1942 Homestead Grays season
| 1942 Homestead Grays | |
|---|---|
| League | Negro National League |
| Ballpark | Griffith Stadium |
| City | Washington, D.C. |
| Record | 86–29–3 (.742) |
| Managers | Vic Harris |
The 1942 Homestead Grays baseball team competed in the Negro National League (NNL) during the 1942 baseball season. The Grays compiled an 86–29–3 record (23–10–1 against NNL opponents) and finished in first place in the NNL.[1] The team played its home games at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Vic Harris was the team's manager and left fielder. The team included the following players who have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame:
- Catcher Josh Gibson, age 30, led the team with a .340 batting average, an .618 slugging percentage, a .472 on-base percentage, 14 home runs, and 66 RBIs.[1]
- First baseman Buck Leonard, at age 34, compiled a .216 batting average, a .280 slugging percentage, and a .342 on-base percentage.[1]
- First baseman Jud Wilson, at age 48, compiled a .262 batting average.[1]
- Pitcher Ray Brown, at age 34, compiled a 13-6 record.[1]
Other regular players included center fielder Jerry Benjamin, third baseman Howard Easterling, shortstop Sam Bankhead, shorstop Chester Williams, right fielder David Whatley, second baseman Matt Carlisle, and pitchers Roy Welmaker, Roy Partlow, Johnny Wright, and Spoon Carter.[1]
Standings
| vs. Negro National League | vs. Major Black teams | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negro National League | W | L | T | Pct. | GB | W | L | T | Pct. |
| Homestead Grays | 58 | 20 | 2 | .738 | — | 86 | 29 | 3 | .742 |
| Baltimore Elite Giants | 42 | 30 | 1 | .582 | 13 | 45 | 36 | 1 | .555 |
| Philadelphia Stars | 32 | 35 | 1 | .478 | 20½ | 38 | 38 | 2 | .500 |
| Newark Eagles | 29 | 37 | 4 | .443 | 23 | 40 | 40 | 4 | .500 |
| New York Black Yankees | 13 | 25 | 1 | .346 | 25 | 19 | 31 | 2 | .385 |
| New York Cubans | 13 | 40 | 1 | .250 | 32½ | 21 | 47 | 1 | .312 |