The All-Time Negro League Team

I am by no means an expert on Negro League baseball, but it is an interest of mine and I probably know a bit more than most. A lot of people hear the names of the greatest Negro League players in passing but have trouble forming a mental image of who they really are. This is my best effort to assemble the best team possible and give a brief description of the players that made it.

C - Josh Gibson; Almost definitely the greatest catcher ever to play the game. The thing written most about Gibson is his incredible strength. He had strong hands, wrists, forearms, shoulders, legs... everything. He was one of the most disciplined players of his era and was known as a great off-speed pitch hitter in addition to being able to turn on any fastball. He unfortunately died at the age of 35 in 1947, missing out on seeing the color barrier broken. Gibson was a cocky player and although he did not live long he probably would have hit more home runs than any catcher in the game's history regardless.

1B - Mule Suttles - A very different player from Gibson, Suttles boasted just as much power, but used it differently. He was a free-swinger that tried to launch every pitch he saw into the seats, and often succeeded. Suttles was called "Mule" due to his immense size for the time period. Although reports vary, he was probably around 6'3 or 6'4 and well over 200 lbs. A good athlete for his size, he is often listed as an outfielder, but spent most of his career at first base.

2B - Newt Allen - An extraordinarily graceful fielder who had one of the longest careers in the Negro Leagues, Allen is mostly an unknown to all but the biggest of baseball fans. I picture Allen to be a similar type of player on the diamond as a young Roberto Alomar. Fast, with doubles power and a gold glove. He was well-liked in the league, often considered a leader an spark plug for the teams he played for.

3B - Ray Dandridge - Most of the literature on Dandridge references his incredible glove work at the hot corner. He was really more of a shortstop and played there occasionally, but is generally considered a third baseman. He hit a little bit like Paul Molitor, lacing line drives all over the diamond rather than swinging for power, but fielded like Brooks Robinson. Was signed by the Giants late in his career but never made it to the majors, despite dominating the highest level of the white minor leagues for a couple seasons.

SS - Pop Lloyd - Lloyd peaked as a player before the Negro Leagues became truly organized but there is no denying his incredible ability. A contemporary of Honus Wagner's, it is often written that he was an identical player. Big for a shortstop, he had incredible range and speed but also had the ability to whip the bat through the zone and hit for power. He earned the nickname "Pop" by being a mentor to the younger players on his teams, of which there were many because Lloyd played organized ball until he was nearly 50.

LF - Turkey Stearnes - A quiet man, Stearnes is often overlooked among the Negro League greats, but in terms of pure hitting ability, it can be argued he was the best. A left-handed hitter with a graceful uppercut swing, Stearnes is often compared to Williams. While he did not have Williams' impeccable batting eye, Stearnes could hit for both average and power just like The Splendid Splinter. Despite being nicknamed "Turkey" because of the awkward way he ran, Stearnes was an adequate outfielder and had enough speed to steal the occasional base.

CF - Oscar Charleston - Considered by many to be the greatest Negro League player, and also by many as the greatest ever to play in any league. Charleston did everything impossibly well. He had more range than any other centerfielder and a cannon for an arm. He could lead the league in home runs, batting average and steals in the same season. If you could combine Ty Cobb's speed and desire to win with Willie Mays' power and arm it might begin to describe just the kind of player Charleston was. A fierce competitor, he was known for doing whatever it took to win and was not a stranger to getting into fights on the diamond. Off the field he was intelligent and revered by his peers. He was built similar to a young Babe ruth with a huge chest, short arms and short legs. It is truly a shame that we were never able to see him face off against the great white players of the era. Given the opportunity Charleston could be as much of an icon as any of them.

RF - Christobal Torriente - A very similar layer to Charleston in build and ability, although not quite as good. I am cheating a bit, putting torriente in right since he was actually a centerfielder, but he was far too good to leave off this team. Torriente lacked Charleston's power but matched him in defense and ability to hit for average. He is considered by most to be the best player in history from Cuba and still holds many of his home countries' records. Torriente was a bit of a prankster on the field and clearly enjoyed playing the game every day.

bonus CF - Cool Papa Bell - I cannot leave Bell off this team in good conscious so I'm creating an extra spot for him. Bell was similar to a switch hitting Kenny Lofton, but a lot better than Lofton, and faster too. If he had played in the majors he would have a shot at 4,000 hits and probably would have retired with the stolen base record. Bell was absurdly fast even late in his career, and remained a great player deep into his 40s despite not having much power.

P - Rube Foster - The Godfather of the Negro Leagues, Foster, even if he had never played the game, would still be one of the most important men in baseball history. As a player, he was the best pitcher in the early years of the Negro Leagues. He earned his nickname by beating white superstar pitcher Rube Waddell in an exhibition game. Foster had a solid fastball but was most known for outstanding "fadeaway" or changeup. After his career he became a driving force in organizing and maintaining Negro League Baseball until his death in 1930.

P - Satchel Paige - While the debate as to who the greatest Negro League pitcher ever is will never end, my money is on Paige. He always had impeccable control but relied mainly on his blazing fastball during the first part of his career. As he aged he learned how to throw essentially every pitch ever used in a game, and could throw any of them wherever he wanted. Paige actually got to see the majors and posted a combined 123 ERA+ in his age 45 and 46 seasons, representing his team in the all-star game each year.

P - Smokey Joe Williams - Williams was probably the hardest thrower in the Negro Leagues, but he had more than just the great fastball. He also was a fixture on the exhibition circuit where he faced, and often defeated many future Hall of Fame pitchers. Often referred to as "Cyclone" Williams because of his exaggerated full windup.

P - Bullet Rogan - Rogan was the greatest two-way player ever. He was among the greatest pitchers and the greatest hitters of his era. While he routinely hit over .300, it is on the mound where Rogan was a true star. A master of the curveball, he would often use many different version of the pitch, with the most written about being a power 12-6 version. An incredible athlete, Rogan was also probably the greatest fielding pitcher ever to have lived.


That is my brief snapshot of Negro League baseball. For over 50 years some of the games greatest players toiled in relative anonymity. Thankfully some efforts have been made to shed some light on these players and many are now in the Hall of Fame.