Baseball Legends: Roy Campanella (Dodgers 1948-1957)

“I never want to quit playing ball. They’ll have to cut this uniform off of me to get me out of it.” — Roy Campanella

Roy Campanella, known as “Campy”, is considered by many to be one of the best catchers ever to play baseball. While still in school at the age of just 15, he played on weekends for the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro National League. He was MVP of the 1941 East-West all-star game, then jumped to the Mexican League in 1942 and 1943. He came back to the Giants and led the league in doubles in 1944 and in RBIs in 1945.

Baseball Legends: John Henry “Pop” Lloyd (Cuban X-Giants 1906, Philadelphia Giants 1907-09, Leland Giants 1910, New York Lincoln Giants 1911-15, 1926-30, Chicago American Giants 1914, 1916-17, New York Lincoln Stars 1915, Brooklyn Royal Giants 1918-1920, New York Bacharach Giants 1919, Columbus Buckeyes 1921, Atlantic City Bacharach Giants 1922, 1924-25, 1931-32, Hilldale Daisies 1923, Harlem Stars 1931)

“I do not consider that I was born at the wrong time. I felt it was the right time, for I had a chance to prove the ability of our race in this sport, and because many of us did our very best to uphold the traditions of the game…we have given the Negro a greater opportunity now to be accepted into the major leagues with other Americans.” – Pop Lloyd

Pop Lloyd is yet another reason why it is such a shame that baseball was segregated. He is considered one of the best players to ever play the game, but did not get a chance to shine. Because he did not play in the Major Leagues he is not very well known right now, but during his playing days he was considered the best shortstop in the Negro Leagues, and maybe all of baseball. His fielding earned him the nickname “the shovel.”

Baseball Legends: Ernie Banks (Cubs 1953-1971)

Cool Papa Bell signed Ernie Banks to a contract for the Kansas City Monarchs in 1950 at age 19. He returned to them after two years in the army, where the Cubs discovered him at the end of the 1953 season. Ernie Banks, “Mr. Cub”, was the first black player for the Chicago Cubs.

Ernie Banks broke into the majors in quiet fashion in 1954 with 19 home runs in his first full season. His second full season ended in grand fashion when the spindly-looking Banks took a letter-high fastball out of Busch stadium off of Lindy McDaniel for his fifth grand slam of the year, setting a new record for most grand slams in a season. Neither Gehrig nor Ruth had ever hit that many grand slams in one season. Banks’ record stood until the 1987 when Don Mattingly hit six grand slams in one season, the only slams of his career. Travis Hafner tied Mattingly’s record in 2006.

Baseball Legends: Josh Gibson (Homestead Grays 1929-1931, 1937-1940, 1942-1946, Pittsburgh Crawfords 1932-1936)

“He had an eye like Ted Williams, and the power of Babe Ruth. I played with Willie Mays and against Hank Aaron, they were tremendous players, but they were no Josh Gibson.” – Monte Irvin

One of the unfortunate periods of baseball history was when it was segregated. The sheer act of racism was bad enough, but the fans were robbed of seeing some great players. One of those players was Josh Gibson. He was called “the Black Babe Ruth.” The fact that he is credited with more home runs than the Bambino makes you wonder if Babe Ruth shouldn’t be called “the White Josh Gibson.” Gibson lived a short but eventful life, and is one of the most recognized Negro League players to this day.

Baseball Legends: Larry Doby (Indians 1947-1955, 1958, White Sox 1956-1957, 1959, Tigers 1959)

“I knew being accepted was going to be hard, but I knew I was involved in a situation that was going to bring opportunities to other blacks.” – Larry Doby

Larry Doby was the second African American player to play in the Major Leagues. That is kind of like the second man to walk on the moon, or the second man to break the sound barrier. Most people could not tell you their name. Doby was signed by the Cleveland Indians eleven weeks after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier by Bill Veeck. While Jackie is fondly remembered by everyone, Doby is rarely named in the same breath. He was the first black player in the American League, and thus became the answer to a trivia question.

Baseball Legends: Jackie Robinson (Dodgers 1947-1956)

Jackie Robinson was a great baseball player. In his short career, he hit 137 home runs, drove in 734 runs, and stole 197 bases. He was the Rookie of the Year in 1947, the MVP in 1949, received MVP votes 8 out of 10 years, and was a six-time All-Star. But Robinson’s status as a Baseball Legend transcends the playing field, as he was the first African American ballplayer in the modern era of the game.

Branch Rickey scouted Robinson in 1945 while he played for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues. After signing Robinson, Rickey assigned him to play with the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers’ minor league affiliate. Robinson impressed while there, winning the 1946 International League MVP award.