Baseball History: The top ten Negro Leagues players of all time

KANSAS CITY, MO - APRIL 11: (L-R) David Robinson, actor Chadwick Boseman, actor Harrison Ford and producer Thomas Tull present a jersey used in the film to the president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Bob Kendrick attend the special screening at AMC Barrywoods on April 11, 2013 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - APRIL 11: (L-R) David Robinson, actor Chadwick Boseman, actor Harrison Ford and producer Thomas Tull present a jersey used in the film to the president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Bob Kendrick attend the special screening at AMC Barrywoods on April 11, 2013 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images)
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8. Ray Dandridge

There were few players that really compared to Ray Dandridge as a player.

A brilliant defensive player, Dandridge was the type of player that teams would have loved to have at short. However, the presence of the great Willie Wells meant that, in order for Dandridge to be in the lineup, he had to move to third. He handled the position with aplomb, becoming the greatest defensive third baseman in the history of the Negro Leagues.

However, Dandridge was far more than a defensive stalwart. He was a great hitter as well, combining excellent bat control and speed. At a time when third base was considered a defensive position, Dandridge proved that excellent offensive players could man the hot corner without issue.

Unlike many of the players on this list, Dandridge did have a look once integration came about. Although he was 35 years old, he signed with the New York Giants, but did not find his way to the majors. Considering that he produced a .312/.351/.412 batting line in his four years in the International League, one could say that he was a strong enough player to have deserved a look.

Ray Dandridge was true star, his combination of offensive and defensive skills at third may be unmatched to this day. Although he did get signed by a major league team, it happened too late for him to see how he would have fared in the majors.