The former Negro League players/managers on the Early Baseball Era Committee ballot for Hall of Fame induction are as follows:
John
“Bud” Fowler (Infielder, Pitcher)
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Bud Fowler |
The first African American professional baseball player, Fowler played with several minor league white professional teams beginning in 1877. After the establishment of the “invisible color line” in the late 1880’s which barred African American and dark-skinned Latinos from white professional baseball, he played with many of the early African American professional baseball teams.
Grant “Home Run” Johnson (Shortstop)
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| Grant "Home Run" Johnson |
One of the best hitters in black professional baseball during the dead-ball era (1900 – 1920), Johnson wore the uniform of top African American teams during that era such as the Philadelphia Giants, Brooklyn Royal Giants, and Chicago Leland Giants. He received the nickname from his clutch timing of hitting home runs, not the quantity.
Richard
“Cannonball Dick” Redding - Pitcher
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| Richard "Cannonball Dick" Redding |
One
of the best pitchers in black professional baseball during the dead-ball era and the early 1920’s. The blazing speed of his fastball made Redding a contemporary of Walter Johnson, one of Major League baseball’s ace pitchers during that period.
John
Donaldson – Pitcher
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| John Donaldson |
Starting
in 1913, Donaldson spent over 20 years in black professional baseball. The left-hander pitched for black independent
teams that born-stormed through the country during 1913 – 1919. He also pitched with the Kansas City Monarchs
in the Negro National League (1920 – 1924), the first African American
professional baseball league.
George
“Tubby” Scales – Infielder
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| George " Tubby" Scales |
A
career .319 hitter, Scales spent 27 years in the Negro Leagues (1921 – 1948)
with teams including the New York Lincoln Giants 1923 – 29 and Homestead Grays 1925 – 26, 1929
– 31, 1935. He also led the Baltimore
Elite Giants as player/manager in 1938, 1943, and 1947.
Vic
Harris – Manager
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| Vic Harris |
A
career .305 hitter, Harris spent most of his entire Negro League career as left
fielder and then manager with the Homestead Grays (1925 – 1933, 1935 – 1948); one
of the most renown franchises in Negro League baseball. As manager, he led the Grays to nine
consecutive Negro National League pennants (1937 – 1945).
John
“Buck” O’Neil – 1B/Manager
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| John "Buck" O'Neil |
The three-time All Star played first base for the Kansas City Monarchs, another of the most renown Negro League franchises, during the periods 1938 – 1943 and 1946 – 1955. He became the team’s manager in 1948. The first African American to become a Major League coach (Chicago Cubs 1962), O’Neil is one of the co-founders for the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.
It will be 2032 before the Early Baseball Era Committee will next consider candidates for Hall of Fame induction.
The Hall of Fame’s Golden Days Era Committee considers candidates for induction who made contributions to the game from 1950 – 1969. Saturnino Orestes “Minnie” Minoso, who had a 17 year, nine-time All Star career in Major League baseball is on the ballot in which this committee will vote Sunday. Minoso, who got his start in the Negro Leagues, played on the 1947 Negro League World Series champion New York Cubans.
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| Minnie Minoso |
