True baseball historians have long known about the talents of Negro League players. Unfortunately, the general public has not been as familiar with them, thanks to the historical prejudices of Major League Baseball (MLB).
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Though the racism of the MLB can never be erased, it took a large step in acknowledging their wrongs by incorporating the stats of the Negro Leagues into their record books, putting greats such as Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, and Buck Leonard on equal footing as Major League legends such as Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Lou Gehrig.
And with the World Series just days away, let’s not forget about some of these Negro League legends that helped grow the sport just as much as any other MLB players.
Josh Gibson
Some call him the “Black Babe Ruth.” Others call Ruth the “Black Josh Gibson.” Whatever you know him as one thing is undeniably clear: He is one of the greatest hitters in Major League history. He is the all-time career and single-season leader in batting average, slugging percentage, and OPS (on-base plus slugging). He played for the Memphis Red Sox, Homestead Grays, and Pittsburgh Crawford during his career in the Negro Leagues.
Satchel Paige
No professional baseball played baseball for as long as Satchel Paige. The incredible right-handed pitcher played for nearly 40 years! In the Negro Leagues, Paige played for the Birmingham Black Barons, Cleveland Cubs, Pittsburgh Crawfords, Kansas City Monarchs, and the Memphis Red Sox. Paige is also the oldest player to debut in the MLB, playing for the then-Cleveland Indians in 1948 at 42 years old. His professional career did not end until he was 59, in 1965 with the Kansas City Athletics. He is third all-time in single-season ERA.
Buck Leonard
Buck Leonard and Josh Gibson helped complete one of the most dangerous hitting duos in Major League history. Buck Leonard played for the Homestead Grays for 17 years and helped lead them to three Negro World Series. He is eighth in all-time career batting average and seventh in all-time career OPS.
“Cool Papa” Bell
First and foremost, what an awesome nickname. Historians considered Bell to be the fastest baseball player in history, with one story claiming that he went around the entire base paths in 12 seconds. Bell played for several teams during his 20-year career, including the St. Louis Stars, Detroit Wolves, Kansas City Monarchs, Homestead Grays, Pittsburgh Crawfords, Memphis Red Sox and the Chicago American Giants.
Oscar Charleston
Charleston was an amazing all-around ball player, who hit for average, power, and had a great glove. He played baseball for 43 years, playing on Negro League squads such as the Indianapolis ABCs, Lincoln Stars, Richmond Giants, Chicago American Giants, Detroit Stars, St. Louis Giants, Harrisburg Giants, Hilldale Club, Homestead Grats, Pittsburgh Crawfords, Toledo Crawfords, Indianapolis Crawfords, and the Philadelphia Stars.
Turkey Stearnes
Although Josh Gibson was likely the most famous hitter in Negro League history, research suggests that Stearnes hit the most home runs in Negro League History. He is also fifth in all-time career slugging percentage and seventh in career batting average. Stearnes played for the Nashville Giants, Montgomery Grey Sox, Detroit Stars, New York Lincoln Giants, Kansas City Monarchs, Chicago American Giants, Philadelphia Stars, and the Detroit Stars.
John Henry “Pop” Lloyd
Considered to be the best shortstop in Negro League history, John Henry “Pop” Lloyd had speed and power to die for. Playing professionally for 27 years, Lloyd played on a plethora of teams, including the Cuban X-Giants, Philadelphia Giants, Leland Giants, Lincoln Giants, Chicago American Giants, Lincoln Stars, Brooklyn Royal Giants, Bacharach Giants, Columbus Buckeyes, Hilldale Club, and the Harlem Stars.
Willie Wells
Nicknamed “The Devil” for his incredible defense at shortstop, Wells was a great ball player who hit for power and average. He played for the St. Louis Giants, St. Louis Stars, Chicago American Giants, Detroit Wolves, Homestead Grays, Kansas City Monarchs, Newark Eagles, Birmingham Black Barons, New York Black Yankees, Baltimore Elite Giants, Indianapolis Clowns, and the Memphis Red Sox.
Ray Dandridge
Although Ray Dandridge wasn’t able to play professionally as long as other players on this list, he was still an amazing athlete. Dandridge was excellent at third base and was known for hitting for a high average. He played for the Indianapolis ABCs, Detroit Stars, Nashville Elite Giants, Newark Dodgers, and the Newark Eagles
Monte Irvin
Monte Irvin was an all-around athlete who played four sports in high school. He played in the Negro Leagues from 1938 to 1948 with the Newark Eagles. In 1949, he was called up to play in the Major Leagues with the New York Giants, with whom he won a World Series in 1954. His last year professional was with the Chicago Cubs in 1956.
Rube Foster
Considered the “father of Black baseball,” Foster was an incredible player and executive who helped organize the Negro National League, a force that was considered just as good as the MLB. As a player, he pitched to the Chicago Union Giants, Cuban X-Giants, Philadelphia Giants, Leland Giants, Chicago American Giants, and the Louisville White Sox.
Judy Johnson
Johnson was not quite the power hitter like others on this list, instead opting to take more of a contact approach. He was a great defensive player at third base, playing professionally for 17 years on teams such as the Hilldale Club, Homestead Grays, Pittsburgh Crawfords, and the New York Cubans.
Biz Mackey
Not to be confused with Biz Markie, Mackey was one of the best catchers in Negro League history (behind Josh Gibson). He won two Negro World Series and played for several squads, including the San Antonio Black Aces, St. Lois Giants, Indianapolis ABCs, Hilldale Daisies, Philadelphia Royal Giants, Baltimore Black Sox, Pittsburgh Crawfords, Philadelphia Stars, Newark Dodgers, Washington Elite Giants, Baltimore Elite Giants and the Newark Eagles.
Bill Foster
The half-brother of Rube Foster, Bill was also a talented baseball player as a left-handed pitcher with the Memphis Red Sox, Chicago American Giants, Birmingham Black Barons, Homestead Grays, Kansas City Monarchs, and the Pittsburgh Crawfords.
Martín Dihigo
Before Shohei Ohtani, there was Martín Dihigo. Playing in the Negro and Latin American leagues, Dihigo was a two-way player — a second baseman and a pitcher who also could play every position on the diamond. He played for the Cuban Stars, Homestead, Grays, Hilldale Giants and the New York Cubans.
Smokey Joe Williams
Though he wasn’t quite as famous as Satchel Paige, some considered Smokey Joe Williams to be better. He was an excellent right-handed pitcher who played professionally for 25 years on teams like the San Antonio Black Bronchos, Chicago Giants, New York Lincoln Giants, Schenectady Mohawk Giants, Chicago American Giants, Atlantic City Bacharach Giants, Hilldale Club, Brooklyn Royal Giants, Homestead Grays and the Detroit Wolves.
”Bullet” Joe Rogan
Like Martín Dihigo, “Bullet Joe” was also a two-way player who excelled as a pitcher and outfielder. He played for the Kansas City Monarchs from 1920 to 1938.
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