Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium

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Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium

Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium, Paterson, New Jersey, page- The stadium was built largely in 1931-32, with seating and amenities added 1932-34.

Hinchliffe Stadium is a 10,000 seat horseshoe-shaped arena, poised dramatically within the Great Falls National Historical Park at the corner of Maple and Liberty streets in Paterson's Totowa section. It was slightly modified again in 1963-64 when ownership passed from the City to the Paterson Schools, and "upgraded" 20 years later under Mayor Frank Graves, adding Astroturf and fiberglass seating.

08/02/2026

August 2, 1941 - On this date, the New York Black Yankees mounted a comeback in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the Newark Eagles by a score of 12-8 at Hinchliffe Stadium.

The Newark Eagles served as the home team in this contest. In the second inning, Newark got out to a 5-0 lead. At the end of six innings of play, New York was down by a score of 7-1.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Black Yankees mounted their comeback. Four runs in the seventh narrowed the margin to 7-5. The Eagles answered back with one run in the home half of the seventh to make it 8-5.

Time was ticking for New York. With two outs in the top of the eighth, the Black Yankees had two runners on base; at the plate: Hall of Famer George "Mule" Suttles."

The "Mule" kicked Len Hooker's offering over the left field wall for a three-run home run to tie the game.

In the top of the ninth, New York shortstop Anthony Cooper's two-run single gave the Black Yankees the lead, and Suttles would later have his own two-run single to solidify the game for New York. On the day, Suttles went 3 for 5 with seven runs batted in.

Image: George "Mule" Suttles

07/30/2026

July 30, 1935 - On this date, the Paterson Lions motorcycle racing team defeated the California Bears by a score of 5-1 in an East-West competition. The Paterson team was comprised of Crocky Rawding, Fred Toscani, and Goldie Restall.

Rawding was the standout racer for the Lions on this evening. Rawding was the only representative from the East that defeated three Western riders in the 4/5 of a mile scratch race.

Images: Crocky Rawding, Fred Toscani, and Goldie Restall

07/29/2026

July 29, 1947 - On this date, Dutch Schaefer won his first Midget Car race at Hinchliffe Stadium. Shaefer won races at every racetrack on the Midget Car circuit, but a victory at Hinchliffe Stadium was elusive, until this date.

Schaefer won the 25-lap race in five minutes and 55.99 seconds. Schaefer took the lead immediately from the start of the race and never relinquished. He had some stiff competition as Mike Nazaruk, and "Bronco" Bill Schindler were gunning for the lead, but Nazaruk would come in second place, followed by Schindler in third.

Image: Dutch Schaefer, courtesy of Jerry Santibanes.

07/28/2026

July 28, 1934 - A home run at Hinchliffe Stadium, 92 years ago today, ended the New York Black Yankees' eight-game winning streak. That home run came off the bat of the legendary Josh Gibson.

The Pittsburgh Crawfords had a 1-0 lead over New York in the fourth inning when Gibson clouted a solo home run over the centerfield fence. Gibson's blast would prove to be a much-needed insurance run for the Crawfords, as his counterpart, Black Yankees catcher Bob Clarke, also hit a solo home run one inning later to squeeze Pittsburgh to a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Paterson sky opened up. The deluge was too much for play to continue that the umpiring crew called the game, thus ending the Black Yankees' winning streak.

07/27/2026

Hinchliffe Stadium Profile: Biz Mackey

Happy Birthday to James Raleigh "Biz" Mackey, who was born on this date in 1897. One of baseball's best catchers, Mackey was a true student of the game. He possessed a great deal of versatility and played multiple positions in addition to being a catcher.

As a switch hitter, Mackey was a lifetime .324 hitter in a career that spanned from 1920-1947. In two seasons he hit over .400 (.416 in 1923, and .414 in 1930). As a player, he was an integral part of the 1925 Negro World Series victory for the Hilldale Daisies. He hit .375 in the Series.

Later in his career, his baseball acumen led him to be a player/manager. In 1937, as player/manager for the Washington Elite Giants, Mackey took a liking to a young backstop named Roy Campanella. Mackey's tutelage led to Campanella's Hall of Fame career. Campanella described Mackey as the “master of defense of all catchers.”

From student of the game to teacher, Mackey continued sharing the finer points of the game when he arrived in Newark. During his time as a player/manager with the Eagles, he mentored both Monte Irvin and Larry Doby in their formative years.

In a game at Hinchliffe Stadium, Mackey went 3 for 3 for the Baltimore Elite Giants in a 5-2 loss to the New York Black Yankees.

For his larger contribution to baseball, Biz Mackey was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 2006.

07/26/2026

July 26, 1998 – On this date, Larry Doby was inducted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. It was also his daughter, Christina’s, birthday.

During his Hall of Fame speech Doby said:

“There are a lot of people that had a lot to do with the success that I’ve had. Moved to Paterson, New Jersey; during high school and those people had a lot to do with my success. From Paterson, New Jersey to the Newark Eagles. Played against, and with, some of the greatest ballplayers that ever put on a uniform. From the Newark Eagles to the Cleveland Indians, and I must say this, that town treated me and my family with the greatest respect that any man could want.”

At the post-induction press conference, Doby was asked: “What is your most memorable moment at Hinchliffe Stadium?” Doby revealed that his most memorable moment was trying out for the Newark Eagles in 1942. It turned out that fateful day in Paterson, New Jersey would change the course of his life forever.

His plaque in Cooperstown describes Doby as having a “staunch constitution.” Truer words have never been spoken, all thanks to one fateful day at Hinchliffe Stadium in 1942.

To watch the entire speech, follow this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1r2J6ETx8k

07/25/2026

July 25, 1936 – What started as a pitchers' duel through six innings, proved to be a smooth victory for the New York Cubans as they defeated the Brooklyn Royal Giants by a score of 7-2 at Hinchliffe Stadium.

Lazaro Salazar was given the mound assignment for New York, while Brooklyn countered with veteran Otis Starks. Although Salazar gave up nine hits, they were spread out over nine innings.

With the Cubans up 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Royal Giants manager John Beckwith sent himself into the game as a pinch hitter for Bucky Johnson. With Willie Gray on first base, the 22-year veteran clouted a two-run home run on the first pitch over the left field wall to tie the game.

New York took the lead in the seventh inning when two Brooklyn errors allowed the Cubans to muster two runs. The Cubans added insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning when Hall of Famer Martin Dihigo led off with a single and eventually scored.

The game was attended by 150 orphans from the North Jersey Training School as guests of stadium promoters, and the Paterson Police Benevolent Association.

Image: 1936 New York Cubans

07/24/2026

July 24, 1932 – The Paterson Pros have the distinction of being the first team to call Hinchliffe Stadium home as they hosted the House of David in a doubleheader. At that time, the ballpark was called City Stadium.

The House of David won the first game 12 -6, while Paterson won the second game 7-6. The doubleheader was a benefit for both the Paterson Evening News' “Save-A-Life” fund and the Paterson Morning Call’s “Milk Fund.”

Fans paid 35 cents for admission to the twin bill and it was estimated that “three dozen” balls were fouled off into the stands, with each ball costing $1.25 each. Not only were balls hit into the stands, but the games had plenty of action as well. In the first game, the teams combined for 25 hits while the second game yielded 17 hits.

In the first game, with Paterson down 4-0, Pros second baseman Maurice “Red” Shannon led off the sixth inning with a double. Shannon played seven seasons in Major League Baseball, primarily with the Philadelphia Athletics.

Shannon’s double set up first baseman Gil Burgess to etch his name in history by becoming the first player to hit a home run at Hinchliffe Stadium.

Another note, Paterson Pros manager, Bert Daniels, played five seasons in Major League Baseball as an outfielder. He spent four seasons with the New York Yankees and one with the Cincinnati Reds.

Image: Maurice "Red" Shannon with the Chicago Cubs, 1926

07/23/2026

Hinchliffe Stadium Profile: Clyde Spearman

Happy Birthday to Clyde Spearman, who was born on this date in 1912. Spearman played 15 seasons in professional baseball and played for two teams that called Hinchliffe Stadium home - the New York Black Yankees, and the New York Cubans.

Spearman was one of 14 children in his family, of the 14 children, six would end up playing professional baseball. In addition to Clyde, the other five brothers that played professionally were: Charles, Codie, Hayse, Henry, and Willie.

In a game at Hinchliffe Stadium, Clyde went 3 for 6 for the Black Yankees with a triple and a double in a 15-10 victory for the Black Yankees over the Newark Meadowbrooks.

07/22/2026

Hinchliffe Stadium Profile: Terris "Elmer" McDuffie

Happy Birthday to Elmer McDuffie, who was born on this date in 1910. McDuffie was a strong-armed pitcher that had a variety of pitches at his disposal. McDuffie had a 17-year career in professional baseball.

McDuffie was a flashy player on and off the field. At times, when he struck out players, he would do a little dance on the mound meeting the crowd's approval. He even had a custom jacket made with the words "The Great McDuffie" on the back that we would wear during warmups.

McDuffie's eccentricities proved to be an asset as his popularity made him more money. After World War II, McDuffie was the highest paid player in the East, making $6,000 a season.

In a game at Hinchliffe Stadium, McDuffie pitched a no-hitter for the New York Black Yankees against the House of David. According to media reports it was "the first time such a feat had ever been turned in by the Negro club in this territory." An error and two walks prevented McDuffie from attaining a perfect game.

Happy Birthday Elmer!

Address

Great Falls National Historical Park
Paterson, NJ
07522

Website

http://www.hinchliffestadium.com/

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