Major League Baseball officially acknowledges the Negro Leagues as an equivalent to major leagues
In a landmark decision, Major League Baseball (MLB) has officially elevated the Negro Leagues to the status of a Major League, recognizing the achievements and statistics of around 3,400 players who played from 1920 to 1948. This reverses a 1969 ruling that excluded the Negro Leagues from being considered "major leagues," a status that had marginalized these players and their accomplishments for decades.
The Negro Leagues, which consisted of seven distinct leagues over a 28-year span, served as a top-tier organization for Black ballplayers due to MLB's exclusionary practices. Notable talents such as Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and Oscar Charleston graced the Negro Leagues, and their contributions are now officially part of the MLB historical record.
Josh Gibson, for instance, now holds the highest lifetime batting average in MLB history (.372), surpassing recognized stars like Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth, due to the inclusion of his Negro League statistics. Satchel Paige's remarkable pitching records have also been integrated into the official MLB historical record.
Beyond statistics, this recognition represents a meaningful acknowledgement of the historic racial segregation in baseball and serves to honor the legacy and significant contributions of Black players who were previously excluded from MLB due to the colour barrier. It also helps to broaden understanding and appreciation of baseball’s full history and diversity.
The announcement was made during the centennial celebration of the Negro Leagues, and it is a significant step in acknowledging the contributions of Black players in baseball history. In fact, 84 players currently enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown played in the Negro Leagues.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred stated that the players of the Negro Leagues will be recognized as Major Leaguers within the official historical record. This decision is "profoundly gratifying," according to John Thorn, MLB's official historian, who described denying the Negro Leagues Major League status as a "double penalty."
Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, expressed joy over the recognition, stating that it serves as historical validation for players who were shunned from the Major Leagues. The Negro Leagues helped change the game and the country, according to Kendrick, and this official recognition is a testament to their impact on the sport of baseball.
References:
[1] Major League Baseball (2020). Major League Baseball Elevates Negro Leagues to Major League Status. [online] Available at: https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-elevates-negro-leagues-to-major-league-status
[2] Associated Press (2020). Baseball elevates Negro Leagues to major league status. [online] Available at: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30547509/baseball-elevates-negro-leagues-major-league-status
[3] New York Times (2020). Baseball Elevates Negro Leagues to Major League Status. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/sports/baseball/negro-leagues-major-league.html
[4] Sports Illustrated (2020). Major League Baseball Elevates Negro Leagues to Major League Status. [online] Available at: https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/06/03/mlb-negro-leagues-elevated-major-league-status-josh-gibson-satchel-paige-stats-records-included
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