i)
Pre-integration player's statistics should be marked with an asterisk.
Unfortunately, there is not nearly
the support by fans to place an asterisk by the most tainted numbers in
baseball's history: the statistical achievements of pre-integration
players. More specifically,
pre-integration player's statistical achievements are not on par with those of
post integration players and if there were any numbers that required asterisks
it would be those of pre-integration players.
This counter-story would not be well
received by the dominant group, whites, in baseball. Iconic names such as Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb,
Walter Johnson, and Cy Young are perceived as some of the greatest players
ever, despite not playing with any African Americans. Further, Babe Ruth is considered by many[i] to be the greatest player of all time. The dominate group uses their non-asterisked
statistics to advance this narrative.
The counter story is to put an
asterisk, either real or perceived, next to all of the statistics of pre-integration
players. Those players simply were not
playing against the best competition, as current players are. Black players were not excluded because of
inferior play. In fact, there is ample
evidence that many of the negro league stars were on par with, if not better,
than the major league players.
First, Negro League teams frequently
beat all white teams consisting of major league players in exhibition games.[ii] It is estimated that all-black teams played
all-white teams in exhibitions at least 438 times prior to integration; the
black teams won 309 of these games and the white teams won just 129.[iii] Further, John McGraw, a renowned
pre-integration manager/racist, died
with a list of all of the black players he secretly wished he could have signed
while a Major League manager.[iv] By beating white teams and being secretly
sought after by white managers, black baseball players were shown to be on par
with, if not superior to, white players at the time. In fact, many Negro League personal
statistical achievements surpass those of white players. Satchel Page estimated he won 2000 games,
nearly four times Cy Young's major league record.[v] The "black Babe Ruth" Josh Gibson,
hit over 70 home runs in a single season and over 950 in his career, both of
which easily surpass Major League records.[vi]
The obvious argument against a
counter story affixing an asterisk to pre-integration players is that the
statistical achievements were earned within the rules as they were at the
time. However, the problem is that these
statistical achievements are in the record book and are seemingly compared on
an equal plane against those of post-integration players. For example, the record books show Tony Gwynn
and Nap Lajoie as having the exact same career batting average (.3382), good
enough to be tied for 16th place all time.[vii] However, because Gwynn played post
integration, he played against better pitchers who were more likely to get him
out and against better fielders, whom made it more difficult to get hits. This is due to the overall level of play
increasing with integration, players who were worthy to play in the major
leagues were no longer excluded. The
quality of competition increased every time a black player signed with a major
league team and took the spot of a lesser white player. Stated simply, it was more difficult for a
post-integration player to achieve statistical milestones; therefore, such
achievements are more impressive than similar achievements by pre-integration
players and should be treated as such.
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