Who is the greatest African-American baseball player of all time? (2023)

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A 25-time All-Star, Aaron remains one of the most decorated players in the history of the sport. "The Hammer" holds the all-time record for runs, extra bases and total bases. His most famous achievement, however, remains overtaking Babe Ruth for the all-time top spot in professional baseball, a feat he achieved amidst enormous confusion, criticism and often racially motivated peril. His 755 home run record stood for 33 years.

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After starting his career as a teenager with the Negro League's Kansas City Monarchs, Banks became the greatest Chicago Cubs of all time. Known for his exuberant personality, Banks was a devastating home run hitter, becoming the first person in history to hit 40 home runs in a season and 500 in his career shortstop. Banks was also the first National League player to win back-to-back MVP awards, which he did in 1958 and 1959.

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James Thomas "Cool Daddy" Bell was a prominent Negro league speed player, considered by many to be the fastest player in baseball history. He regularly stole doubles and triples on singles, which were common in his three batting-leading seasons in 1928, 1930 and 1931. He has spent most of his career in St. Louis. Louis Stars, currently honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame and in a statue outside Busch Stadium, home of St. Louis. Lewis Cardinals.

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One of the greatest all-around players of all time, Bonds was a seven-time MVP during his 22-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. Bonds holds 17 different MLB all-time records, including career home runs (762), regular season home runs (73) and regular season goal walks (120). Further proving his versatility, he won eight Gold Gloves and is the only player in history to hit 500 home runs while also stealing 500.

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"Thief Base" became the catalyst for St. Louis' 1964 and 1967 World Series championship teams. Lewis Cardinals. His career World Series batting average of .391 is the highest by a player in a 20-plus-game series. Brock has 3,023 career hits and has led the National League in stolen bases for eight straight seasons. In 1977, he passed Ty Cobb for the career leader and finished his career with a score of 938.

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The Hall of Fame catcher began his career at age 16 with the Negro League's Washington elite Giants. In 1946, after his manager, Walter Alston, was fired, he stepped in at a minor league game, becoming the first African-American ever to professionally manage a white player. A year later, Campanella joined the Brooklyn Dodgersjack robinsonBreaking the barrier of skin color, he was elected the MVP of the League of Nations three times.

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Indianapolis native Charleston was one of the most destructive all-around players in the history of segregated baseball. His extensive career in Negro and Cuban baseball leagues began in 1919 and ended in 1941. The five-pitch genius played center field and posted a . 363 on-base percentage for one of the best teams ever in baseball, the 1932 Pittsburgh Crawfords, whiletonister page, Josh Gibson, Judy Johnson and Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe. After retirement, Charleston played an integral role in recruiting talent from the Negro League to MLB.

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A two-time Cy Young Award winner and 1968 NL MVP, Gibson was one of the most intimidating and intense players in baseball history. He had some of the most dominant pitching performances of all time, including his modern-day 1.12 ERA record in 1968, a World Series record 17 strikeouts in 1968, and three full games in the 1967 series victory. Early in his career, he signed with St. The Louis Cardinals and the Harlem Globetrotters.

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Gibson is one of the most devastating hitters of all time, surpassing even his MLB slugger contemporary Babe Ruth in many ways. Although Gibson's exact numbers were not recorded in time due to inconsistent statistical reporting by the various leagues he played in, he has a career batting average of . All told, his career total is thought to be close to 800 home runs, which remains an MLB all-time record.

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Perhaps there has never been a more enjoyable player than Griffey as he applies his skills. One of the most popular and best-selling superstars of the 1990s, Griffey led the league in home runs four times and has a career total of 630 runs. A daring center back, his habit of jumping over the field wall to bring home failed runs also helped him win 10 Gold Glove Awards. His 99.3 percent Hall of Fame total in 2016 is the highest ever for a position player.

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As a professional hitter, Gwynn hit .338 and never dropped below .309 all season, and he won eight career batting titles. Of those eight titles, three (1987-1989) and four (1994-1997) appeared consecutively. He is one of four players to score more than .350 in four consecutive seasons, averaging .368 between 1993 and 1997. Prior to his baseball career, Gwin was a standout basketball player at San Diego State University and was drafted in the 10th^uprightRound of the 1981 NBA draft.

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Baseball's greatest leader has a personality as powerful as his influence across the field, which says a lot considering what he brings to the scorecard. Henderson led the league in stolen bases 12 times, had the most 100 interceptions in history with three of them, and reached at least 80 in the other three seasons. His career steal total of 1,406 was an all-time high of more than 400, and Henderson also holds the record for most home runs and field goals in history.

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Few have the knack for big moments like "Mr. October," who earned the nickname for his multiple playoff appearances. During his 21-year career, Jackson's teams finished first 10 times, and he won five World Series titles, winning the series MVP in two of them. Jackson's three-homer performance in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series was his landmark 10-homer performance in his career, the most of his 563 career long pitches.

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Jeter spent 20 years at shortstop in the Bronx, creating a legendary tenure during which he became one of the most reliable and suspenseful players in baseball history. "Captain" won five World Series championships with the Yankees and holds numerous Yankees and MLB all-time records, including all-time hits by shortstop. After the game, Jeter became the owner and CEO of the companymiami marlins, becoming a prominent minority representative in the game.

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Leonard is considered by many to be the greatest first baseman of his era, earning him the nickname "Black Lugary." However, many believe it is more correct to apply it to Gehrig as "White Buck Leonard". He was a member of the legendary Homestead Greys team of the 1930s and 1940s, earning rave reviews as one of the most feared hitters and most capable defenders in All-Black baseball. Leonard turned down an MLB contract in 1952 because he felt he was too far from his prime.

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Heard that Lloyd (top row, second from left) earned the nickname "Black Wagner," legendary Pittsburgh Pirates liaisonRespect WagnerHe said it was an "honour" to issue such praise in the comparison. That's the range of Lloyd's skills at shortstop, and he is considered by many to be the greatest all-around talent in Negro League history. Lloyd bounced around in his 26-year career, playing for more than 10 clubs with a . 343 batting average.

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There is no better all-around player in MLB history than Mays, who was a 24-time All-Star, hit 660 home runs, hit 100 RBIs in eight straight seasons, and won 12 Gold Gloves, the most ever by an outfielder of. Mays' legendary catch in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series remains one of the greatest tackles in MLB history. In 2015, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

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McCovey was one of the most feared hitters of his era, even Bob Gibson considered him "the most feared hitter in baseball." - Aim the camera at the stand on the right. His legacy at ultra-long-distance connections is that the water behind the right-hand stand at Oracle Park, the Giants' current home, is known as "McCovey Bay."

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As one of the greatest all-around second basemen of all time, it's impossible for Morgan not to have an impact on the game. He won back-to-back National League MVP awards in 1975 and '76 while assistingcincinnati redsTwo season World Series champions. Morgan's 689 stolen bases rank 11th^uprightFrom 1972 to 1976, he finished in the top 10 in MVP voting for five consecutive seasons and won five Golden Gloves.

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One of the greatest hitters of all time, Murray hit 11 games with home runs on both sides. He is one of only five players in history to hit both 500 home runs and 3,000 hits. Throughout his career, Murray hit 100 runs and holds the Major League Baseball record for most RBIs in 1917. Murray grew up in the Oakland area and was a childhood friend and teammate of another Hall of FamerOzzy Smith.

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A 3-time winner in 20 games, Newcombe extended the Brooklyn Dodgers' barrier-breaking habit to pitchers, becoming the first player to hit multiple milestones, including the inaugural Cy Young Award winner in 1956. He was the first (and only two) pitcher to win Cy Young, MVP and Rookie of the Year honors in his career. In 1949, he became the first African-American starting pitcher in the World Series when he hit a ninth-inning home run in Game 1 against the New York Yankees.

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Paige is known for his ability to make raucous proclamations and speak his throws on the fly, but the only thing that surpasses his performance is his awesome talent on the hill. When he became the most attractive pitcher in baseball history, massive crowds followed him wherever he went. Both white and black players have been pleased with his ability on the mound, and Page himself estimates he won more than 1,000 games in his illustrious career. Finally, in 1948, the 42-year-old Paige made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians, going 6-1 with a 2.48 ERA and helping them win the World Series.

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"The Rock" was the leading top hitter in the National League in the 1980s, with six consecutive years of stealing 70 or more bases from 1981 to 1986. Raines also led the NL in batting average with . 334 in 1986. A seven-time All-Star at the Montreal Expos, Raines holds the now-defunct series record with seven. Later in his career, he won two World Series titles with the New York Yankees.

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Robinson was a Major League Baseball player all his life. A 14-time All-Star -- eight to the National League and six to the American League -- Robinson is the only player in history to win MVPs in both leagues. When he retired in 1976, his 586 home runs were the fourth-highest of all time. In 1975, Robinson also broke barriers, becoming the first black manager in MLB history. He also served as Vice President of Field Operations and was instrumental in integrating Major League Baseball into urban centers across the country.

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It cannot be emphasized enough that Robinson's character is more American Idol than baseball legend. The rippling effect of Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 changed the history of America's future. Beyond his presence, Robinson is full of energy and grit on the field. He became baseball's first Rookie of the Year in 1947 and was the NL MVP two years later. In 1955, he helped the Dodgers break the long-standing championship haze. In 1962, Robinson became the first African-American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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The tall Smith trained as a teenager with the legendary Buck O'Neal and eventually became one of baseball's pioneering pitchers. Smith's leisurely journey from the bullpen to the mound belies the speed with which he often ends games. Smith led the league defensively four times and retired as the baseball all-time leader with 478 hits, a record that stood for 14 years.

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Glove master "The Wizard" has raised the bar for defensive excellence in a 19-year career. Smith won 13 consecutive Gold Glove Awards between 1980 and 1992 and set the MLB records for most assists and doubles by a shortstop. Smith is a pillar of St. Petersburg. The St. Louis Cardinals, who won three world championships in the '80s. His acrobatics (along with his signature somersaults) make him one of the most thrilling performers of all time.

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"Pops" is one of the most popular players of all time, as he beat his Pittsburgh Pirates to two World Series titles during his 21-year career. Stargell hit a total of 475 home runs, many of them National League record distances. But the 1979 season was his hallmark, as he won MVP honors in the NLCS, World Series and National League, becoming the only player in history to do all three.

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One of the greatest all-around hitters of all time, "Big Hurt" earned his nickname both in size (6'5", 250 pounds) and at the bat. Thomas is the only player in history to have seven seasons with a . 300 average, 20 home runs, 100 RBIs, 100 runs scored and 100 walks. He won back-to-back American League MVP awards in 1993 and 1994, and was the batting champion in 1997 with a .347 batting average.

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One of the greatest all-around athletes in baseball history, Winfield has amassed an impressive resume over a 22-year career. A member of the 3,000 Hit Club and a 12-time All-Star, Winfield used his unique combination of size and speed to hit 465 home runs and win six Silver Slugger Awards and seven Gold Glove Awards. Winfield was one of six athletes ever drafted by the MLB, NFL and NBA, and one of three athletes drafted four times (after being drafted by the ABA and NBA).

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In July 1947, Dobby became the first African American in Major League Baseball history to join the Cleveland Indians. Unlike Robinson, Dobby didn't stop at youth team games before joining the MLB, becoming the first player ever to make the jump directly from the Negro Leagues to the majors. He then made seven All-Star teams and won the World Series in his second season in Cleveland.

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One of the best linebackers of his era, Vlad won seven Gold Gloves and two World Series titles in St. Louis. Lewis Cardinals. Yet for all his abilities on the field, what he represents is his greatest legacy. After denying a replacement player in 1969, it was Vlad who challenged baseball's reserve clause, which barred free agency and open-market financial opportunities. Vlad's case ultimately lost in the Supreme Court, and he was never signed by another MLB team. However, his defiance ultimately inspired the waiver of the save clause, which created free agency and 10/5 welfare entitlement for the player.