1932 Detroit Wolves season

East–West League team season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1932 Detroit Wolves baseball team was a Negro league baseball team that competed in the East–West League (EWL) during the 1932 baseball season. The team compiled a 28–9 (.757) record (26–5 (.839) against EWL opponents) and won the EWL pennant, finishing six-and-a-half games ahead of the second-place team.[1][2] The Wolves played their home games at Hamtramck Stadium in Hamtramck, Michigan.[1]

LeagueEast–West League
BallparkHamtramck Stadium
RecordTotal: 28–9 (.757)
vs. East–West League opponents: 26–5 (.839)
OwnersCumberland Posey
Quick facts Detroit Wolves, League ...
1932 Detroit Wolves
LeagueEast–West League
BallparkHamtramck Stadium
CityHamtramck, Michigan
RecordTotal: 28–9 (.757)
vs. East–West League opponents: 26–5 (.839)
League place1st
OwnersCumberland Posey
ManagersDizzy Dismukes
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The team included on its roster five players who were later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame: center fielder Cool Papa Bell, first baseman Mule Suttles, shortstop Willie "The Devil" Wells, and pitchers Ray Brown and Smokey Joe Williams.[3][4]

The teams winning percentage (.839) vs. teams in its league is the highest by a team in a season in the Negro Major Leagues.[5]

Formation and management

After the 1931 season, the Negro National League (NNL) disbanded. The Detroit Stars, which had represented the City of Detroit in the NNL since 1920, were also disbanded at that time.[6]

The Detroit Wolves were organized prior to the 1932 season as part of the newly formed East–West League (EWL). Cumberland Posey was a leader behind the formation of the EWL and the owner of the Wolves.[1][7] Described by one sportswriter as "the smartest man in Negro baseball," he was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.[7]

Dizzy Dismukes, an Alabama native and right-handed pitcher, was hired as the team's manager.[1]

In an effort to build a roster, the Wolves signed players from the recently disbanded Negro National League. In particular, the Wolves signed seven players from the 1931 St. Louis Stars team. The former St. Louis players were: Cool Papa Bell; Willie Wells; Mule Suttles; right fielder Quincy Trouppe; third baseman Dewey Creacy; and pitchers Ted Trent and Nate Hunter.[8]

In early June, the Wolves sent Suttles, John Henry Russell, and Creacy to the Homestead Grays in exchange for Giles (first baseman), Allen (second baseman), and Jud Wilson (third baseman).[9]

Position players

The team featured a powerful lineup of batters, scoring an average of 5.5 runs per game against EWL opponents.[2]

Center fielder Cool Papa Bell, a native of Mississippi, ranked second in the league with a .340 batting average and also ranked among the league's leaders with 40 runs scored (fourth) and nine stolen bases (tied for second).[10] Bell was one of the first Negro league players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving the honor in 1974.[11]

First baseman Mule Suttles, an Alabama native, was the team's leading slugger and led the league with 48 RBIs and 22 doubles and ranked second in the league with 30 bases on balls and a .524 slugging percentage.[10] Suttles also led the EWL with 468 putouts.[12] He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.[13]

Third baseman Dewey Creacy led the EWL by appearing in 63 games and playing 538 innings.[12] Creacy also led the league's third basemen with 72 putouts and 92 assists.[12]

Shortstop Willie Wells, a Texas native, ranked first among the league's shortstops with 87 putouts and second with 111 assists.[12] Considered one of the best defensive shortstops of his era, Wells was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.[14]

Pitchers

The Wolves' pitching staff compiled a 2.77 earned run average (ERA) that was the best in the EWL.[15]

Bertrum Hunter, a right-handed pitcher from Arizona, led the league in both wins (10) and strikeouts (72). He appeared in 16 games for the Wolves, 10 as a starter, and compiled a 10–2 record with a 2.93 ERA.[15]

William Bell, a right-handed pitcher from Texas, ranked second in the league with a 2.47 ERA. He compiled a 4–2 win–loss record.[15]

Smokey Joe Williams, another right-hander from Texas, compiled a 5–1 record and a 2.72 ERA.[15] Williams was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.[16]

Ray Brown compiled a 7–7 record in 16 games with a 3.67 ERA.[15] He went on to fame with the Homestead Grays and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.[17]

Roster

The following players participated in games for the 1932 Detroit Wolves.[1][4]

More information Name, Image ...
Name Image Position Height Weight Bats/Throws Place of birth Year of birth
Cool Papa BellCF5'11"157Both/LeftStarkville, Mississippi1903
William BellRF5'7"170Right/RightHallettsville, Texas1897
Ray BrownLF6'1"195Both/RightMcDonald Township, Ohio1908
Albert Dewey Creacy3B5'9"160Right/RightFort Worth, Texas1899
Dizzy DismukesP6'0"180Right/RightBirmingham, Alabama1890
Vic HarrisLF5'10"168Left/RightCalhoun, Alabama1905
Nate HunterP5'9"175Right/RightPhoenix, Arizona1910
John Henry Russell2B5'9"148Right/RightDolcito, Alabama1898
Ray Sheppard2B
Mule Suttles1B6'1"200Right/RightBlocton, Alabama1901
Ted TrentP6'3"185Right/RightJacksonville, Florida1903
Quincy TrouppeRF6'2"225Both/RightDublin, Georgia1912
Willie WellsSS5'9"170Right/RightShawnee, Oklahoma1904
Smokey Joe WilliamsP6'3"190Right/RightSeguin, Texas1886
Charles WilliamsP5'6"165Left/LeftTanners, Virginia1894
Tom YoungC6'1"210Left/RightWetumpka, Alabama1902
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Game log

More information Date, Opponent ...
Date Opponent Site Result Source
April 14Homestead GraysCharleston, West VirginiaW 3–2[18]
April 16Homestead GraysForbes Field, PittsburghW 5-4[19][20]
April 24Baltimore Black SoxBaltimoreW 4-1[21]
April 24Baltimore Black SoxBaltimoreW 3-1[21]
April 27DaytonDayton, OhioW 9-5[22]
April 28DaytonDayton, OhioW 7-6[23]
April 29Fort WayneFort Wayne, IndianaW 11-5[24]
April 30Chicago American GiantsChicagoW 9-4[25]
May 1Chicago American GiantsChicagoL 3-5[26]
May 2Chicago American GiantsChicagoL 1-2[27]
May 3Chicago American GiantsChicagoW 7-6[28]
May 7Cuban StarsHamtramck StadiumL 1-4[29]
May 8Cuban StarsHamtramck StadiumW 13-3[30]
May 8Cuban StarsHamtramck StadiumL 2-4[30]
May 9Cuban StarsHamtramck StadiumRain
May 11ClevelandHamtramck StadiumRain[31]
May 13Homestead GraysHamtramck StadiumW 13-1[32]
May 14Homestead GraysHamtramck StadiumW 5-4[33]
May 15Homestead GraysHamtramck StadiumW 5-4[34]
May 15Homestead GraysHamtramck StadiumL 2-5[34]
May 17Cleveland StarsClevelandW 5-0[35]
May 18Cleveland StarsClevelandW 3-0[36]
May 21Cleveland StarsHamtramck StadiumW 5-2[37]
May 21Cleveland StarsHamtramck StadiumW 3-0[37]
May 22Hilldale ClubHamtramck StadiumW 8-3[38]
May 22Hilldale ClubHamtramck StadiumW 6-5[38]
May 27Washington PilotsHamtramck StadiumW 6-0[39][40]
May 29Washington PilotsHamtramck StadiumW 11-7[41]
May 29Washington PilotsHamtramck StadiumW 7-0[41]
May 30Washington PilotsGriffith Stadium, Washington, D.C.W 5-4[42][43]
May 30Washington PilotsGriffith Stadium, Washington, D.C.W 9-4[42]
May 31Washington PilotsWashington, D.C.W 4-1[44]
June 2Hilldale ClubPhiladelphiaW 6-5[45]
June 6Pittsburgh CrawfordsIsland Park, Harrisburg, PA
June 11Baltimore Black SoxHamtramck StadiumW 15-3[46]
June 13Baltimore Black SoxHamtramck StadiumL 5-9[47]
June 13Baltimore Black SoxHamtramck StadiumL 2-8[47]
June 19Cuban StarsHamtramck StadiumW 5-2[48]
June 19Cuban StarsHamtramck StadiumL 0-2[48]
July 3WashingtonHamtramck StadiumW 16-1[49]
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References

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