Editor’s note: This exhibition game features the winners of the two Negro Leagues Diamond Gems Tournaments on Press Room Pass. The contest was played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice.
The 1935 New York Cubans were able to hang on for a 7-5 victory over the 1945 Cleveland Buckeys as the champions of two Negro Leagues Diamond Gems Tournaments clashed in an exhibition affair.
New York built a 7-0 advantage by the fourth inning as the Cubans ousted Cleveland starter George Jefferson with one out as he allowed six hits with five walks and a strikeout.
In the second, Francisco Correa knocked in a run with a double and then scored on a triple by Frank Duncan. Duncan went home when New York pitcher Neck Stanley grounded out.
After Jefferson walked Clyde Spearman to score a run, Lazaro Salazar tripled to cleared the bases as the Cubans led by seven.
The Buckeyes responded to the challenge in the bottom of the fourth with three runs against Stanley.
Parnell Woods had a RBI triple before scoring on a single by Buddy Armour. Johnnie Cowan knocked in the final tally on a fielder’s choice.
Cleveland scored twice in the fifth on a run-scoring single by Archie Ware and a RBI fielder’s choice by Woods.
After allowing the two runs in the fifth, Stanley took over the mound and retired the final 14 batters that he faced to earn the victory in complete game fashion.
Stanley gave up five hits with three walks and a strikeout. Willie Jefferson finished up on the mound for Cleveland as the Cubans had just one hit after the fourth inning.