Homestead Grays' Owner Cumberland Posey entered the team in the Negro National League in 1935, and according to the Negro League Baseball Players Association (NLBPA) profile of the Grays, two years later Josh Gibson rejoined a team that featured names that loom large in baseball history like "Cool Papa" Bell, Buck Leonard and "Smokey" Joe Williams, and a string of nine-straight league pennants from 1937-1945 began. During this time the Grays played their home games, according to the NLBPA profile:

"...at both Forbes Field (Pittsburgh) and Griffith Stadium (Washington, D.C.)when the white Major League clubs were on the road. The Grays traditionally outdrew their white counterparts, the cellar-dwelling Washington Senators."

(ed. note - "I can't help noting the fact that even in 1935 the Washington-based Senators baseball team was known as cellar-dwellars.") 

Today in DC's new Nationals Park the Nationals and Pirates paid tribute to the Homestead Grays from that first Negro National League season, with the Pirates donning the jerseys of the 1935 Grays, while the home team Nationals wore the1942 Grays' uniform, a year in which the Grays went to the Negro World Series and were swept by the Kansas City Monarchs in a series that, (according to baseball-reference.com's 1942 Negro World Series page):

"...featured future Hall of Fame performers Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Hilton Smith, Buck Leonard, Jud Wilson, Ray Brown and Willard Brown...was played in five different cities and was notable for the appearance of Paige in every single outing."

(ed. note - "Do yourself a favor and go read that baseball-reference.com link, it sounds like one interesting Series, with Satchel Paige allegedly walking the bases loaded to face Josh Gibson so he could strike him out on 3 pitches, Grays' Owner Cumberland Posey being accused of hiring "ringers" and Satchel Paige showing up late to Game 4..."):

"...(claiming to have been delayed by a traffic ticket in Lancaster, PA), and pitch(ing) hitless ball for the remaining 5 2/3 innings to gain his only win in a rough series, while Kansas City's bats came alive in crushing the Homestead pitching."

Game 4 of the '42 Negro World Series ended in a 9-5 Monarch's series-clinching win. Today in Washington, the 1942 Grays beat the 1935 Grays 9-8 to take two of the first three of a four game series at Nationals Park which ends with tomorrow afternoon's 1:35 PM tilt. 

Cristian Guzman was the star for the '42 Grays, going 4 for 5 with 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 runs scored and 6 RBI's to raise his season average to .303. Felipe Lopez was 2 for 4 with 3 runs scored, Austin Kearns 2 for 3 with an RBI and 2 walks, and Wily Mo Pena 2 for 4 with 1 R. The middle of the '35 Grays' order was an astonishing 12 for 21 with Jose Bautista hitting his 3rd HR in 3 games, and Xavier Nady 3 for 4 with 3 RBI's adding to his NL Leading total of 30. 

On the mound, Matt Chico once again struggled for the '42 Grays, lasting just 4.1 innings and giving up 8 hits, 5 runs, (4 of them earned), 3 walks and 1 HR, while striking out 4. '35 Grays' starter Paul Malholm didn't fare much better, earning the loss by allowing 10 hits and 7 ER's in 5.0 innings, with 3 walks, 2 K's and 1 HR surrendered. Jesus "Everyday" Colome, replaced Chico and pitched 1.2 scoreless for the Grays to earn the win, with The Tallest Pitcher in MLB History Jon Rauch getting the save:

"...The Tallest Pitcher in MLB History, Jon Rauch is on to save the game for the '42 Grays. Rauch gets a foul pop-out from Jose Bautista for the first out of the ninth. Rauch walks Ronnie Paulino on a full-count strike that's called a ball by this '35 Grays-favoring-ump...Nyjer Morgan pinch runs for Paulino, and immediately steals second on '42 Grays tired-armed catcher Paul Lo Duca...'35 Grays' pinch hitter Ryan Doumit hits a shallow fly for out number two...Rauch gets a ground ball from the next '35 Grays' batter Nate McLouth...Cristian Guzman fields and throws...IN TIME!! The '42 Grays win, the '42 GRAYS win!! 9-8 final...

DC's Homestead Grays now 4-0.

Nationals now 13-18.