MLB Ignores Negro Leagues, Part 94

Yesterday, the MLB Network social media accounts posted the following:

Those of you who follow me knew where I was going with this as soon as you saw it. The disclaimers – “single season” and “minimum 400 PA” are simply more ways in which MLB can continue its exclusion of Negro League greats from these discussions. (I’ve covered the hypocrisy of MLB saying, “Negro Leagues are Major Leagues!” only when it’s convenient for a merchandise cash grab or public relations photo op before here and here, so I’ll stick with this graphic for today.)

We all (should) know that Negro Leagues didn’t play 154 game schedules – due to segregation, not due to lack of desire – so Negro Leaguers weren’t able to accumulate 400 PA in a single season.

We also all (should) know that there were Negro League hitters good enough to reach the minimums of 400 PA and a 216 wRC+, albeit over consecutive seasons – which I might argue is harder to do.

To wit. (Again, with the giant caveat that I’m an old dude who’s not a great online researcher, and yet in less than five minutes I learned…)

Josh Gibson posted a 223 wRC+ over 1,205 PA from 1936 through 1943.

Mule Suttles posted a 219 wRC+ over 830 PA from 1926 through 1928.

Oscar Charleston posted a 231 wRC+ over 539 PA from 1924 through 1925.

Charlie Smith posted a 217 wRC+ over 449 PA from 1927 through 1929.

To be clear, if there were a distinction along the lines of “players who began their careers post-integration”, I’d be OK with a Judge and Bonds photo.

But if you’re going to tell me about Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Mickey Mantle (the AL wasn’t really integrated in the 50’s) and not mention Gibson, Suttles, Charleston, and Smith you’re being some combination of ignorant and intellectually lazy, at best.

There are many frustrating aspects to these continued exclusions, but perhaps the most frustrating part is that it takes work and effort to exclude the players in question. Actually including them in the conversation would require less effort. Segregation isn’t easy work, but MLB continually chooses that path anyway.

Just something for you to think about ongoing – when any MLB sanctioned broadcast puts up a graphic comparing today’s greats to greats of past generations, and there are no Negro League players mentioned, you should probably ask some questions.

Did I miss anything? Let me know. Leave a comment below or yell at me on social media @mybaseballpage1 on Twitter and/or the “My Baseball Page” on Facebook.

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