The Negro Leagues played an important part in baseball history before integration. Who were the best players to set foot on the diamond during that era?
The pre integration era is a dark spot in baseball history. After the efforts of Cap Anson following the 1884 season, making certain that Fleet Walker and Welday Walker were no longer allowed to play in the majors, an unofficial color line came into being. It took another 63 years before Jackie Robinson broke through, ending segregation in baseball once and for all.
However, during that time, black players were able to find their way to the diamond, playing in their own games. The Negro Leagues came into being, with some of the best players that the game had ever seen taking the field in these contests. Players were noted for their skill and ability on the diamond, with major leaguers lamenting that these players were unable to be a part of their league.
Although record keeping was shoddy during that time, the legacy of those players endured. From their exhibition contests to the word of mouth from those who saw the games, those players are still the stuff of legend. Some of the greatest players ever to set foot on the diamond took part in these games, their accomplishments equal to, or greater than, their major league counterparts.
Those exploits have been recognized in baseball history as well. There are currently 35 former Negro Leaguers in the MLB Hall of Fame, a number that may still increase over time. The majority of these players were never able to play in the majors due to that unofficial ban, but their greatness was still evident.
Let us take a stroll back through baseball history and look at the ten greatest players from the Negro Leagues.