RICHMOND, Va. -- In my research for a strip about Gus Greenlee and Greenlee Field a few months back, I came across an eBay listing for a gorgeous, affordable throwback Pittsburgh Crawfords jersey. I mentioned it to a pal known to have a pretty impressive jersey collection, but his response surprised me: “Thanks, but I’ve always been more of a Homestead Grays fan.”
Such is the allure of the Negro Leagues and their legendary players. Each team played its last game over 70 years ago, but that doesn’t keep modern baseball fans from having a favorite!
Of course, within the past few months, Major League Baseball has made the decision to recognize Negro Leagues statistics and records alongside their own. However, integrating the data is inexact science, at best, as so many of the game results, boxscores and other information has been lost to history. Still, a tip of the cap to the researchers tirelessly and diligently compiling the history of the Negro Leagues to the best of their ability, and to MLB for finally righting a longstanding wrong and giving these talented players their long-deserved due.
ROB ULLMAN / DKPS
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