The Five: Great Negro League Ball Players Who Never Got to Play Major League Ball

This Week on The Five:  Negro League Ballplayers Who Didn’t Make the Jump But Could Have

The success of the film ’42’ has introduced a new generation of fans to the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson.  It was also sparked a renewed interest in The Negro Leagues, where Robinson played for The Kansas City Monarchs in the mid 40s.  Jackie Robinson is the most famous of the Negro League alumni, but there were others who were just as, if not more so, talented that, sadly, never got a chance to play Major League Baseball.  Here’s five of the best.

. . .

* * *

• Josh Gibson. Considered by many to be one of the greatest catchers and power hitters of all-time, Gibson was a 10-time All-Star in 16 seasons in the Negro Leagues. Often called ‘The Black Babe Ruth’, Gibson’s homers are the stuff of legend. There were claims that he’s the only player to hit a home run completely out of Yankee Stadium and former Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith said that Gibson hit more shots in his stadium’s distant left field bleachers than the entire American League. A brain tumor, mental illness and a rumored drug problem plagued him late in his career. Josh Gibson died of a stroke just three months before Jackie Robinson broke the MLB color barrier. He was only 35. Gibson was elected to The Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1972.
• Buck Leonard. If Josh Gibson was ‘The Black Babe Ruth’, then Buck Leonard was ‘The Black Lou Gehrig’. As teammates, the Homestead Grays won 9 straight Negro National League championships with Leonard either leading the league or finishing second to Gibson in home runs. A 12 time All-Star, Leonard was a lifetime .320 hitter. In 1972, Buck Leonard was honored along with Gibson into The Baseball Hall Of Fame.
• Cool Papa Bell. Along with having one of the greatest names in baseball history, James ‘Cool Papa’ Bell was the blueprint of the quintessential center fielder. Bell had blinding speed (he is recorded to have run around the bases in an astonishing 12 seconds) and was an outstanding hitter. Bell finished his career with a lifetime batting average of .337. Bell would later mentor future big leaguers (and Hall Of Famers) Ernie Banks, Jackie Robinson and Elston Howard. Cool Papa Bell was inducted in The Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1974.
• Oscar Charleston. In a league that was loaded with talent, Oscar Charleston had the skill and the ability to match up with anyone in professional baseball. Using fierce intensity and extraordinary versatility, Charleston’s on field prowess drew comparisons to Ty Cobb. He would later go on to manage several Negro League teams. Oscar Charleston was elected to The Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1976.
• Smokey Williams. One of the most dominant pitchers of the early 20th Century, Williams was said to have thrown dozens of no-hitters, including one against The New York Giants in an exhibition game. Struck out 27 Kansas City Monarchs in a 12 inning 1-0 win – at the age of 44. When matched up against Hall Of Fame pitchers Grover Alexander, Chief Bender, Waite Hoyt, Walter Johnson and Rube Marquard in exhibition games, Williams won each game. Smokey Williams was named to the Baseball Hall Of Fame by The Veterans Committee in 1999.

* * *

Legend Behind the Plate:  The Josh Gibson Story

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJL-2akceR8]

.

Baseball Hall of Fame Biographies:  Cool Papa Bell

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC2c-Nkt8jQ]

.

Oscar Charleston Biography

.

Baseball Hall of Fame Biographies:  Smokey Williams

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6qeRM6L_HU]

.