On September 9, 1920, one of the most formidable teams of the 1920s arrived in Scranton to face off against the local team. Despite Scranton not having a minor league team that year, they did have a presence in the Inter-County league. The visiting team was none other than the Brooklyn Royal Giants, led by the skilled manager John Henry Lloyd, popularly known as Pop Lloyd. Pop Lloyd was renowned as one of the greatest hitters and defensive shortstops of his era in the Negro Leagues, and his exceptional abilities earned him a well-deserved induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.
The main attraction of the game was the pitching duel between Jeff Tesreau of Scranton and Jess Hubbard of Brooklyn, generating significant buzz in the local newspapers. Tesreau, a former pitcher for the New York Giants, had established himself as a formidable force on the mound, securing the E.R.A. title in 1912 for the National League Champion N.Y. Giants and amassing an impressive 119 wins for the team. Jess Hubbard, a towering figure at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing over 200 pounds, served as the star pitcher for the Royal Giants and was widely regarded as the best pitcher in the Negro Leagues. In the game against Scranton, Hubbard dominated, shutting them out with a 5-0 victory, while also contributing two hits and scoring twice. Tesreau, though performing well, couldn’t prevent Brooklyn from breaking the game open in the top of the 9th inning, resulting in four runs for the Royal Giants.
Despite the loss, the Scranton team displayed their competitive spirit. Managed by Jack Connor, they faced various traveling teams throughout the 1920 season, including the House of David, Baltimore Black Sox, and Cuban Giants. Festus Higgins, primarily known as a pitcher but playing as a first baseman against Brooklyn, managed to secure one of the five hits against Hubbard that day. Brislin, the leftfielder for Scranton, also had a commendable performance with two hits. It is worth noting that Tesreau may have been a recruited player for the Scranton team, as he later appeared on the roster as a pitcher for Tesreau’s Bears against the Hillsdale team in the 1920 season.
In 1920, the Brooklyn Royal Giants stood as the dominant force in the Eastern Independent Clubs (EAS), tallying 13 wins, 7 losses, and 2 ties according to Seamsheads.com.
NEPA SPORTS History, Scranton history and some Penn State football 