John Wesley Donaldson

Newspaper Clippings about Southpaw Pitcher John Donaldson

1918 John Donaldson Games

Stories are placed in order of the date they appeared.

January 6, 1918

Los Angeles?, CA
"The San Pedro nine hit Donaldson's curves to all corners of the lot yesterday and trimmed the Los Angeles White Sox to the tune of 9 to 1."

January 18, 1918

Los Angeles, CA
"L.A. White Sox 3, San Pedro 4."

April 7, 1918

Indianapolis, IN
"Struck out, by Donaldson 2; by Jeffries 1; by Lane 2."

April 14, 1918

Indianapolis, IN
"ABCs 14, Marcos 0. Batteries - Donaldson and Powell; Dismukes and Watts."

April 15, 1918

Indianapolis, IN
"ABCs 5, Marcos 0."

May 5, 1918

Indianapolis, IN
"ABCs 14, C. Grant 3. Donaldson, Pitcher."

May 19, 1918

Indianapolis, IN
"Cuban Stars Will Meet A.B.C.s in Two Games Today - C.I. Taylor's A.B.C.'s are in the best of condition for their five-game series with the Cuban All Stars, according to an announcement by Taylor last night. The players have been working out daily at Northwestern Park, and are prepared to win the series with the Stars. Two games will be played this afternoon, the first one starting at 2:30 o'clock, while one game will be played on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday afternoon of next week. Manager Molina, of the Islanders, claims to have a splendid balanced team. Nearly every man on the club can play two or more positions and each member of the team, with the exception of the catcher, Rodriguez, is a hard hitter. Rodriguez, although not a slugger, is a good man to have at the plate in a pinch. Martinez, a new man with the visitors, is said to be one of the best pitchers that ever played with the team. This is his first visit to the states and he has been going in tip top fashion all season. He is taking the place of Padron and is said to pitch in the same style as the latter. Junco, another one of the twirlers, has been coming to the states for the past five seasons. Last year he defeated Rube Foster's American Giants in five out of seven games. He also won two out of three contests from the A's at Washington Park last season.
Donaldson and Coleman, star battery for the locals, will face the Cubans in the first tilt today with Jeffries and Powell working against the Stars in the second scrap. Taylor's team will line up in the same order that they did against the soldier nine recently, while the Cubans will line up as has been announced, except that Villa will cover second with Jeminez at short. As a special attraction today the left handed members of the A's will put on an exhibition of infielding before the first game and between contests. They will line up as follows: B. Taylor, c; Charleston, 1b; Jeffries, ss; Lyons, 2b; and Donaldson, 3b."

Indianapolis, IN
"ABCs 3, Cubans 6. Struck out - by Donaldson 3."

May 21, 1918

Indianapolis, IN
"Cubans 9, ABCs 6. Three-base hits, Lyons and Donaldson."

May 22, 1918

Indianapolis, IN
"Batteries - Donaldson and Coleman.

May 26, 1918

Indianapolis, IN
"Eagles 2, ABCs 4. Struck out - by Dawson 4, by Donaldson 5."

June 9 1918

Indianapolis, IN
"Donaldson pitching."

June 16, 1918

Peoria, IL
"Double Header - Donaldson pitches both games, 1 strikeout."

June 29, 1918

New York, NY
"John Donaldson, one of the greatest pitchers in the country, who has been pitching such sensational baseball through the middle west in the past several seasons, signed up with John Lloyd manager of the Brooklyn Royal Giants and is now on his way East to join the crack Brooklyn aggregation who were forced to secure another good man to take the place of Cannon Ball Dick Redding who was drafted into the National Army several weeks ago and is at present overseas.
Donaldson is the highest salaried colored baseball player who ever wore a uniform and the Royal Giant management has been dickering for several weeks with this star player whom manager C.I. Taylor claims did not give his best efforts and played for his release. Donaldson never played ball in the East and will no doubt be received with open arms by the local fans who felt the great loss of Dick Redding, a very popular favorite with the Eastern fans.
Donaldson will make his initial appearance next Sunday when the Royal Giants tackle the Lincoln Giants in a double header at Olympic Field."

Brooklyn, NY
"Royals Get Donaldson. - The third of the series of double headers between the Lincoln Giants and the Royal Giants will be played tomorrow afternoon at Olympic Field, 136th street and fifth avenue. Donaldson, one of the best of the Western semi-pros, has been signed by the Royals and will pitch against Joe Williams in the second game."

June 30, 1918

Harlem, NY
"Old Rivals to Meet Sunday - Two bitter rivals, the Royal Giants and Lincoln Giants, will meet in the third of their series of double-headers tomorrow afternoon at Olympica Field, 186th Street and Fifth Avenue. The Lincolns have not won a game from the Royal Giants, and to keep up their winning streak have engaged John Donaldson, a successful Western pitcher, to take the place of 'Cannon Ball' Redding, as the latter has joined the colors and is now overseas."

Harlem, NY
"Olympic Field - 136th Street and 5th Avenue, Tomorrow, 1:30 p.m. - Two Games - Colored Championships - Lincoln Giants vs. Royal Giants."

Harlem, NY
"New Pitcher for Royals. - Donaldson, Leading Western Semi-Pro Hurler, Makes Debut Today. - John Donaldson, who ranked last year as the leading semi-pro pitcher in the ranks of the colored players of the West, has come East and signed to play with the Royal Giants. He will make his local debut this afternoon in the second game of a doubleheader between the Lincoln Giants and the Royal Giants. Joe Williams will be his opponent. The games will be the fifth and sixth of their series. The Royals won the four played to date, two victories coming in the eleventh inning."

Harlem, NY
"Lincoln Giants Split Even - The Lincoln Giants divided a double bill yesterday with their local rivals, the Royal Giants, at Olympic Field. The home team won the opening game by 1 to 0. In the second the Royals were victorious by 4 to 1. Next Sunday the same teams will meet."

Harlem, NY
"Struck out - by Williams 4; by Donaldson 2."

Harlem, NY
"Williams Blanks Royals. - Beats Donaldson in Duel, 1 to 0 - Lincolns Lose Second Game. - Joe Williams triumphed over John Donaldson, the Western semi-pro pitching phenom in a duel at Olympic Field yesterday, when he led the Lincoln Giants to a 1 to 0 victory over the Brooklyn Royal Giants in the first game of a twin bill. in the second game the Royals won, 4 to 1. Next Sunday the same teams will clash in a double header."

July 4, 1918

Queens, NY
"Cubans Vs. Royals. - The Cuban Stars of Havana will be back at Dexter Park next Thursday, July 4, for a double header with the Royal Giants. The games will be the first of the season in which the famous Cubans and Royals are to clash. The Royals were to have started a western trip tomorrow, but will remain here for another week in order to play the Cubans on Thursday and the Lincoln Giants next Sunday."

Queens, NY
"Struck out - by Calderin 2, by Donaldson 6. Donaldson plays right field in second game of double header."

Queens, NY
"Cuban Stars Divide - Break Even With Royal Giants in a Double Header. - The Cuban Stars and the Royal Giants divided a double header at Dexter Park yesterday afternoon, the Giants shutting out the Stars, 3 to 0, in the first game and the Stars winning by 5 to 2 in the second game."

July 7, 1918

Harlem, NY
"Royals vs. Lincolns. - The Royal Giants and the Lincoln Giants will meet in the seventh and eighth games of their series of twelve at Olympic Field next Sunday afternoon. Last Sunday, the teams broke even, the Lincolns winning 1 to 0 and the Royals, 4 to 1. Cyclone Joe Williams, who triumphed over Donaldson, will oppose the Western phenom in the first game of next Sunday's double bill."

Harlem, NY
"Olympic Field - 136th Street and 5th Avenue, Tomorrow, 1:30 P.M. - Two Games - Colored Championship - Lincoln Giants vs. Royal Giants"

"Old Rivals Play Tomorrow - The two old rivals, the Lincoln Giants and the Royal Giants, will meet tomorrow at Olympic Field, 136th Street and Fifth Avenue, in a double-header in the fourth of their series of games for the colored championship. The two star pitchers, Cyclone Joe Williams for the home team, and John Donaldson for the visitors, will again oppose each other in the opening game at 1:30 p.m."

"Royals vs. Lincolns. - Teams Will Play Fourth Double Header of Series Today. - The fourth of a series of double headers to decide the colored championship of the East will take place this afternoon at Olympic Field, 136th Street and Fifth Avenue, with the Royal Giants and the Lincoln Giants as the opponents. To date the Royals have won five of six games played. Last Sunday Cyclone Joe Williams beat Donaldson, the Western phenom, 1 to 0, in the only game won by the Lincolns. The same pitchers will face each other today."
"Royals-Lincolns Break Even - Two close games were played at Olympic Field yesterday between the Royal Giants and the Lincoln Giants. Joe Williams hurled against John Donaldson, and the Lincolns won by 3 to 2 in the opening game. The Royals' daring base running won the second contest for them, by 10 to 8."

"Lincolns and Royals Divide. - Williams Beats Donaldson - Scores are 3 to 2 and 10 to 8. Joe Williams repeated last week's triumph over John Donaldson when he lead the Lincoln Giants to a 3 to 2 victory over the Royal Giants in the first game of a double header at Olympic Field yesterday. The Royals took the second, 10 to 8. A big crowd saw the contests, in which the rivalry was keen. Next Sunday the Lincolns will play two games with the Cuban Stars."

July 13, 1918

New York, NY
"Donaldson, Left Field."

July 14, 1918

Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, NY
"Donaldson to Pitch. - Donaldson, star pitcher of the Royal Giants, who until recently was one of the best semi-pro hurlers in the middle West, will make his first appearance of the season at Dexter Park, near the Cypress Hills 'L' this Sunday when he pitches against the Bushwicks in the first game of a double header. Schwertje will be his opponent. In the second game Brooks and Green will be the pitchers."

Harlem, NY
"Donaldson At Dexter Park. - Will Pitch Against the Bushwicks This Afternoon. - Donaldson, the Westerner, who since joining the Royal Giants has shown local semi-pro fans why he was considered the best of the Western semi-pro hurlers last season, will make his Brooklyn debut this afternoon at Dexter Park, near the Cypress Hills 'L' where the Royals will meet the Bushwicks in a souble bill today. Donaldson's opponent will be Schwertje. In the first game Brooks and Green will be the rival pitchers. The first game will start at 1:30."

Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, NY
"Royals Add to Victories. - Defeat Bushwicks in Double Header - Each Score is 6 to 1. - The Royal Giants added to their list of victories by defeating the Bushwicks in a double header at Dexter Park yesterday. The score in each contest was 6 to 1. The second game was called at the end of the sixth on account of rain. Next Sunday, the Bushwicks will play a double header with the Cuban Stars."

Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, NY
"Struck out - by Donaldson 5, by Walsh 5."

July 16, 1918

Atlantic City, NJ
"Brooklyn Royal Giants Win - Atlantic City, July 17. - The Brooklyn Royal Giants, with John Donaldson, the highest-salaried colored pitcher known, working on the mound, defeated the Bacharach Giants here yesterday by 8 to 4."

July 21, 1918

Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, NY
"Bill Bill at Dexter Park. - The best attraction carded for Dexter Park, near the Cypress Hills 'L' this season, is scheduled for this Sunday. Three teams, the Royal Giants, the Cuban Stars of Havana and the Bushwicks, will be seen in action. In the first game, the Royal Giants will clash with the Cubans and in the final contest the winner of the opening game will meet the crack Bushwicks. The attraction should pack the park to its capacity. Fernandez and Donaldson, the Western phenom, will be the pitchers in the opening tilt."

Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, NY
"3 Teams at Dexter Park - Royals, Cuban Stars and Bushwicks to Play Today. - The best attractions carded for Dexter Park, near the Cypress Hills L, this season is scheduled for this afternoon. Three teams, the Royal Giants, the Cuban Stars of Havana and the Bushwicks, will be seen in action. In the first game the Royal Giants will clash with the Cubans and in the final contest the winner of the opening game will meet the crack Bushwicks. The attraction should pack the park to capacity. Fernandez and John Donaldson, the Western phenom, will be the pitchers in the opening tilt. John Donaldson has shown splendid form in the three local games he has pitched in this city to date."

Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, NY
"Donaldson pitching."

"Cubans Double Victors. - Defeat Royal Giants and Bushwicks at Dexter Park. - After defeating the Royal Giants at Dexter Park yesterday by a score of 6 to 3, the Cuban Stars of Havana added the Bushwicks to their list of victories. The score was 7 to 4. The Cubans gave a splendid exhibition of fielding in both games."

July 27, 1918

Camp Dix, NJ
"Dix Nine Gives Poor Exhibition - Royal Giants Hand Soldiers Drubbing - Losers Play With New Lineup - By Staff Correspondent. - Camp Dix, July 27. - The Dix baseball team was handed a drubbing this afternoon on the local diamond by the Brooklyn Royal Giants. The final score, 8 to 2, does not show how badly the soldiers were trimmed, for the colored visitors simply toyed with the ball after the fifth inning, and whenever they made a hit allowed themselves to be tagged out. Wholesale transfers has robbed the camp team of its best players. During the past week, Davis, the crack shortstop, was sent to Fort Niagara. Joesphwon, the first baseman, and Butts, the keystone guardian, went to the officers' training camp and Flynn, the left fielder, was also sent to another camp. So it was a nine of entirely new faces that appeared before the fans, and the fact that they had never played together before was clearly demonstrated. Riley, who began the game, was given poor support and retired at the beginning of the second in favor of Bearn, who has not played for a month. The other new men also were unfamiliar with the grounds and their fellow players and the result was sorrowful for the home team. The visitors scored four in the first as the result of three hits, including two three-baggers. They collected one more in the second, two in the fourth, and for good measure added another in the eighth. It was not until the fourth inning that Dix gathered a hit off Brooks and then he eased down, allowing one run in the sixth, when Thompson cantered home on a hit back of third on which he could easily be thrown out. The second and last run was made in the seventh, when two hits followed an error by the first baseman. Roberts, the star of the visitors, twirled in the last two innings and took things mighty easy. The feature of the game for the visitors was the batting of Hewitt and Pugh, Hewitt's fielding and a catch off the player's stand by Cason. Donnely played a good game for Dix and Thompson made two good cathes in right, but also lead the hitting."

Camp Dix, NJ
"The Brooklyn Royal Giants easily trimmed the Camp Dix team here last Saturday afternoon by a score of 8 to 2. Transfers had weakened the soldier boys' nine and a makeshift team had to be put in the field. The batting of Hewitt, Pugh and Thompson and fielding of Hewitt featured."