A Wild Three Team Game in Memphis

The Monarchs were scheduled to meet the Memphis Red Sox in Memphis on Thursday, April 19th, but had some trouble getting there thanks to a train running late. According to the April 21stChicago Defender, "About 15 minutes after the game was scheduled to start, the Chicago American Giants took the field to 'pinch-hit' for the Monarchs. The Monarchs showed up about 9:45 and took the field in the fifth inning, taking up where the American Giants left off. The Giants were trailing by a 4 to 2 score." The Monarchs managed to come back enough for the game to end in a 10-10 tie after nine innings. It looks to have been a wild, see-saw affair, with the three teams combining for 20 runs, 26 hits and seven errors. The Monarchs scored two in the top of the ninth to tie it at 10, and shut down the Red Sox in the bottom of the inning to preserve the tie. Whether or not Jackie Robinson made it to Memphis for this game after trying out with the Boston Red Sox on the 16th is unknown.

A Loss In Memphis While Jackie's In Boston

While the rest of his Monarchs teammates finished a three game series with the Memphis Red Sox in Memphis on April 15, Jackie Robinson was in Boston for a date with a different Red Sox team. (More on Jackie's tryout with the Boston Red Sox tomorrow.)

The Monarchs lost a high scoring affair, 8-9. Some normally fantastic pitchers had off-days on both sides. Booker McDaniels for Kansas City allowed four runs in a short appearance. Monarch Hilton Smith gave up four runs in 4.2. Red Sox ace Verdell Mathis was touched for five runs in three innings. Neil Robinson was the offensive hero for Memphis, going 4-4 with two home runs. He plated the winning run with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth. With Jackie out of the game, Jesse Williams slid back to his familiar spot at shortstop for the Monarchs, and had a nice 3-4 day at the plate. The Chicago Defender reported that Monarchs owners J.L. Wilkinson and T.Y. Baird, "came over from Kansas City and saw their hirelings defeated."

Sources: 4/20/45 Kansas City Call, 4/21/45 Chicago Defender

Two years later on April 15, 1947, Jackie debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Baseball fans know April 15 is not tax day - it's Jackie Robinson Day!