Names of those who played in integrated organized white leagues are boldfaced, and those who played in integrated major leagues are also italicized. Then from 1978 to 1995, the Hall of Fame elected only two Negro Leaguers (Rube Foster, an early pitcher and founder of the Negro National League, and Ray Dandridge). https://thegruelingtruth.com/baseball/top-10-negro-league-players-time Not even Yadier Molina takes as many trips to the mound as we are in this long series of … Day passed away in 1995 just six days after finding out he was to be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in the Class of ‘95. Unfortunately, Gibson also had many off-the-field issues. I turned around and saw the ball hit his ass sliding into second." Robert Scott Former Negro League Pitcher, Union. Tall right-hander Satchel Paige is probably the most famous Negro Leagues player of all time, and with good reason: According to Seamheads, he was their all-time leader in pitching … He threw as hard as, if not harder than Paige. As both a manager and player, Charleston reached Cooperstown in 1976. But he was also compared to Ruth for his power. The Giants, who played three converted outfielders at third base during this time (Sid Gordon, Hank Thompson, Bobby Thomson), never called him up. However, he is often regarded for his 1925 season in Pittsburgh, when he hit a .451 average along with 20 home runs — a total that was incredibly rare for anyone not named Babe Ruth. A switch hitter with excellent bat control, Bell was known for his bunting which would more times than not lead to extra bases. Charleston played very shallow in center field, so much so that he would be positioned right behind the second baseline. Among major league pitchers with at least 150 innings, he ranked fourth in ERA those two years and fifth in strikeouts per nine innings. As his image grew, Paige enjoyed the attention of making special appearances around the country jumping from team-to-team, even occasionally appearing on all-white semi-professional clubs. Pitcher: “Smokey” Joe Williams, New York Lincoln Giants / Homestead Grays. See more of Robert Scott Former Negro League Pitcher on Facebook. Satchel Paige, one of the greatest pitchers of all time, made his Major League Baseball debut on this day in 1948. Not Buck Leonard. Troy Tulowitzki? I didn't see anyone better than Day. This list consists of players who have appeared in Negro league baseball.. -- Paige. He was also a founding member of the Negro Leagues… While it certainly sounds exaggerated, there appears to be merit in Paige’s story because one of the rooms they shared ended up having a short circuit. Pronunciation of Bill Blair (Negro Leagues pitcher) with and more for Bill Blair (Negro Leagues pitcher). Blackball Stars Negro League Pitchers by John Hulway, unknown edition, Blackball Stars Negro League Pitchers (October 21, 1989 edition) | Open Library Donate ♥ Bill Veeck called Gibson the best hitter he ever saw. A 1952 poll of longtime Negro League players picked Smokey Joe Williams as the best pitcher. Announcement. Unlike Mahlon Duckett, the last surviving member of the Philadelphia Stars, I'm not a Negro Leagues expert. He pitched for another four seasons in the big leagues and was selected to two All-Star teams before he returned to the minor leagues for another 20 years. I keep my thumb off the ball and use three fingers. He played three seasons with Memphis through 1932. Executive Producer - ZU Radio/ZU Podcast/ZU TV. Co., ©2013. Collapse. “If I was going to pick a man to throw hard, I’d have to pick Joe Williams,” former Negro Leaguer Sam Streeter said. Negro’s were not allowed to mix with white people in most, if not all social settings, including on the baseball field. Negro Leagues historian John Holway lists Gibson third all-time among players with at least 2,000 at-bats, with a .351 average and second in home runs (with 223) to Mule Suttles (237) -- although first in home runs/at-bats by a wide margin. Quote: "You should have seen Willie Wells play shortstop: as good as Ozzie Smith and a better hitter." His barnstorming American Giants were known all over the country through their winter tours to California and Florida and traveled big-league style in private railroad cars. … Collapse. The Catonsville widow of Baltimore Negro Leagues star Leon Day hopes a new Negro Leagues exhibit in Northeast Baltimore will help raise the pitcher’s profile — … Quote: "I played with Willie Mays and against Hank Aaron. There was no need for him to act the clown.". He was sort of a hybrid of Ozzie Smith and George Brett, although he didn't have Brett's power. Pitcher: “Smokey” Joe Williams, New York Lincoln Giants / Homestead Grays. He threw a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Stars, the only one of his career. This page is dedicated to the memory of former New York Black Yankees pitcher Robert Scott. Bullet Joe Rogan probably had a better curveball. He remained one of the league's biggest stars into his 40s. Quote: "Ozzie's the onliest guy I've seen who's got my style." Connie Mack said you couldn't go wrong with either player. Subjects: Pitchers (Baseball) > United States > … My whips-dipsy-do is a special fork ball I throw underhand and sidearm that slithers and sinks. Negro Leagues legend Buck O’Neil once stated Charleston “was like Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and Tris Speaker rolled into one.” The reason he made this observation was his completeness as a ballplayer. No, bill Blair died on 04/20/2014, 6 years ago. Log In. In James' historical abstract, he presents many quotes praising Charleston's abilities and suggestions that he was the equal of Cobb or Speaker or Ruth -- or better. Bill James Ranking of Negro League position players (no pitchers were ranked separately). Forgot account? Monte Irvin is one of the Negro League players who played in the major leagues for an extended period of time after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, but never played in the MLB during his prime years. A bit off topic, but as a KC area native, if you are ever in Kansas City the Negro League baseball museum is … Not bad for a guy who turned 47 during the 1953 season. Their games often drew crowds that rivaled those of the major leagues— and many players’ skillset also rivaled MLB talent. They would make all kinds of contortions and grimaces, anything that would entertain the fans. At one point, he was part of the "million dollar infield" for the Newark Eagles along with Dandridge, Suttles and second baseman Dick Seay. So you have a guy with Stargell's power who played center field? Comparable major leaguer: Carl Yastrzemski. Ted ‘Double Duty’ Radcliffe passes away at 103 years of age. As Posnanski wrote in this essay, when the Hall of Fame started inducting Negro Leaguers in 1971, Stearnes believed he'd get the call. No announcement yet. These guys are all Hall of Famers as well ... Smokey Joe Williams, RHP: As mentioned, some considered him better than Paige. Quote: "Baseball historians concur that Lloyd was one of the greatest black players ever, but Babe Ruth, in response to a question by announcer Graham McNamee, eliminated the color distinction when he stated that Lloyd was his choice as the greatest baseball player of all time." Reid was the voice of the Bismarck Larks in the Northwoods Collegiate Baseball League during the summer of 2019, calling over 70 games. In February 2006, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Judy Johnson, 3B: If Dandridge isn't the best third baseman in Negro Leagues history, then Johnson would be. Perhaps the meanest pitcher in Negro League history, Bill Drake was nicknamed “Plunk” because he got a kick out of low-bridging batters. He was a pitcher and second baseman for Dunbar High School and played in Unlimited and Double-A Fastpitch baseball leagues in his young adult years. Don Newcombe told the story of Gibson hitting a double and pulling up to second base, saying he was looking for potatoes he had planted there the night before. As Bill James pointed out, however, in "The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract," Paige is always the frame of reference, similar to how every major leaguer's fastball was once compared with Walter Johnson's. Donaldson died in 1970 and, as was the case with many black baseball players during the era, one of the game's greatest pitchers was buried under an unmarked grave. In his SABR bio, Ralph Berger writes, "In the Negro National League, first basemen were often the clowns of the teams. Log In. On February 4, 1971, 45 years ago today, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn announced that former Negro League players will have a separate wing in the Hall of Fame. The Negro Leagues in all of its historical relevance helped grow a game that was at the time considered the most popular in the United States and is still regarded as the country’s national pastime. Major League Baseball announced this week the 1920-1948 Negro Leagues was recognized as … In 1951, he hit .324. The Baby Braves might be ready ahead of schedule, Real or Not? Comparable major leaguer: Johnny Bench, but a better hitter. Dick Perez Sports Art . The next year, he hit .291. The Catonsville widow of Baltimore Negro Leagues star Leon Day hopes a new Negro Leagues exhibit in Northeast Baltimore will help raise the pitcher’s profile — … He won two league batting titles and a Triple Crown during his time in the Mexican Leagues in the mid-1940s. Today we … Preserving Negro League history and legacy has long-been a matter of great importance for Banks. Lloyd's early years came before the Negro Leagues became organized in 1920 with the creation of the Negro National League. Hall of Fame Approves Election Process for Negro Leagues and Pre-Negro Leagues Candidates The players below are some of the most notable of those who played Negro league baseball, beginning with the codification of baseball's color line barring African American players (about 1892), past the re-integration in 1946 of the sport, up until the Negro leagues finally expired about 1962. Is Bill Blair still alive? Eugene F. Smith (April 23, 1916 – May 25, 2011) was an American pitcher who played for several Negro league baseball teams between 1938 and 1951.Listed at 6' 1", 185 lb., Smith was a switch hitter and threw right-handed. From the Strat-O-Matic website: “For the first time, Negro League players are rated so accurately they can carry the Strat-O-Matic name. “I’d pick him over all of them. -- Dandridge. series, we will conclude the list in this piece with our selections for the outfield and pitching rotation. 2 Personen sprechen darüber. Quote: "I only wish I could have played in the big leagues when I was young enough to show what I could do. Comparable major leaguer: Jim Thome, except that Suttles hit right-handed. However, before his death in 1952, he showed no bitterness toward his injustice saying, “The important thing is that the long fight against the ban has been lifted. William Blair (October 17, 1921 – April 20, 2014) was a Negro league pitcher.1 Blair graduated Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas and briefly attended Prairie View A&M University. Co. edition, in English Continuing on with our Negro Leagues: An All-Time Team series, we will conclude the list in this piece with our selections for the outfield and pitching rotation. Some Negro League pitchers, like George Harney of the Chicago American Giants, threw saliva-covered sinkers and sandpaper balls on almost every pitch. Quote: "Yes, he talked to his bats. You can find some numbers at Baseball-Reference.com, although those may differ from other published accounts.). Great pitchers of the Negro Leagues by Paul Hoblin, 2013, ABDO Pub. While he was considered a very good pinch hitter and a solid bat, his arm earned him high praise. Stearnes tended to think of his bats as living things, extensions of his own arms, and he would carry the best of them around in violin cases. Nevertheless, that story continues to be used to visualize the speed of Cool Papa. It was a publicity stunt concocted by Charlie Finley ... but Paige threw three scoreless innings. Blackball Stars Negro League Pitchers by John Hulway, October 21, 1989, Random House Value Publishing edition, Hardcover in English He would eventually pitch his final game for the Athletics back in the majors at the age of 59 before finally finishing. Ich-i-ro!' SportsZONE. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. Stearnes died in 1979 and was finally elected to the Hall in 2000. Walter “the Georgia Rabbit” or “the Black Diamond” Ball. A longtime star in the Negro leagues, Paige was no ordinary rookie. Mentioned in MLB circles, Ty Cobb once called the caliber of Williams as, “a sure-30 game-winner in the Major Leagues.” Williams never got the opportunity to compete in the big leagues, as he retired in 1932. He even made a one-game cameo with the Kansas City A's in 1965, when he was 59. Comparable major leaguers: Tris Speaker, Willie Mays. or. Evaluating More Negro Leagues Pitchers, Part 7. Researchers haven't been able to verify whether he hit a home run completely out of Yankee Stadium in 1930, but they did unearth contemporary accounts of a 480-foot home run -- that Gibson hit when he was just 18. Comparable major leaguer: There really isn't a similar player. Dandridge could hit, he had speed and he was a tremendous third baseman who could have played shortstop except that he was a teammate of Hall of Famer Willie Wells. The next year he hit .311/.355/405 with 11 home runs and was named league MVP. Satchel Paige is well-known for his rise through the Negro Leagues to his eventual ascension to Major League Baseball. The most famous story is Satchel Paige’s recollection of staying in a hotel room with Bell. Curveball and a fastball at least 90 to 95 miles an hour in 1950 Goose! 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