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 record ( against EWL opponents) and won the EWL pennant, finishing six-and-a-half games ahead of the second-place team. The Wolves played their home games at Hamtramck Stadium in Hamtramck, Michigan.
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.
The teams winning percentage () vs. teams in its league is the highest by a team in a season in the Negro Major Leagues.
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.Black Baseball in Detroit, p. 68.
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. Described by one sportswriter as "the smartest man in Negro baseball," he was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Dizzy Dismukes, an Alabama native and right-handed pitcher, was hired as the team's manager.
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.
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).
Position players The team featured a powerful lineup of batters, scoring an average of 5.5 runs per game against EWL opponents.
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). Bell was one of the first Negro league players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving the honor in 1974.
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. Suttles also led the EWL with 468 putouts. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Third baseman Dewey Creacy led the EWL by appearing in 63 games and playing 538 innings. Creacy also led the league's third basemen with 72 putouts and 92 assists.
Shortstop Willie Wells, a Texas native, ranked first among the league's shortstops with 87 putouts and second with 111 assists. Considered one of the best defensive shortstops of his era, Wells was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.
Pitchers The Wolves' pitching staff compiled a 2.77 earned run average (ERA) that was the best in the EWL.
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.
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.
Smokey Joe Williams, another right-hander from Texas, compiled a 5–1 record and a 2.72 ERA. Williams was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
Ray Brown compiled a 7–7 record in 16 games with a 3.67 ERA. He went on to fame with the Homestead Grays and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Roster The following players participated in games for the 1932 Detroit Wolves. Name Image Position Height Weight Bats/Throws Place of birth Year of birthCool Papa Bell CF5'11"157Both/LeftStarkville, Mississippi1903William BellRF5'7"170Right/RightHallettsville, Texas1897Ray Brown LF6'1"195Both/RightMcDonald Township, Ohio1908Albert Dewey Creacy 3B5'9"160Right/RightFort Worth, Texas1899Dizzy DismukesP6'0"180Right/Right Birmingham, Alabama1890Vic HarrisLF5'10"168Left/RightCalhoun, Alabama1905Nate Hunter P5'9"175Right/RightPhoenix, Arizona1910John Henry Russell 2B5'9"148Right/RightDolcito, Alabama1898Ray Sheppard 2B Mule Suttles 1B6'1"200Right/RightBlocton, Alabama1901Ted Trent P6'3"185Right/RightJacksonville, Florida1903Quincy Trouppe RF6'2"225Both/RightDublin, Georgia1912Willie Wells SS5'9"170Right/RightShawnee, Oklahoma1904Smokey Joe Williams P6'3"190Right/RightSeguin, Texas1886Charles Williams P5'6"165Left/LeftTanners, Virginia1894Tom Young C6'1"210Left/RightWetumpka, Alabama1902
Game log
Date Opponent Site Result Source April 14 Homestead Grays Charleston, West Virginia W 3–2 April 16Homestead GraysForbes Field, PittsburghW 5-4April 24Baltimore Black SoxBaltimoreW 4-1April 24Baltimore Black SoxBaltimoreW 3-1April 27DaytonDayton, OhioW 9-5April 28DaytonDayton, OhioW 7-6April 29Fort WayneFort Wayne, IndianaW 11-5April 30Chicago American GiantsChicagoW 9-4May 1Chicago American GiantsChicagoL 3-5May 2Chicago American GiantsChicagoL 1-2May 3Chicago American GiantsChicagoW 7-6May 7Cuban StarsHamtramck StadiumL 1-4May 8Cuban StarsHamtramck StadiumW 13-3May 8Cuban StarsHamtramck StadiumL 2-4May 9Cuban StarsHamtramck StadiumRainMay 11ClevelandHamtramck StadiumRainMay 13Homestead GraysHamtramck StadiumW 13-1May 14Homestead GraysHamtramck StadiumW 5-4May 16Homestead GraysHamtramck StadiumW 5-4May 16Homestead GraysHamtramck StadiumL 2-5May 17Cleveland StarsClevelandW 5-0May 18Cleveland StarsClevelandW 3-0May 21Cleveland StarsHamtramck StadiumW 5-2May 21Cleveland StarsHamtramck StadiumW 3-0May 22Hilldale ClubHamtramck StadiumW 8-3May 22Hilldale ClubHamtramck StadiumW 6-5May 27Washington PilotsHamtramck StadiumW 6-0May 29Washington PilotsHamtramck StadiumW 11-7May 29Washington PilotsHamtramck StadiumW 7-0May 30Washington PilotsGriffith Stadium, Washington, D.C.W 5-4May 30Washington PilotsGriffith Stadium, Washington, D.C.W 9-4May 31Washington PilotsWashington, D.C.W 4-1June 2Hilldale ClubPhiladelphiaW 6-5June 6Pittsburgh CrawfordsIsland Park, Harrisburg, PA June 11Baltimore Black SoxHamtramck StadiumW 15-3June 13Baltimore Black SoxHamtramck StadiumL 5-9June 13Baltimore Black SoxHamtramck StadiumL 2-8June 19Cuban StarsHamtramck StadiumW 5-2June 19Cuban StarsHamtramck StadiumL 0-2July 3WashingtonHamtramck StadiumW 16-1
References