Negro Leaguers and the Hall of Fame

SABR member Steven R. Greenes is a practicing attorney living in Miromar Lakes, Florida.

Table of Contents


Preface

Introduction

Part One. History of the Hall of Fame Voting for the Negro Leagues

 1. Phase 1: The Committee on Negro League Baseball Leagues (1971–1977)

 2. Phase 2: The Veterans Committee (1978–1994)

 3. Phase 3: A Quota System Is Implemented (1995–2001)

 4. Phase 4: The Historians Take Over (2001–2006)

Part Two. Determining Hall of Fame Qualification of the Negro Leagues

 5. The Twelve Rules

 6. The Sources for Hall of Fame Analysis of the Negro Leagues Are Hiding in Plain Sight

 7. WAR, Similarity Scores and Fielding Analysis Are Available for the Negro Leagues

 8. Overview of Analytical Sources

Part Three. 24 Men Out—A Position by Position Analysis of the Voting to Date

 9. Catcher

Worthy of Further Discussion 62

Bruce Petway 62; Frank Duncan, Jr. 63; George “Chappie” or “Rat” Johnson 64; Wabishaw “Doc” Wiley 65; Larry “Iron Man” Brown 66; Joe Greene 67; Quincy Trouppe 68

10. First Base

Worthy of Further Discussion 72

Edgar Wesley 72; George “Tank” Carr 73; Luke Easter 75; Bill Pettus 76

11. Second Base

Elwood “Bingo” DeMoss 79

Newton “Newt” Allen 81

Sammy T. Hughes 84

Worthy of Further Discussion 86

Frank “The Weasel” Warfield 86; Charlie Grant 87; Lorenzo “Piper” Davis 88; Bonnie a/k/a Barney Serrell 90; Marvin “Tex” Williams 91

12. Shortstop

Richard “Dick” Lundy 93

Grant “Home Run” Johnson 96

Walter “Dobie” Moore 99

Worthy of Further Discussion 102

Artie Wilson 102; James “Bus” (“Buz” or “Buzz”) Clarkson 104

13. Third Base

Oliver “The Ghost” Marcelle 106

George “Tubby” Scales 108

Worthy of Further Discussion 112

Alec (Alex) Radcliffe 112; Orestes “Minnie” Minoso 112

14. Outfield

Charlie “Chino” Smith 115

Burnis “Wild Bill” Wright 118

Spottswood Poles 122

Herbert “Rap” Dixon 124

Worthy of Further Discussion 127

Oscar “Heavy” Johnson 127; Hurley McNair 129; Clarence “Fats” Jenkins 130; Alejandro “El Caballero” (The Gentleman) Oms 131; Valentin Dreke 133; Chaney White 134; Clint “Hawk” Thomas 134; Sam “The Jet” Jethroe 135; Jimmie Lyons 135; Charlie Blackwell 135; Ted Strong 136; Bernardo Baro 136; Roy “Red” Parnell 136; George “Rabbit” Shively 137

15. Pitcher

Dick “Cannonball” Redding 139

John Donaldson 142

Bill Byrd 146

Chet Brewer 149

Worthy of Further Discussion 152

William Bell, Sr. 152; George Stovey 154; Jesse “Nip” Winters 155; William “Dizzy” Dismukes 156; Juan Padrón 156; Eustaquio “Bombin” Pedroso 157; Dave “Impo” Barnhill 158; Bill “Cannonball” Jackman 160; Stuart “Slim” Jones 161; Leroy Matlock 162; Bill Holland 162; Ted Trent 162; Phil Cockrell 162; Arthur “Rats” Henderson 163; Laymon Yokely 163; Barney “Brinquitos” Brown 163; Webster McDonald 164; Dan McClellan 164; George “Lefty” Wilson 164; Frank “Rawhide” Wickware 165; Walter Ball 165; Dave Brown 166; Roy Welmaker 166; Roosevelt Davis 166; Sam Streeter 167

16. Super Utility

John “The Black Bomber” Beckwith 170

Bill “Money” Monroe 174

Worthy of Further Discussion 177

Harry Buckner 177; Walter “Rev” Cannady 177; Sam Bankhead 179; Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe 181

17. Manager

C.I. Taylor 183

“Candy Jim” Taylor 186

Worthy of Further Discussion 188

Dave Malarcher 188; Elander “Vic” Harris 189

18. Executive

Gus Greenlee 194

Ed “Chief” Bolden 198

Worthy of Further Discussion 188

Frank C. Leland 201

19. Pioneer/Overall Contribution

Bud Fowler 203

John “Buck” O’Neil 207

Part Four. A Path Forward

20. Conclusions

21. Reopening the Door

Acknowledgments

Appendix A: Current Negro League Hall of Famers

Appendix B: Negro League Hall of Fame Ballots

Appendix C: 1952 Pittsburgh Courier Experts’ Poll

Appendix D: 1952 Pittsburgh Courier “Fan Poll”

Appendix E: Three Hypothetical Ballots for Consideration by a Proposed Negro Leagues Era Committee

Appendix F: Comparative WAR Per 162 Games (1887–1948)

Appendix G: Comparative Career WAR (1887–1948)

Appendix H: John McGraw’s Negro League Dream Team

Chapter Notes

Bibliography

Index