Editor’s note: The games in the Negro Leagues Diamond Gems Tournament are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter will not be used for any games. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur.
Clyde Spearman had the fans of the 1935 New York Cubans celebrating as his walk-off triple sent the Dyckman Oval crowd into a frenzy.
With the score tied at 8-8 in the bottom of the 10th, Dave Thomas had a single with one out against Baltimore pitcher Leon Day (0-1). Spearman quickly followed with his three-bagger and the victory party began as the Cubans won 9-8 to claim the championship game of the Negro Leagues Diamond Gems B Tournament.
The tone of the affair was established in the second inning as both teams scored three times.
In the top of the frame, Henry Kimbo had a two-run single off New York starter Johnny Taylor. Jim Gilliam later walked with the bases loaded and it ws 3-3.
The Baltimore advantage didn’t last as New York starter Bob Romby walked Martin Dihigo and Anastasio Santaella. Francisco Correa tripled to bring home both runners, while Frank Duncan‘s sacrifice fly tied it.
Baltimore grabbed a 5-3 lead in the fourth on a two-run single by Lennie Pearson.
Taylor would be gone after giving up another run on a RBI single to Kimbro as the Elite Giants led 6-3.
Romby would be sent to the showers in the seventh as he surrendered a two-run triple to Alejandro Oms. Dihigo drilled a two-run homer and the Cubans led 7-6.
Lazaro Salazar took over on the mound for the Cubans in the sixth and he blanked Baltimore until the ninth.
Pinch-hitter Lester Lockett singled and Kimbro doubled for his third hit of the contest. Dihigo replaced Salazar and was victimized by an error that scored Lockett and Kimbro giving the Elite Giants the lead at 8-7.
In the bottom of the ninth, Day had a chance for a save as he went to the mound. However, Rap Dixon singled and Oms singled to set up Dihigo’s sacrifice fly that would send the contest into an extra inning.
Taylor gave up seven hits and walked eight in his five innings, while Salazar also allowed seven hits with a pair of strikeouts. Dihigo (1-0) got the win by getting the last five outs for the Cubans.
Romby left with one out in the seventh after he surrendered eight hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Al Wilmore got the last two outs of the seventh and tossed a perfect eighth before being relieved by Day in the ninth.
Negro Leagues Diamond Gems B Tournament
Championship
1935 New York Cubans 9, 1949 Baltimore Elite Giants 8 (10)
Semifinals
1935 New York Cubans 3, 1942 Kansas City Monarchs 2
1949 Baltimore Elite Giants 6, 1943 Homestead Grays 1
First Round Results
1935 New York Cubans 3, 1920 Detroit Stars 2
1942 Kansas City Monarchs 4, 1933 Indianapolis American Giants 2
1943 Homestead Grays 5, 1928 St. Louis Stars 1
1949 Baltimore Elite Giants 9, 1934 Philadelphia Stars 2