Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-07-19
Clowns W.. Monorchs
At Lexington Pork
Wednesday,. July "a

Easily the greatest Negro base
ball attraction ever set for the
Twin Cities brings the highly popu-
lar Indianapolis Clowns and Kansas
City Monarchs TO Lexington Park,
st. Paul. Wednesday night, July
"a, mt $50 p. m, for an important
Negro American League game that
really has set this area on fire.
Some fans remember them as the
Miami Ethiopian Clowns, winners
Of the last Denver national tourna-
ment held In 1871; others ~ the
Cincinnati Clowns. Now they're
representing indianapolis In the
Negro American League competi-
ton and their 1946 edition n the
greatest Of them all.
The Idol Of Twin City fans,
Reece ("Goose") Tatum. 10 out Of
the army, and easily the sensation
Of Negro ball with his superb show
manship, finest frst-basing ever
seen on any diamond, and hard
hitting. The Goose" In unquestion-
ably the best-liked performer in
Negro baseball and the whole
COuULFy Nv WIN hUOub ulHts
A Worthwhile Show
Then there's the one and only
Ed ("Peanuts Nyasses") Davis,
also back from three years In the
armed forces. and pitching and
clowninR In his old-time vein. With
king Tut" the Clowns full-time
comedian, rounding out n three
ring circus with Tatum and Davis,
the Clowns comedy department Is
the best they've ever had. These
three put on a pepper game never
edualled on a diamond. and also
help make the Clowns shadowbalI
something to see.
The fans also will like the rest
~ the Clowns team. Managed by
Jesse ("HosS") Walker. the Clowns
boast one ~ the greatest pitchinV
STATS In Negro baseball, with
Davis, Johnny Williams, Lefty
Aires Garcia. Leo ("Preacher"O
Henry, Amos Watson. Manuel Co
dineZ and Jim Colzie. The catching
IL tons with Buster Haywood and
Sam Hairston receiving. With Tat
um Mt first base. the infeld has
Ray Neil at second. Coco Ferrer at
short. Lester LOckett or Eu0eue
Smith ut third with MANAGER Walk
err in reserve. The outfield Is speedy
with LeovigildO LuRo in left, Yer
des Drake or Henry Merchant in
c"nter and Dukes Cleveland in
right.
Garcia, GodineZ. Drake and Lugo
are all Cubans. Ferrer Is from
Puerto Rico.
And the Monarchs-thev're the
fence-bustinR greats Of old. The
great Kansas CITY team sweDt
through to win the first half Of the
Negro American League pennant
race despite four STRAIGHT defeats
at the hands Of the Clowns. and
now the two clubs are engaged in n
hectic fight for second half honors.
Monarch Stars Rack
The Monarchs have all their stars
hack from the war who led the
team TO successive Negro American
League CHAMPIONSHIPS In I940-41-
~. and the NEGRO worlds cham
pionship In 1912 over the Home
stead Grays. Catcher Joe Greene,
first-bRseman Buck O'Neil. short
s'op Herb THOMPSON outhelders
willard Brown and Ted Strong. and
pitchers CHI Johnson. Ford Smith
and Ted Alexander all have come
hack from the wars and have made
the team the mighty Monarchs Of
old.
They Join such follower Kansas
Citv stars ~ Herb Souell. Hilton
Smith. Jim la MarQue. Ensloc Wv
10 Frank Duncan. JOHNNY Scott.
Othel Renfro and Lee Moody.
The latest league averages
showed the Monarchs leading the
LEAGUE In team batting and team
fielding; first In home runs. trirleS
and stolen bases; and Scott, O'Neil
and Strong one-two-three AMONG
the hitters with Brown and Souell
not far behind
It's n game Twin City fans will
talk about long after It's been
PLAYED. The Lexington Park man
aEement h preparing for the rrcat- |
est crowd ever to witness n Negro |
Tame here.