1936 Homestead Grays season

1936 Homestead Grays
LeagueNegro National League
BallparkForbes Field
CityPittsburgh
Record25–34–2 (.426)
League place1st
ManagersVic Harris

The 1936 Homestead Grays baseball team represented the Homestead Grays in the Negro National League (NNL) during the 1936 baseball season. This was the first season with player-manager Vic Harris at the helm. The team compiled a 25-34–2 record (.426) and finished in seventh place in the NNL.[1]

Key players were:[1]

  • First baseman Buck Leonard compiled .347 batting average, .581 slugging percentage, .471 on-base percentage, six home runs, and 34 RBIs in 35 games.[1] Leonard was later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
  • Center fielder Jerry Benjamin compiled a .360 batting average, a .593 slugging percentage, and a .442 on-base percentage.[1]
  • Left fielder Vic Harris compiled a .355 batting average, a .463 slugging perecenage, a .414 on-base percentage.[1]
  • Pitcher Ray Brown compiled a 6-3 record with 39 strikeouts and a 3.95 earned run average (ERA).[1] Brown was later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Other regular players included second baseman Matt Carlisle (.286 batting average), third baseman Henry Spearman (,333 batting average), right fielder Rap Dixon (.257 batting average), catcher Tommie Dukes (.253 batting average), shortstoop Jelly Jackson (.186 batting average), and pitchers Tom Parker (4-5, 5,81 ERA), Roy Welmaker (3-3, 4.67 ERA), and Willie Gisentaner (2-3, 7.54 ERA).[1]

Standings

vs. Negro National League vs. Major Black teams
Negro National League W L T Pct. GB W L T Pct.
(1) Pittsburgh Crawfords 48 23 3 .669 50 23 3 .678
(2) New York Cubans 29 23 4 .554 29 25 5 .534
Columbus Elite Giants 28 24 2 .537 10½ 30 25 2 .544
Philadelphia Stars 35 30 3 .537 10 35 31 4 .529
Brooklyn Eagles 31 31 0 .500 12½ 31 31 0 .500
Chicago American Giants 24 31 1 .438 16 27 35 2 .438
Homestead Grays 25 34 2 .426 17 25 34 2 .426
Newark Dodgers 18 42 1 .303 24½ 18 42 1 .303

(1) First half champion   (2) Second half champion


References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "1936 Homestead Grays". Seamheads.com. Retrieved September 6, 2020.