Rickwood Area in Birmingham, AL holds the consideration of being the oldest skilled baseball diamond in America. With out it, we might have by no means seen lots of the Black baseball stars to grace the sport each within the Negro Leagues and Main League Baseball.
Everybody is aware of Jackie Robinson’s story however there are such a lot of different Black gamers from that point who by no means obtained the popularity they deserve. These are a number of the pioneers we need to give attention to and provides the highlight at this time. Among the names it’s possible you’ll be conversant in and others not as a lot.
There are those that performed close to this time however by no means participated within the Negro Leagues however gave their full help, like Jim “Mudcat” Grant. Mudcat co-authored The Black Aces, a e book that highlights a prestigious group of black pitchers who have been 20-game winners of which Grant is one.
For Black baseball in America it began at Rickwood Area, and on June 20, 2024, when the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants meet they are going to be paying homage to every part this stadium stands for. Immediately we’re honoring those that blazed a path to make manner for a lot of African American ball gamers to comply with of their footsteps.
1. Josh Gibson – Homestead Grays (Pittsburgh Crawfords & Memphis Crimson Sox)
By far one of the well-known Negro League gamers, Gibson spent most of his profession with the Grays. Final month Negro League stats have been built-in into Main League Baseball data and Gibson formally turned the holder of a number of data together with profession batting chief passing Ty Cobb, and profession slugging chief previously held by Babe Ruth.
2. Turkey Stearnes – Detroit Stars (a number of groups)
Nicknamed “Turkey” for operating across the bases like one, Norman Stearnes was a participant and supervisor throughout his Negro League profession. Stearnes spent his most efficient years enjoying for and managing (one season) the Detroit Stars and has been known as the Ricky Henderson of his time. Stearnes was often known as top-of-the-line leadoff hitters within the Negro Leagues.
3. Buck O’Neil – Kansas Metropolis Monarchs (Memphis Crimson Sox)
Buck O’Neil performed 10 seasons within the Negro Leagues primarily with the Kansas Metropolis Monarchs and the franchise gained the 1942 Negro World Collection. In 1948, O’Neil spent his last yr as a player-coach with the Monarchs made it to the Negro American League Championship Collection.
4. Oscar Charleston – Pittsburgh Crawfords, Homestead Grays
Charleston performed on and managed a number of groups throughout his time within the Negro Leagues. As a child, Charleston was a bat boy for his hometown Indianapolis ABC’s whom he would later play for.
5. Buck Leonard – Homestead Grays
Walter Leonard, higher often known as “Buck,” performed all 14 of his Negro League campaigns with the Homestead Grays. Leonard hit over .300 in 12 of his 14 seasons as knowledgeable ball participant. After being out of the sport for a number of years, he was supplied an MLB contract in 1952 however turned it down as he knew he was in his personal phrases “over the hill.”
6. Mule Suttles – Newark Eagles & Birmingham Black Barons
Mule Suttles loved a 21-year professional profession (with a number of groups) together with two spent as a player-manager for the Newark Eagles. Suttles was a five-time All-Star and triple-crown winner.
7. Monte Irvin – Newark Eagles
Monte Irvin performed 10 years within the Negro League. He was thought-about a flexible participant and thought of by many to be one of the best participant within the league. Had it been as much as many within the Negro League, Irvin would have damaged the colour line, not Jackie Robinson. Regardless, Irvin wound up crossing over to MLB in 1949, two years after Robinson.
8. Leon Day – Newark Eagles
Whereas Leon Day made his rounds on a number of Negro League rosters, the majority of his profession was spent as a Newark Eagle. In 1946, Day helped the Eagles win a Negro League World Championship.
9. Dan Bankhead – Birmingham Black Barons
Dan Bankhead is remembered for being the primary African American pitcher in MLB however earlier than that, he spent the early a part of his profession enjoying at Rickwood Area for the Black Barons.
10. Willie Mays – Birmingham Black Barons
Each baseball fan is aware of Willie Mays is among the biggest gamers ever to grace a Main League diamond. However what some might not have identified is the “Say Hey Child” performed for the Barons in 1948 getting his first style {of professional} motion as a ball participant.
11. Jimmy Newberry – Birmingham Black Barons
Often called “Schoolboy” Newberry is primarily acknowledged for his time within the Negro League as one of many Black Barons of Birmingham.
12. Lorenzo “Piper” Davis – Birmingham Black Barons
Had it not been for “Piper” Davis, we might have by no means identified of Willie Mays as it’s stated Lorenzo is the one who found him. Davis led the Barons at Rickwood Area as a player-manager earlier than changing into the primary Black participant for the Boston Crimson Sox.
13. Don “Newk” Newcombe – Newark Eagles (Black Aces)
Newk started his profession within the Negro Leagues earlier than transitioning to MLB the place in 1951 he turned the primary member of the Black Aces successful 20 video games. Newcombe achieved this honor thrice successful 20+ video games in ’51, 55 and 56.
14. Sam Jones – Cleveland Buckeyes (Black Aces)
Sam Jones’ profession spanned greater than twenty years enjoying within the Negro League, MLB, and different leagues throughout the Caribbean. Jones was the second member of the Black Aces membership successful 21 video games in 1959 and he was the primary African American pitcher to report a no-hitter in ’55.
15. Satchel Paige – Birmingham Black Barons
This Corridor of Famer started his profession as a part of the Black Barons, spending his first 4 years within the execs enjoying for this legendary squad. Amongst all his accolades, Paige turned the primary African American pitcher to pitch within the MLB World Collection.
16. Rube Foster – Chicago American Giants & Cuban X Giants
Andrew “Rube” Foster was often known as the “Father of Black baseball” as a triple garnering success as a participant, supervisor and govt. Foster can also be credited as one of many driving forces behind the beginning of the Negro Nationwide League.
17. Cool Papa Bell – St. Louis Stars & Homestead Grays
James Thomas Bell performed for a number of groups over his prolonged profession and was affectionately often known as “Cool Papa.” Bell’s pace was legendary. A lot in order that Jesse Owens, the quickest man on this planet throughout the1930s allegedly refused to race Bell.
18. Mamie Johnson – Indianapolis Clowns
Mamie Johnson is called the primary feminine pitcher to play within the Negro League. She was signed by the Indianapolis Clowns in 1953, and performed with the crew from 1953 to 1955, the place she boasted a 33–8 win loss report.
19. Toni Stone – Indianapolis Clowns & Kansas Metropolis Monarchs
Marcenia Lyle “Toni” Stone was the primary feminine baseball participant to play as an everyday in a males’s skilled league. Stone additionally occurred to be the participant to switch Henry Hank Aaron when he left Indy for Milwaukee and his begin in MLB.
20. Connie Morgan – Indianapolis Clowns
Connie Morgan got here alongside behind Mamie Johnson and Toni Stone to turn into the third girl to play within the Negro League. Recognized to be a constant fielder and batter, she hit round .300 in accordance with the Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame.
