Remembering the 1945 Cleveland Buckeyes

In 1945, the Cleveland Buckeyes were led by their player-manager Quincy “Big Train” Trouppe, along with star player, Sam “The Jet” Jethroe. Jethroe led the league in hits and stolen bases. Both players would go on to play in Major League Baseball, albeit later in their careers. Jethroe would become the oldest rookie of the year winner in MLB history. Trouppe became a Cleveland Indian at age 39, though to his dismay, he saw limited action. Other notable players included Avelino Canizares, Parnell Woods, Archie Ware, Johnnie Cowan, Willie Grace, along with a strong group of pitchers including Eugene Bremer, Frank Carswell, and the Jefferson brothers, George and Willie. 

The 1945 season for the Cleveland Buckeyes saw their greatest success as a franchise. They had a record of 53-16 on the season, winning the first and second half schedules for the American League. At the time, this was controversial as the Chicago American Giants argued that the Buckeyes had not played enough games to qualify for the second half pennant. Their allegations derived from poor record keeping. Inevitably this error was resolved, which resulted in the Buckeyes winning the Negro American League Pennant, and a place in the Negro League World Series. Though they had an impressive season, they were considered a young, up-in-coming team. From the outside, they were the underdogs, as they faced off against the fearsome Homestead Grays. The Homestead Grays were one of the premiere teams in the Negro League. They originally hailed from Pittsburgh, but split playing time in Washington D.C. The Negro League World Series was nothing new to them by this time. It was their eighth time winning the National League pennant, and they were back-to-back World Series champions in 1943 and 1944, looking to complete the three-peat. They were an ageing team, but an experienced one. They were headlined by a cast of future Hall of Fame players, including, James Thomas “Cool Papa” Bell, Judy Johnson, Buck Leonard, and Josh Gibson. Similarly to the Buckeyes, they had won both halves of their season. This meant that the two undisputed champions of their respective leagues would come head-to-head in the World Series. 

Game one of the World Series was held on September 13, 1945, in the recently built Cleveland Stadium in front of approximately 8,000 fans. Willie Jefferson pitched the game for the Buckeyes, while the Grays went to Leroy Welmaker. The first hit of the World Series came in the fourth inning. With two outs, Johnnie Cowan hit a single to right field. Unfortunately for Cowan and the Buckeyes, the inning would retire on the next play; a line drive would allow Welmaker to throw out the batter at first. This game proved to be a pitching battle, “Willie Jefferson was on trial in the greatest test of his career, and he came through in flying colors” (Jones, Sept 15, 1945). The first run of the game was scored by player-manager Quincy Trouppe, who “…put an end to the suspense with a mighty wallop which sent the pill out into deep center while he lumbered his way around to the third sack” (Jones, Sept 15, 1945). He ran home two batters later after a sacrificial Cowan pop-up. The Buckeyes were not done scoring here. In the eighth inning, Archie Ware hit the ball out left, reaching second base. He would reach home after a Willie Grace RBI hit dropped into right field, which caught their right fielder, Dave Hoskins, off guard. As the Buckeyes lead 2-0 going into the ninth, the Grays would not settle for defeat. With one out, Hoskins would attempt to get his revenge for the previous score, first by hitting a single to first. He then made it to second after the next batter walked and ran it home when Josh Gibson hit a single on the next at bat. With one out and two batters on base, tension was high in Cleveland. The Buckeyes survived, as their defense made a double play off an at-bat from Sam Whitehead, ending a suspenseful game one.

Game two of the World Series was held in Cleveland’s League Park, the typical home field for the Buckeyes. This legendary stadium located in the Hough neighborhood was also the previous home of the Indians. Legendary players such as Cy Young, Bob Feller, Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson played on this field. In fact, Babe Ruth scored his 500th career home run in League Park. The Buckeyes were hoping to create their own magical moment on this field. It was September 16, 1945, approximately 10,000 fans arrived, cheering on the Buckeyes in overcast weather. Eugene Bremer pitched for the Buckeyes while the Grays went to John Wright. The game did not start off well for the Buckeyes, as they trailed 0-2 going into the seventh inning. Despite this, Willie Grace hit a home run, “…with a resounding crack that brought the dejected Buckeyes fans to their feet Grace smacked the ball neatly over the right field Gem Safety Razor ad and strutted around the sacks” (Cleveland Call and Post, Sept 22, 1945). This would be the only home run scored by either team in this World Series. The next run was scored by Armour, after hitting the ball to right field and making it to second base, he was batted in by Bremer after an error by Norman “Jelly” Jackson. Bremer was then tasked to keep the Grays scoreless for the next two innings, which he succeeded in doing. When the ninth inning came around, Trouppe had found himself in position to score after hitting a double and stealing third after a wild pitch. To the dismay of the fans in attendance, the Grays strategically walked Armour and Cowan, as they preferred to throw against Buckeye’s pitcher, Bremer. “The crowd moaned, for Bremer wasn’t expected to hit. But he did” (Cleveland Call and Post, Sept 22, 1945). He hit the ball deep into right field, nearly hitting the game’s second home run. Trouppe ran into home plate, winning the game. The players and fans rushed the field, carrying Bremer over their shoulders. He became the hero of game two. With that, the Buckeyes got their magical moment in League Park. 

Game three of the World Series was meant to be played in Pittsburgh, unfortunately for their fans it got rained out. They were unable to hold the game in Pittsburgh, as the Pirates had booked games for Forbes Field and the rain had ruined the only availability. Subsequently, the game was moved to Washington D.C.’s Griffith Stadium on September 18, 1945, in front of approximately 6,000 fans. Cleveland’s George Jefferson pitched a shut-out game, only allowing three hits. The Buckeyes won this game 4-0, as their overall victory seemed inevitable. “The speed and youth of the inspired Buckeyes seems to be just too much for the veteran Grays” (The Call, Sept 19, 1945).

Game four did not fare any better for the Homestead Grays. It was held in Philadelphia’s Shibe Park on September 20, 1945. The Buckeye’s pitcher, Frank “Bruiser” Carswell, was able shut-out the Grays once again. He only allowed four hits in this contest. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes started scoring fast. The first inning started with the Buckeyes loading the bases, and Parnell Woods hit the ball towards the second basemen, who fumbled the ball. This resulted in two runners scoring. Willie Grace scored again in the fourth inning after a pop-up in left field from Cowan’s at-bat. Finally, it was the Buckeyes’ star player, Sam Jethroe, who put away the Grays in the seventh inning. Cowan and Carswell had gotten on base from their own singles when Jethroe hit one of his own down the center. Both runners on base scored, with that they Buckeyes had slayed the mighty Homestead Grays in a sweep.

The Buckeyes had achieved an impressive feat, thoroughly beating a legendary team who was expected to win. Unfortunately, the team did not feel as if the city of Cleveland embraced this achievement. As Sam Jethroe stated, “The way the city responded, you wouldn’t have thought we won anything. I was a part of bigger celebrations in the minors” (Krell, pg. 108). This is disappointing and unfair to the Buckeyes to say the least. The Indians ended up winning the championship just three years later. This event was handled much differently according to the Buckeye’s owner, Ernie Wright, “The public and media didn’t get behind us the way they should have the year we won the world championship. All we got from the city of Cleveland was a banquet. There was no parade or meeting with the mayor. The players didn’t make any special appearances. It was a far cry from what the Indians got when they won the World Series in 1948” (Krell, pg. 107-108).

The 1945 Cleveland Buckeyes may be one of the greatest stories in Cleveland sports history that goes largely untold. They were a team of young, scrappy underdogs who were able to defeat a perennial powerhouse in the World Series. This feat would have been embraced by any other team in the city of Cleveland at the time, but because it occurred in the Negro League it was not. In recent years, Major League Baseball added the records and statistics from the Negro League into their own, acknowledging their significance. For these reasons, it is important to keep the 1945 Cleveland Buckeye’s legacy alive and remember them for their championship achievement. 

References

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Buckeyes play Memphis here twice; Sunday, decoration day: Here’s classy buckeye squad to make Cleveland debut Sunday at League Park. (1945, May 26). Cleveland Call and Post (1934-1962) Retrieved from http://ezp2.cpl.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/buckeyes-play-memphis-here-twice-sunday/docview/184113888/se-2. 

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Cleveland captures 1945 world baseball crown: Buckeyes win 4 straight from tottering grays capital clan blanked twice in short series speed and youth dazzle long-time champs. (1945, Sep 29). Afro-American (1893-) Retrieved from http://ezp2.cpl.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/cleveland-captures-1945-world-baseball-crown/docview/531538817/se-2negro-major-leagues/docview/906281694/se-2. 

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Jones, J. (1945, Sep 15). Buckeyes aim, to dethrone Homestead Grays, Czars of all baseball for six years: first of five games in stadium tonight, expect record turnout for Sunday tilt at League Park. Cleveland Call and Post (1934-1962) Retrieved from http://ezp2.cpl.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/buckeys-aim-dethrone-homestead-grays-czars-all/docview/184148224/se-2.

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New shortstop for cleveland: Buckeyes sign cuban; to have farm club. (1947, Feb 08). The Chicago Defender (National Edition) (1921-1967) Retrieved from http://ezp2.cpl.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/new-shortstop-cleveland/docview/492760584/se-2. 

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Second win for buckeyes is like story-book thriller; Bremer wins own game, 3-2: Buckeyes trail towards 2-0 shutout but mgr. Trouppe again rallies to set scene for final victory. (1945, Sep 22). Cleveland Call and Post (1934-1962) Retrieved from http://ezp2.cpl.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/second-win-buckeyes-is-like-story-book-thriller/docview/184143716/se-2

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This page is created based on Jack Ryan McDermott's project in fall 2024.

Cite this page (Chicago): McDermott, Jack. "Remembering the 1945 Cleveland Buckeyes." LCCC African American History Project. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://sites.google.com/view/lccc-aa-project/remembering-the-1945-cleveland-buckeyes?authuser=0.