An historic injustice, long overdue for remediation, finally corrected.
Star players like Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige and other stars of the Kansas City Monarchs, Homestead Grays, Detroit Stars would have been stars in the National League and American League, so that players like Ty Cobb (the “Georgia Peach,” an outspoken Southern racist), Cy Young, Babe Ruth and others whose stats were inflated because they never had to compete against the superstars like Gibson, Paige and others that dominated the old Nëgro Leagues, and instead got to play against weaker, watered-down talent that took the places that should have gone to those superstars. In like manner, the Nëgro League stats were inflated because they, too, did not have the chance to face the best talent in the American and National Leagues. Both white and black superstars were denied the opportunity to prove their talents against a full field of top talent until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier.
It is only fitting and proper that the Nëgro Leagues also be accorded full major league status, equal with the National and American Leagues, because its players were of fully equal or greater skill and ability than those in the watered-down white leagues who never had to compete against them. (In exhibition competition between National League, American League and Nëgro Leagues teams, the even balance in outcomes over the years proves that they were of equal talent and skill).
Justice has been long in coming — too long (justice delayed has been justice denied for the Nëgro League players who did not live to see this day) — but it is good that at least the historical record will now be a more honest and complete accounting of baseball history.
An historic injustice, long overdue for remediation, finally corrected.
Star players like Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige and other stars of the Kansas City Monarchs, Homestead Grays, Detroit Stars would have been stars in the National League and American League, so that players like Ty Cobb (the “Georgia Peach,” an outspoken Southern racist), Cy Young, Babe Ruth and others whose stats were inflated because they never had to compete against the superstars like Gibson, Paige and others that dominated the old Nëgro Leagues, and instead got to play against weaker, watered-down talent that took the places that should have gone to those superstars. In like manner, the Nëgro League stats were inflated because they, too, did not have the chance to face the best talent in the American and National Leagues. Both white and black superstars were denied the opportunity to prove their talents against a full field of top talent until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier.
It is only fitting and proper that the Nëgro Leagues also be accorded full major league status, equal with the National and American Leagues, because its players were of fully equal or greater skill and ability than those in the watered-down white leagues who never had to compete against them. (In exhibition competition between National League, American League and Nëgro Leagues teams, the even balance in outcomes over the years proves that they were of equal talent and skill).
Justice has been long in coming — too long (justice delayed has been justice denied for the Nëgro League players who did not live to see this day) — but it is good that at least the historical record will now be a more honest and complete accounting of baseball history.