By Ted Knorr

“In small cities and small towns across the country, there were other teams and other stars that may have been the greatest of the century, but whose deeds would live only in the memory of those who saw them play. Over the years, Black baseball stars played against White Major League stars at least 438 times in off-season exhibition games. The Whites won 129 of those postseason games. The Blacks won 309 (70.5 percent).”

– Baseball, 5th Inning, Shadow Ball, Ken Burns, 1994

Appendix II of “The Negro Leagues were Major Leagues,” edited by Todd Peterson, pp. 214-226, lists 503 games, dates and opponents, depicting games between Negro League teams and Major League teams. Negro League teams won 268 (54.6 percent), while losing 222, with 13 ties.

In addition to Burns and Peterson, I have seen compilations by historians William McNeil (69.8 percent in the California Winter League) and John Holway (57.1 percent), and researchers Scott Simkus (52.7 percent) and bench5 (54.5 percent). Every one of them finds the “so-called” Negro League teams holding their own (winning as often as losing) against “so-called” Major League teams.

Comparable results are reported from both my interpretation of Seamheads Negro League Database (where 67 Negro League pitchers won 54.1 percent of their decisions against teams made up of Major League players) and Retrosheet’s Database (58.0 percent), with both showing an edge to the Negro League teams.

I have never seen a compilation showing the Negro League teams losing more than they win. While each of these compilations have their own circumstances (such as the California Winter League usually featuring one Black team and three or four White teams, meaning the White talent was diluted; and the Ken Burns compilation is admittedly culled from oral history with few if any box scores.), my claim is unquestionably supported by these compilations and that is that the record shows “so called” Negro League teams held their own against “so called” Major League teams.

Further factual evidence supporting my claim is provided with the following data:

Major League and Negro League Regular Season slash lines 1920-1948                    

                          AVG    OBP    SLG    OPS                

Major League    .275     .340     .388     .728              

Negro League    .270     .331     .372     .703    

The 29-season slash lines on both sides of the color line are virtually identical. (Sources: “The Negro Leagues were Major Leagues,” p. 19, edited by Todd Peterson, McFarland & Company, 2020. Major League data is from baseball-reference.com. Negro League data is from Seamheads.com, NL/RAG, and the Center for Negro League Baseball Research.)

In concert with the compilations of games between Negro League and Major League and the regular season data over 29 years being identical, the argument – accepted by Major League Baseball on Dec 16, 2020 – that the Negro Leagues were (indeed) Major Leagues has now been accepted by those who matter and by a growing number of informed baseball writers, researchers and fans.

This editorial celebrates that December 2020 decision and advocates for a positive, logical and similar decision by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, a 501(c)(3) educational institution with the responsibility of educating the populace on the history of the National Pastime. In the next issue of Shadow Ball, I hope to be more specific in my “advice” for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Here are some points for your pondering over the next couple of weeks …

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has done spectacular work in telling the history (and quality) of the Negro Leagues in a compelling fashion (as noticed, in my view, by most everyone but themselves).

For example, in 2021, they reinstalled a procedure, flawed but at least it is an improvement, once again providing the possibility by which Negro League players, executives, managers and umpires could be elected and, in 2022, for the first time since 2006, successfully inducted two “executives,” Buck O’Neil and Bud Fowler.

Then, in 2022, the Museum launched a Black Baseball Initiative, which involved partnering with Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association, the Negro League Baseball Museum, the Jackie Robinson Foundation and others.

In addition, in 2024, the Hall erected a new Hank Aaron statue entitled “Keep Swinging,” and the new exhibit “The Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball” was installed. The integration of Black baseball accomplishments into existing exhibits throughout the museum was instituted, and the Hall established an interactive youth activity “We Play” involving K-4 students in baseball history. The institution also celebrated the Negro Leagues East-West Classic by, in collaboration with Dr. Gerald Early the Hall, publishing a book on it. Finally, the Hall invited the Society for American Baseball Research’s Negro League Committee to convene its annual research conference in the Hall.

This litany of achievements tells us that the Hall’s heart is in the right place.

That is, its in the right place in every corner of the museum except for its “namesake” Hall of Fame plaque gallery, which had honored 29 Negro League players by 2006 but now includes only 28 (Frank Grant’s role having been inexplicably reassigned from player to executive). And, currently, no new Negro League candidates are even eligible until the December 2027 election. 

Moreover, only 17 percent of all Hall of Fame players debuting under segregation in that gallery are Negro Leaguers. That contrasts starkly with the parallel fact that just more than 45 percent are players of color (i.e. Negro Leaguers) among players debuting since April 15, 1947. It is time for the Hall of Fame to match achievements with the rest of the museum.

My recommendation to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is to induct additional Negro League players to the Hall of Fame. I recommend that we once again be focused on the 20 remaining Negro League players, executives and managers on the 2006 ballot, plus Vic Harris.

There is no need to wait until December 2027 – an election should be held in December 2026 with a qualified, expert panel, as was done in 2006, with a segregated Negro Leaguers-only ballot and an up/down vote on all 21 personages and no limit on the number of affirmative votes case by each voter.

If that’s enacted, I can guarantee a great step will have been taken by the Hall, and its mission will have been furthered immensely in keeping with the Black Baseball Initiative begun in 2022.

Dear deaders, if you agree with my recommendation, please let the Hall of Fame know. It has been long demonstrated that they will not advance without a gentle nudge every now and then. Let them know 28 Negro League players is not enough. They can be reached at:

National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum, 25 Main St. Cooperstown, NY 13326. They can also be emailed at info@baseballhall.org.

Editor’s note: This essay originally appeared on The Truth Seekers Journal, www.truthseekersjournal.com, on May 26, 2026.