By next Black History Month and the begining of next baseball season, I hope to have the complete set of eighteen (two teams worth, at each position) players, which were stars in the Negro Leagues of baseball. The prime of this league was in the early to mid 1900's. Negroes were kept out of major league baseball until 1947, when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier when he was called up by the Brooklyn Dodgers. 

  The Negro Leagues players were rich with talent, and many colorful personalities played in the league as well. Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Oscar Charleston and Judy Johnson are just some of the stars that the Negro Leagues employed. Most of these players had the opportunity to compete in exhibition games against major leaguers, sometimes referred to as barnstorming games. Major League Legend Babe Ruth called John Henry "Pop" Lloyd, "The greatest player he had ever seen", and Joe DiMaggio said Satchel Paige, "was the greatest pitcher he had ever faced". It's a shame these men didn't get a shot in their prime, but that didn't stop these mens passion for the game of baseball. To me, passion is what this project is about. I grew up with baseball. I also witnessed a strike in the 80's, 90's, the banishment of the Alltime Hits King Pete Rose for gambling (form your own opinion on that subject), and the whole steroids saga. So, basically the modern era of baseball is tarnished with all the messes I just metioned. Anyhow the men of the Negro Leagues were every bit as talented, and baseball smart as major league players. The respect they earned from the big name MLB players of the day is testament to the quality of players they were. One of them broke Babe Ruth's homerun record in 1974....

  In school we were blessed to learn of Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige and maybe some on Josh Gibson. I did not know of Josh Gibson from school. The research I have done in regards to gathering statistics, photographs, first hand accounts from people who were on the same teams as some of these greats, and to the Major Leaguers who competed against these players in exhibition games, has given me a much better understanding of the men who were slighted the opportunity to play along with the best of the day, due to their skin color. What I am trying to do here with the series is pass along the data I have gathered in a unique and interesting way. I have a son, and a stable of nephews that love the game of baseball, and they only play it because its fun. To be excluded from playing because of the hue of your skin seems silly in 2010. My boys do not even understand the concept of racism, yet in 2010 racism still exists.