A Long Tour With The Clowns Begins, Jackie Rips Inside-the-Parker

Pelican Stadium, New Orleans circa 1950s

On April 22nd, the Monarchs kicked off a 13 game exhibition series with the Cincinnati-Indianapolis Clowns that took the teams from New Orleans to Houston, San Antonio, back to Houston, to Waco, Ft. Worth, Dallas, and finally Oklahoma City two weeks later. I've unfortunately only unearthed results from three of the games. The Kansas City Call did publish a game summary and full box score for the game on the 22nd that took place at Pelican Stadium in New Orleans, revealing that the Monarchs prevailed 4-0. A doubleheader was scheduled, but the teams barely squeezed in one game between showers. According to the April 27th Call,

Righthanders Hilton Smith and Booker McDaniels turned in a sparkling three-hit performance for Kansas City Sunday as their teammates pounded out 10 hits to whitewash the Cincinnati Clowns...Smith gave up two hits, struck out four and issued no bases on balls for the six innings he worked, while McDaniels yielded one single, blasted his fast ball past four hitters in the three frames he performed. Johnny Williams, Clowns' hurler, did not fare so easily. Shortstop Jackie Robinson, former UCLA gridiron star, hit a line drive to centerfield that was good for at least three bases, but turned the same into an inside-the-park home run when leftfielder Navarro juggled the hit momentarily...Jackie Robinson, who was praised highly by Manager Joe Cronin in his workout with the Boston Red Sox, turned in a brilliant bit of fielding and base running. He retired in the seventh inning because of an injured finger.

The box score shows Jackie hit 2-3, and credits him with a HR even though it sounds as though the left-fielder may have made an error that allowed Jackie to go from third to home. From the picture of Pelican Stadium above, you can see how a ball could rattle around in the outfield for awhile as Jackie tore around the paths.

I believe the two teams played another game in New Orleans the next night, then headed to Houston for games on the 24th, 25th and 26th at Buffalo Stadium. Those were followed by games on the 27th and 28th in San Antonio. The next game result I have is for April 29.