MLB to add Negro Leagues to the official record books

[superjohn]

This is one of the best stories/decisions I've seen in a long time, love this so much...

MLB reclassifies Negro Leagues as major league

Major League Baseball has reclassified the Negro Leagues as a major league and will count the statistics and records of its 3,400 players as part of MLB history.

www.espn.com

 

[superjohn]

 

[superjohn]

If you guys get a chance look up Cam Perron, he's the reason we got to this point. He was a 14 year old white kid in the Boston Suburbs and he started researching all the forgotten about black ballplayers, digging up any info he could, tracking them down for recognition and their MLB pensions they were owed. He became a part of the families of these old former ballplayers. He has been doing this for the last 10/11 years. It's an amazing story and there will be books and movies made about it.

 

[ColchVEGAS]

About time.

 

[uconnfan68]

Tried to google it, with no luck... how many HRs did Hank Aaron have playing in the Negro Leagues? Will they include his stats?

 

[Bomber36]

Tried to google it, with no luck... how many HRs did Hank Aaron have playing in the Negro Leagues? Will they include his stats?

The Howe Sports Bureau credits Aaron with a .366 batting average in 26 official Negro league games, with five home runs, 33 runs batted in (RBI), 41 hits, and nine stolen bases. (Wikipedia)

 

[navery12]

Tried to google it, with no luck... how many HRs did Hank Aaron have playing in the Negro Leagues? Will they include his stats?

He hit 9 HRs, but stats will only be counted through 1948 and his came later on so it's still Bonds

 

[JakeTheDog]

He hit 9 HRs, but stats will only be counted through 1948 and his came later on so it's still Bonds

Haven’t had a chance to read the article, but didn’t Josh Gibson hit like 830 home runs or something absurd like that?

 

[UCTitleTown]

So isn't Satchel Page one of the winningest pitchers now?

 

[Deepster]

So, are Steve Young’s and Herschel Walkers USFL stats included in their NFL totals too?

 

[Hi-Low]

So, are Steve Young’s and Herschel Walkers USFL stats included in their NFL totals too?

Was the NFL whites only when the USFL was in business? Kind of a dumb comparison don't you think?

 

[Samoo]

So, are Steve Young’s and Herschel Walkers USFL stats included in their NFL totals too?

Not until the NFL decides ita a good idea.

 

[Dove]

So, are Steve Young’s and Herschel Walkers USFL stats included in their NFL totals too?

Swing and a miss!!

 

[Scoe]

This is good to see. However I know what MLB is doing here.

 

[navery12]

Haven’t had a chance to read the article, but didn’t Josh Gibson hit like 830 home runs or something absurd like that?

 

[Chin Diesel]

If NFL wanted to merge USFL with NFL numbers that's their perogative. NBA did it was ABA stats even though the leagues had different rules (ABA had a 3-point shot, NBA didn't).

MLB combines AL and NL numbers even though one league has DH and other one doesn't.

At the end of the day, it's the leagues' decisions and in 40 years no one will care.

 

[lavuuk153]

Haven’t had a chance to read the article, but didn’t Josh Gibson hit like 830 home runs or something absurd like that?

I saw something that those totals include every game he played in including exhibitions, games against semi-pro teams, barnstorming (note: these might all be the same thing) as that is what they had to do to remain financially viable. It'd be like adding HR's for Ruth that he hit in Japan or during All Star games.

Also, the games weren't tracked as religiously as the AL/NL at that time, so they can only count stats that they can verify.

Of course the first thing I did was check to see if Aaron would overtake Bonds

 

[Deepster]

If NFL wanted to merge USFL with NFL numbers that's their perogative. NBA did it was ABA stats even though the leagues had different rules (ABA had a 3-point shot, NBA didn't).

MLB combines AL and NL numbers even though one league has DH and other one doesn't.

At the end of the day, it's the leagues' decisions and in 40 years no one will care.

Right. And my point is that anytime a league blurs those lines, it waters down the overall stat pool.

 

[superjohn]

Right. And my point is that anytime a league blurs those lines, it waters down the overall stat pool.

MLB was watered down until the 1950's. The Negro Leagues were always the Major Leagues, now it's just official.

 

[Deadrody]

If NFL wanted to merge USFL with NFL numbers that's their perogative. NBA did it was ABA stats even though the leagues had different rules (ABA had a 3-point shot, NBA didn't).

MLB combines AL and NL numbers even though one league has DH and other one doesn't.

At the end of the day, it's the leagues' decisions and in 40 years no one will care.

Much like this pointless virtue signalling from MLB.

 

[Spaceman213J]

I'm glad that it calls more attention to the Negro Leagues and it was a league full of pro's, but does this mean Oh's the Major League homerun king.

I'm sorry. Call me cynical, but it just feels kind of 'dirty' to me, like MLB is trying to 'whitewash' it's past. Celebrate the Negro League and it's stars. Educate young players and fans.

Baseball still has a major problem with getting the interest of young black athletes. This is what they should be addressing right now. Don't just say 'Yah, were including them decades way too late. Again, celebrate the league, the players and work on making baseball all of America's pastime. I'm glad if this move does, but I think in the long run, there is a chance it minimizes the struggle that many of the players went through. That can't ever be forgotten.

 

[Deepster]

MLB was watered down until the 1950's. The Negro Leagues were always the Major Leagues, now it's just official.

Well, again. By that logic, the NFL would be watered down until the USFL guys joined in.

 

[superjohn]

Well, again. By that logic, the NFL would be watered down until the USFL guys joined in.

No, the USFL was only around 3 years and was horrible in comparison to the NFL and the Negro Leagues were on equal footing with MLB. The NFL didn't ban all black players and ban all Latino players who had dark skin/looked black. You're trying to make some point here and all it's doing is making you look ignorant.

To answer your question the reason the USFL was destroyed and they aren't any part of the NFL is because of Donald Trump.

 

[ColchVEGAS]

I doubt many of the records will change too much. The Negro Leagues did a lot of barnstorming tours, which will be counted as exhibition games I would imagine and therefore not count towards professional records. Also the Negro Leagues only played 60+ games a year.

 

[Deepster]

No, the USFL was only around 3 years and was horrible in comparison to the NFL and the Negro Leagues were on equal footing with MLB. The NFL didn't ban all black players and ban all Latino players who had dark skin/looked black. You're trying to make some point here and all it's doing is making you look ignorant.

To answer your question the reason the USFL was destroyed and they aren't any part of the NFL is because of Donald Trump.

I guess the USFL was horrible. They still had Jim Kelly, Steve Young, Reggie White, Herschel Walker, Mike Rozier and Doug Williams. And the negro league were played in the 1890s to 1930's, where the quality of baseball was really high end. Guys pitching 330 innings on 3 days rest. 2-3 guys in the entire league hitting more than 12-13 hrs a year over fences 480 yds away and all.