia

Before Game Seven, the American Giants and Stars made their way back to Yankee Stadium on Sunday, September 30, to repeat the doubleheader matchup of a few weeks prior. The doubleheader featured a rematch of Satchel Paige and the Crawfords against Sim Jones and the Stars, as well a second contest between the American Giants and Black Yankees. As the attendance for the event again was approximately 25,000, it laid plain why Slim Jones had skipped his turn to pitch in the Championship Series, which had been drawing only 2,000 to 5,000 fans per game. In the first game of the doubleheader, the fans were treated to a close game in which the Crawfords prevailed, 3-1, and Paige got the better of Jones. In the nightcap, the Black Yankees defeated the American Giants 3-2 in a game that was called due to darkness after six innings. It is notable that Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe, who did not pitch at all in the Series, took the mound for the American Giants in this game.12

The teams returned to Philadelphia to play the seventh and deciding game of the Championship Series on the evening of Monday, October 1, in front of approximately 5,000 fans, the biggest crowd of the series. The pitching matchup was a repeat of Game Four, with Rocky Ellis going for the Stars against Willie Cornelius for the American Giants. Early in the game, there was another rhubarb between a player and an umpire. In the second inning, Mule Suttles took umbrage when home-plate umpire Bert Gholston called him out on strikes. Suttles hit Gholston with his bat and was promptly ejected from the game. Order was eventually restored, and Wilson “Frog” Redus replaced Suttles in the Chicago lineup.

In the top of the third inning, the American Giants got the scoring started. With one out, Cornelius walked, bringing up the top of the order. Willie Wells singled and Alex Radcliffe hit a ball that both pitcher Ellis and second baseman Seay muffed, allowing Cornelius to score. Turkey Stearnes singled to score Radcliffe and Joe Scott’s hit drove in Stearnes to give the American Giants three runs in the inning. Stars manager Webster McDonald brought himself in to replace Ellis on the mound. McDonald struck out Redus and induced a groundball out from Marshall to close out the inning.

The Stars got a run back in the bottom of the inning. McDonald led off with a double. After two outs, Jud Wilson doubled to drive in McDonald. There was no more scoring until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Wilson tripled and was driven home by a Biz Mackey base hit that cut the American Giants’ lead to 3-2. Willie Foster relieved Cornelius in the seventh and pitched a scoreless inning. In the top of the eighth, the American Giants added to their lead when Turkey Stearnes, who had reached base on a single, came home on another base hit by Joe Scott.

Ted Trent entered the game to start the eighth in relief of Foster and immediately got into trouble. Dewey Creacy led off with a double, Wilson was hit by a pitch, and Mackey walked to load the bases with no outs. Jake Dunn’s single drove in Creacy and kept the bags loaded. Mickey Casey flied out for the first out, and the runners did not advance. Brooks then drew a base on balls to score Wilson, and the game was tied, 4-4. Trent was able to get out of the inning without further damage by striking out Pete Washington and getting McDonald to fly out.

Neither team scored in the ninth inning, and the game was then called a tie. It is unclear why the game was called after nine innings. It was played under the lights of Passon Field, and neither a curfew nor an agreement not to go beyond nine innings was mentioned in the press. Regardless, it was determined that the deciding game of the Series would be played the next day.13

Game Eight
October 2, 1934
Philadelphia Stars 2, Chicago American Giants 0
Passon Field, Philadelphia

The eighth and final game in the Championship Series was played on Tuesday afternoon, October 2. Between 2,000 and 4,000 fans (the number varied in different newspapers) were on hand. After having started and having pitched six innings the night before, Willie Cornelius again was the starter for the American Giants while the Stars sent their ace, Slim Jones, to the hill. Jones was going on two days of rest after having pitched at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.

This game was as contentious as the previous two, with both teams lodging protests. In the top of the first, the American Giants went down one-two-three and protested the strikeout call of Turkey Stearnes made by home-plate umpire James Crump that ended the inning.

There was no scoring until the Stars batted in the bottom of the fourth. Biz Mackey led off with a single and advanced to second on a groundout by Jake Dunn. Right fielder Mickey Casey followed with a single that brought Mackey home and gave the Stars a 1-0 lead. Jones continued to cruise on the mound, allowing a double to Willie Wells in the third, a single to Turkey Stearnes in the sixth, and a double to Melvin Powell in the seventh.

The top of the seventh brought a protest from the Stars. The American Giants brought in Frog Redus as a pinch-hitter. Redus had also played the day before for the American Giants, but the Stars now argued that he was under contract with the Cleveland Red Sox and was thus ineligible to play for Chicago in this series. The umpires ruled that Redus was allowed to remain in the game. In the bottom of the seventh, Pete Washington led off with a single. Following a fly out by Dick Seay, Jones came to bat and smacked a sharp single to left field that scored Washington and extended the Stars’ lead to 2-0.

In the ninth inning, the American Giants attempted to make one final rally. Mule Suttles led off with a double. Ted Radcliffe, pinch-hitting for Joe Scott, singled and advanced Suttles to third base. However, while Larry Brown was batting, Jones picked Suttles off third base, then struck out Brown. With two outs, in a bittersweet moment, American Giants manager Dave Malarcher entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Jack Marshall. The 39-year-old Malarcher had appeared in only two games during the regular season and was making what was to be his last professional appearance on a ballfield. Malarcher popped out to end the game. The Stars won 2-0 and were champions of the Negro National League.14

Series Postscript

The American Giants played very well in the series. Three of their four losses were by two runs or less. They were led at the plate by Turkey Stearnes, who is credited with 11 hits, four stolen bases, his team’s only home run, and a slash line of .458/.480/.708. For the Stars, Biz Mackey led the offense with seven hits, the Stars’ only home run, and a slash line of .368/.429/.632. On the mound, Slim Jones pitched a shutout in the finale to cap his magnificent season.

The controversies in the final three games of the Series stained the Stars’ victory in the eyes of many fans, players, and reporters. American Giants manager Dave Malarcher was especially disturbed by the way the Series was handled by the umpires and by Commissioner Wilson, and he criticized the commissioner and his lack of action in the Series in a letter to the Chicago Defender. “Gentleman” Dave Malarcher then retired from baseball after an accomplished career on the field as both a player and a manager.15

The Stars did not hesitate to celebrate their victory and held a banquet at the Octavius Catto Elks Lodge on Saturday, October 20. Gold baseball emblems were presented to each of the players, victory speeches were made, and entertainment was provided in the forms of boxing matches, wrestling competitions, and singing performances that accompanied the dinner.16 Although the team looked very strong for the future, the 1934 Negro National League title was to be the Stars’ only championship.

Sources

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted:

Clark, Dick, and Larry Lester, eds., The Negro Leagues Book (Cleveland: Society for American Baseball Research, 1994).

Riley, James A. The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues (New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, Inc., 1994).

Smith, Courtney Michelle. Ed Bolden and Black Baseball in Philadelphia (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2017).

Unless otherwise noted, Seamheads.com was used for all Negro League player statistics.

Notes

1 “Giants Lose to Philly; Then Tie 1-1,” Chicago Defender, September 8, 1934: 17.

2 “30,000 in Yankee Stadium See Youthful Hurlers in Thrilling Pitchers Battle,” Philadelphia Tribune, September 13, 1934: 14; “30,000 Attend Four-Team Doubleheader at Yankee Stadium; Black Yanks Lose; Stars-Crawfords Tie,” New York Age, September 15, 1934: 5.

3 For Game One the following references were used: “Chi Giants Trip Stars in Opener,” Philadelphia Inquirer, September 12, 1934: 24; “Chicago Stops Stars in Playoff Start,” Philadelphia Tribune, September 13, 1934: 14.

4 For Games Two and Three the following references were used: “Giants Split with Philly Stars in Chicago Clash,” Baltimore Afro-American, September 22, 1934: 21; “Giants Split Series with Phillies in League Play Off,” California Eagle, September 28, 1934: 7; “Giants Lead Philly In World Series, 3-1,” Chicago Defender, September 22, 1934: 16; “Stars Win 1, Drop 2 in Chicago,” Philadelphia Tribune, September 20, 1934: 11. Note that a box score is not available for Game Three.

5 For Game Four the following references were used: “Giants Lead Philly in World Series, 3-1,” Chicago Defender, September 22, 1934: 16; “Out with Injury,” Chicago Defender, September 22, 1934: 17; “Stars Win 1, Drop 2 in Chicago,” Philadelphia Tribune, September 20, 1934: 11; “American Giants Take 3 to 1 Lead in World Series,” Chicago Tribune, September 18, 1934: 23; “American Giants Top Phila. Stars,” Philadelphia Inquirer, September 18, 1934: 20. Note that a box score is not available for Game Four.

6 “Jones, Carter Reverse Yanks,” Philadelphia Tribune, September 27, 1934: 11.

7 “Ed Bolden Hurt in Auto Accident,” Philadelphia Tribune, September 27, 1934: 14.

8 For Game Five the following references were used: “Chi Giants Resume Series with Stars,” Philadelphia Inquirer, September 27, 1934: 19; “Stars-Giants Play Tonight,” Philadelphia Tribune, September 27, 1934: 11; “Phila. Stars Triumph,” Philadelphia Inquirer, September 28, 1934: 22; “Stars Tie Series in Stiff Tiff,” Philadelphia Tribune, October 4, 1934: 14.

9 “Baseball Tonight,” Asbury Park (New Jersey) Press, September 28, 1934: 14; “Black Yanks Bow to All-Stars, 5-3,” Asbury Park Press, September 29, 1934: 10.

10 For Game Six the following references were used: “Phila. Club Gains Third Win, 4-1, Over Chicago in Negro Playoff,” Philadelphia Inquirer, September 30, 1934: 51; “Stars Tie Series in Stiff Tiff,” Philadelphia Tribune, October 4, 1934: 14.

11 Ed R. Harris, “To Be or Not to Be,” Philadelphia Tribune, October 4, 1934: 11.

12 Ed R. Harris, “Paige Tops Jones to Win Before 25,000,” Philadelphia Tribune, October 4, 1934: 11.

13 For Game Seven the following references were used: “Chicago Giants Tie Stars in Series Tilt,” Philadelphia Inquirer, October 2, 1934: 19; “Boldens Get 2 Runs to Tie Payoff Tiff,” Philadelphia Tribune, October 4, 1934: 11 and 14.

14 For Game Eight the following references were used: “Stars Upset Giants Win National Title,” Philadelphia Inquirer, October 3, 1934: 22; Ed R. Harris, “Stars Clip Giants for Two Runs to Clinch Title,” Philadelphia Tribune, October 4, 1934: 11; “Philly Stars World Champs?” Chicago Defender, October 6, 1934: 17.

15 Dave Malarcher, “Chicago Hits Ruling by Baseball Head on Protest,” Chicago Defender, January 19, 1935: 17; “Malarcher, Ideal Leader, Quits Baseball for Good,” Chicago Defender, February 16, 1935: 17.

16 “Fete Baseball Champs at Banquet,” Philadelphia Tribune, October 25, 1934: 12; E.A. Festus, “O.V. Catto Elk News,” Philadelphia Tribune, October 25, 1934: 8.