1932 Detroit Wolves
LeagueEast–West League
BallparkHamtramck Stadium
CityHamtramck, Michigan
Record29–9 (.757)
League place1st
OwnersCumberland Posey
ManagersDizzy Dismukes

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 record (26–5 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]

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]

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.[5]

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][6] Described by one sportswriter as "the smartest man in Negro baseball," he was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.[6]

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.[7]

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).[8]

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).[9] Bell was one of the first Negro league players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving the honor in 1974.[10]

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.[9] Suttles also led the EWL with 468 putouts.[11] He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.[12]

Third baseman Dewey Creacy led the EWL by appearing in 63 games and playing 538 innings.[11] Creacy also led the league's third basemen with 72 putouts and 92 assists.[11]

Shortstop Willie Wells, a Texas native, ranked first among the league's shortstops with 87 putouts and second with 111 assists.[11] Considered one of the best defensive shortstops of his era, Wells was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.[13]

Pitchers

The Wolves' pitching staff compiled a 2.77 earned run average (ERA) that was the best in the EWL.[14]

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.[14]

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.[14]

Smokey Joe Williams, another right-hander from Texas, compiled a 5–1 record and a 2.72 ERA.[14] Williams was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.[15]

Ray Brown compiled a 7–7 record in 16 games with a 3.67 ERA.[14] He went on to fame with the Homestead Grays and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.[16]

Roster

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

Name Image Position Height Weight Bats/Throws Place of birth Year of birth
Cool Papa Bell CF 5'11" 157 Both/Left Starkville, Mississippi 1903
William Bell RF 5'7" 170 Right/Right Hallettsville, Texas 1897
Ray Brown LF 6'1" 195 Both/Right McDonald Township, Ohio 1908
Albert Dewey Creacy 3B 5'9" 160 Right/Right Fort Worth, Texas 1899
Dizzy Dismukes P 6'0" 180 Right/Right Birmingham, Alabama 1890
Vic Harris LF 5'10" 168 Left/Right Calhoun, Alabama 1905
Nate Hunter P 5'9" 175 Right/Right Phoenix, Arizona 1910
John Henry Russell 2B 5'9" 148 Right/Right Dolcito, Alabama 1898
Ray Sheppard 2B
Mule Suttles 1B 6'1" 200 Right/Right Blocton, Alabama 1901
Ted Trent P 6'3" 185 Right/Right Jacksonville, Florida 1903
Quincy Trouppe RF 6'2" 225 Both/Right Dublin, Georgia 1912
Willie Wells SS 5'9" 170 Right/Right Shawnee, Oklahoma 1904
Smokey Joe Williams P 6'3" 190 Right/Right Seguin, Texas 1886
Charles Williams P 5'6" 165 Left/Left Tanners, Virginia 1894
Tom Young C 6'1" 210 Left/Right Wetumpka, Alabama 1902

Game log

Date Opponent Site Result Source
April 14 Homestead Grays Charleston, West Virginia W 3–2 [17]
April 16 Homestead Grays Forbes Field, Pittsburgh W 5-4 [18][19]
April 24 Baltimore Black Sox Baltimore W 4-1 [20]
April 24 Baltimore Black Sox Baltimore W 3-1 [20]
April 27 Dayton Dayton, Ohio W 9-5 [21]
April 28 Dayton Dayton, Ohio W 7-6 [22]
April 29 Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana W 11-5 [23]
April 30 Chicago American Giants Chicago W 9-4 [24]
May 1 Chicago American Giants Chicago L 3-5 [25]
May 2 Chicago American Giants Chicago L 1-2 [26]
May 3 Chicago American Giants Chicago W 7-6 [27]
May 7 Cuban Stars Hamtramck Stadium L 1-4 [28]
May 8 Cuban Stars Hamtramck Stadium W 13-3 [29]
May 8 Cuban Stars Hamtramck Stadium L 2-4 [29]
May 9 Cuban Stars Hamtramck Stadium Rain
May 11 Cleveland Hamtramck Stadium Rain [30]
May 13 Homestead Grays Hamtramck Stadium W 13-1 [31]
May 14 Homestead Grays Hamtramck Stadium W 5-4 [32]
May 15 Homestead Grays Hamtramck Stadium W 5-4 [33]
May 15 Homestead Grays Hamtramck Stadium L 2-5 [33]
May 17 Cleveland Stars Cleveland W 5-0 [34]
May 18 Cleveland Stars Cleveland W 3-0 [35]
May 21 Cleveland Stars Hamtramck Stadium W 5-2 [36]
May 21 Cleveland Stars Hamtramck Stadium W 3-0 [36]
May 22 Hilldale Club Hamtramck Stadium W 8-3 [37]
May 22 Hilldale Club Hamtramck Stadium W 6-5 [37]
May 27 Washington Pilots Hamtramck Stadium W 6-0 [38][39]
May 29 Washington Pilots Hamtramck Stadium W 11-7 [40]
May 29 Washington Pilots Hamtramck Stadium W 7-0 [40]
May 30 Washington Pilots Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C. W 5-4 [41][42]
May 30 Washington Pilots Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C. W 9-4 [41]
May 31 Washington Pilots Washington, D.C. W 4-1 [43]
June 2 Hilldale Club Philadelphia W 6-5 [44]
June 6 Pittsburgh Crawfords Island Park, Harrisburg, PA
June 11 Baltimore Black Sox Hamtramck Stadium W 15-3 [45]
June 13 Baltimore Black Sox Hamtramck Stadium L 5-9 [46]
June 13 Baltimore Black Sox Hamtramck Stadium L 2-8 [46]
June 19 Cuban Stars Hamtramck Stadium W 5-2 [47]
June 19 Cuban Stars Hamtramck Stadium L 0-2 [47]
July 3 Washington Hamtramck Stadium W 16-1 [48]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "1932 Detroit Wolves". Seamheads.com. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "1932 East-West League Standings". Seamheads.com. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  3. ^ Lester, Larry; Miller, Sammy J.; Clark, Dick (2000). "Detroit's Most Talented Team?". Black Baseball in Detroit. Arcadia. pp. 69–76. ISBN 0738507075.
  4. ^ a b "1932 Detroit Wolves". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  5. ^ Black Baseball in Detroit, p. 68.
  6. ^ a b "Cumberland Posey". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  7. ^ "Detroit Wolves Have New Lineup: Club Reorganized for 1932 Season". Detroit Free Press. May 5, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Wolves Obtain Infield Stars". Detroit Free Press. June 10, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "1932 East-West League Batting Leaders". Seamheads.com. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  10. ^ "Cool Papa Bell". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  11. ^ a b c d "1932 East-West League Fielding". Seamheads.com. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  12. ^ "Mule Suttles". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  13. ^ "Willie Wells". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  14. ^ a b c d e "1932 East-West League Pitching". Seamheads.com. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  15. ^ "Joe Williams". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  16. ^ "Ray Brown". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  17. ^ "Detroit Wolves Win From Homestead Club". Detroit Free Press. April 15, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Detroit Nips Gray Rally, Wins 5-4". The Pittsburgh Courier. April 23, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Detroiters Down Homestead Group". Detroit Free Press. April 17, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ a b "Black Sox Beaten by Detroit Wolves". Detroit Free Press. April 25, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Dayton League Team Is Beaten By Wolves". Detroit Free Press. April 28, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Detroit Wolves Defeat Dayton". Detroit Free Press. April 29, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Homers Help Wolves to Win at Ft. Wayne". Detroit Free Press. April 30, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Detroit-Chicago Divide Two Tilts". The Pittsburgh Courier. May 7, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Errors Are Costly To Detroit Wolves". Detroit Free Press. May 2, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Chicago Giants Win from Detroiters". Detroit Free Press. May 3, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Detroit Wolves Defeat Chicago". Detroit Free Press. May 4, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Wolves Defeated in Opener Here". Detroit Free Press. May 8, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ a b "Detroit Wolves Divide Twin Bill". Detroit Free Press. May 9, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Rain Delays Game for Wolves' Team". Detroit Free Press. May 12, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Homestead Grays Lose To Wolves". Detroit Free Press. May 14, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Detroit Wolves Win on Home Run". Detroit Free Press. May 15, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ a b "Wolves Win Series From Homestead: Detroit Team Splits Even in Double Bill". Detroit Free Press. May 16, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Detroit Wolves Win From Cleveland, 5-0". Detroit Free Press. May 18, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "Wolves Shut Out Ohio Rivals Again". Detroit Free Press. May 19, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ a b "Detroit Wolves Win Two Games". Detroit Free Press. May 22, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ a b "Detroit Wolves Beat Hillsdale". Detroit Free Press. May 23, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ "Detroit Wolves Humble Pilots". Detroit Free Press. May 28, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "Washington Nine To Play Wolves". Detroit Free Press. May 27, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ a b "Detroit Wolves Win Two Games". Detroit Free Press. May 30, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ a b "Detroit Wolves Win Pair at Washington". Detroit Free Press. May 31, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "Pilots in Twin Bill". Evening Star. May 29, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ "Pilots in Exhibition". Evening Star. June 1, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ "Detroit Wolves Win from Hilldale Nine". Detroit Free Press. June 3, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ "Detroit Wolves Rout Black Sox". Detroit Free Press. June 12, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ a b "Detroit Wolves Lose Twin Bill". Detroit Free Press. June 13, 1932 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ a b "Detroit Wolves Get Even Break". Detroit Free Press. June 20, 1919 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ "Detroit Wolves Defeat Invaders". Detroit Free Press. July 4, 1932. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
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