The landscape of MLB history took a dramatic shift on Wednesday with the integration of Negro League stats into the MLB database. And while many of these Negro league players who will be shown are already either in the Hall of Fame or well-known, this will enhance the image of MLBbros collectively. For starters, three of the top five leaders in batting average are now MLBbros, including Josh Gibson first overall. So many different narratives will now have to come into play when discussing all-time greats.
Naturally talents like Josh Gibson will now be debated as the greatest hitter ever with context to support it, but there will be so many more that are appreciated. For baseball historians this gives a whole new flock of players to learn about and appreciate. Players like Oscar Charleston and Jud Wilson are sure to be examined closely as their hitting resumes are impressive and now in full display.
This also changes the legacies of players who converted from the Negro Leagues such as Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson who saw their hits total increase by ten and 49 respectively. This could not have come at a better time as the percentage of Black players is at an all-time low. This is inspiring and should spark more involvement and interest for future black players and current ones. Every sport has icons of the past that young players use to model their game after and now there is easier access to Black players who weren’t in the Major Leagues but still proven to be some of the greatest baseball players of all time. There is sure to be pushback with the addition of these stats, as some players will drop in career rankings, but if the ultimate goal of the MLB is to completely display the entire history of baseball, then this was a necessity. This is further proving the Black and Brown players have and always will be integral to the game of baseball.
The essence of MLBbro.com is to make sure that baseball fans understand and not forget the contributions of black players in past history of the sport and how well they are flourishing in today’s game.
Decades before MLBbro icon Jackie Robinson accomplished the amazing feat of crossing the color barrier in Major League Baseball, he was one of many black baseball players in their own way going back to after the Civil War by traveling around the country taking on teams in the mid to late 1800s.
It was in 1920 when the National Negro League started that formed into seven different leagues of Negro League history over a 30-year period where the path to the major leagues really took shape. Sadly, this era is overlooked particularly in Philadelphia where the Philadelphia Stars had much success in the Negro Leagues starting in 1934 under the leadership of Ed Bolden.
Chuck D of the iconic Hip Hop group, Public Enemy took to social media to show the mural honoring the Philadelphia Stars located in West Philly on Belmont and Parkside Avenues. This is where the stadium they played in was located but back when the Stars played, it was known as 44th and Parkside. In 1943, the Stars began playing their Monday night home games in Shibe Park up in North Philly. This stadium was home to the Philadelphia Phillies and The Philadelphia A’s but neither of those teams played at home on Mondays.
The Oscar Charleston mentioned in the video managed the club from 1941 to 1942. He’s one of the four players in the Hall of Fame who are attached at some time of their career with the Stars. The others are Biz Mackey, who played from 1933-1935, Jud Wilson, who played from 1933-1939 and even managed the team in 1937. Satchel Paige who stands far and away the most famous player in that franchise and arguably the Negro Leagues played two stints with the Stars in 1946 and 1950.
However, none of these players is donning a Philadelphia Stars hat on their plaque which makes murals like the one Chuck D is showing all the more important. But that’s not the first time that this Negro League team was honored in the city of Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Phillies honored the Stars on Jackie Robinson day on April 15th, 2021, with a Philadelphia Stars display at their home field, Citizens Bank Park in the Suite Level Lobby of the stadium.
The display shows graphics highlighting the Philadelphia Stars from the era with a special information panel providing the history called “The Story of the Philadelphia Stars.” The unveiling also honored Jackie Robinson on his special day celebrated throughout the majors. Along with Robinson, two other local players named Judy Johnson from the Hilldale club and Roy Campanella, who played for the Baltimore Elite Giants and Philadelphia Stars before becoming well known with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Sadly, when Robinson finally made it to the Major Leagues in 1952, more and more players followed him and started starring in the National and American Leagues. That left the Negro League franchises in financial turmoil including the Stars, who disbanded after the season the same year. In 1958, the Negro Leagues finally went under and folded.
The good news is that the city of Philadelphia will continue to keep the Stars legacy alive. The old stadium named Penmar Park where the Stars played now has a memorial celebrating the history of the franchise, which is amazing in the era where franchises are potentially moving to different cities and building stadiums.
Recent Comments