The Miami times. [volume] (Miami, Fla.) 1923-current, 1949-12-17
SECOND INSTALLMENT

by Elliott j. Pieze. Times Staff
Writer.
MIAMPS NEW BASEBALL PARK
OF 1913
In my first installment last week,
told you about the first baseball
park in the Negro section Of Miami
and the first organized teams to
represent Miami on the baseball
diamond. I also told you about the
teams playing at the second site
until the year Of 1912.
This week, I'll go into the discus
sion Of the new baseball park Of
1913 and the names of the members
Of the team who played for Miami
at the new park.
Early in the year of 1913, Mr..
Scott Payne, father Of my informer
Bristo Payne, Sr., and one time lead
ing sportsman. of this city, built a
brand new baseball park, all fenced
in at the location of what is now the
Standard Oil Company on NV 18th
street, Just east of the present
Florida East Coast Railroad Tracks.
The park extended from 18th st.
north to about 18TH ST., and from
the east side of first avenue to about
midway between First Avenue and
and Miami Avenue. Up to that time,
this was was the first ball park the
Negroes of Miami ever had and 1t
also represented one of the finest
in the state.
It was shortly after this new park
was built in 1918 that the Miami
team was officially named the Mi
ami Giants, which name it has main
tanned until the present day. The
team was named by Robby Johnson
one time star first baseman and
Captain of the Giants. It all hap
pened in a very informal manner.
When the question of naming the
team came up, several names were
suggested, but Johnson suggested
the name "Giants" and the group
all agreed to and accepted his sug-
gestion. And so the Miami official
baseball team became known as the
Giants" in the year of 1913.
Members of the first team to be
known as the Miami Giants were as
follows:
THE MIAMI GIANTS OF 1913
Chito C, Oscar Sambo, 1B, viii.
lie Duke" Slater, IS, English Gray,
BIB, Gunner Long, C and 2B. Ray
mond Doughtery, 2B, Ben Harris,
P mot the same Ben Harris Of the
Swift Eagles mentioned last week.,
Willie Preasley, P, Bristo Payne, P,
Johnny Stevens (Mama Hester) F,
Robby Johnson, 1B, Bubber Hud-
gins, utility man.
HIGHLIGHT OF 1913 IN BASE
BALL
One of the SHINING highlights OF
the year Of 1918 in baseball in MI
ami was the fact that on July 4,
four baseball clubs played two
games on that day in the Miami
new park. The teams were Lemon
City, who played West Palm Beach
in the first game that morning
Lemon City won the first game. On
that afternoon the Miami Giants
played the Key West Douglas Stars
ON the same park. With the one
time famous Irving Brooks pitching,
Kew West defeated Miami to WIND
I'D the days play.
One of the most important figures
in Miamrs early baseball history
was none other than Robert BOD
Stancfl, who was one Of the first
managers Of the local team and did
much to develop. baseball in the
state of Florida. Stancil also rnanag-
ed the West Palm Beach team for
some time, during the old days. In
those days, baseball without Bob
StancfI. was not considered the real
baseball, SO closely was he connect
ed with the game and the men VINO
played it. Stancil now operates
small store at NV End ave and Sth
ST., Just north Of the filling station.
Next week, I'll tell you about an
even newer baseball park, which