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NEGRO LEAGUERS EARN PLACE
ON POSNANSKI’S LIST

Fourteen Negro Leaguers make writer’s Joe Posnanski’s Baseball 100 Greatest Players List; Willie Mays tops list.

Best-selling author/writer, Joe Posnanski, gave fans missing baseball a treat with a remarkable compilation of essays written recently for The Athletic website that counted down his list of “Baseball’s 100 Greatest Players.” The list included 14 Negro League players, with three legends—Oscar Charleston (No. 5), Hank Aaron (No. 4)  and Willie Mays (No. 1)—listed in the Top 5. Mays, a former member of the Birmingham Black Barons, beat out Babe Ruth to secure the top spot on Posnanski’s list.

Seven Negro Leaguers on the list went on to successful Major League Baseball (MLB) careers including Jackie Robinson, who would break the color barrier in MLB with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. Robinson began his pro baseball career in the Negro Leagues with the Kansas City Monarchs. Satchel Paige was No. 10 on the list. The legendary pitcher joined the Cleveland Indians in 1948, when he was believed to be 42 years old, and helped the Indians win the ‘48 American League pennant.  The team went on to win the World Series, the last time the Indians won the World Series. All 14 listed are enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

Joe Posnanski is the author of the critically-acclaimed book, “The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O’Neil’s America.” Buy the book here.

No. 94 – Roy Campanella

Black and white photo of a baseball player wearing a uniform with the number 22, swinging a bat. The scene is set in an empty stadium with bleachers in the background.

No. 92 – Wilber “Bullet” Rogan

A baseball player in a vintage uniform, with a dark cap and socks, squats and smiles at the camera. The uniform features a bird logo on the chest, and the player is surrounded by dirt and other teammates partially visible.

No. 84 – James “Cool Papa” Bell

A person wearing a vintage baseball uniform with vertical stripes and a cap, smiling. The uniform has a logo on the sleeve. The black-and-white photo has a classic, historical feel.

No. 69 – Monte Irvin

A baseball player stands ready to swing a bat, dressed in a classic uniform with a cap. The image is black and white, capturing a vintage feel. He appears focused, with the background blurred, emphasizing his poised stance.

No. 65 – Ernie Banks

Young baseball player wearing a cap with a logo, standing in front of empty bleachers. Black and white image.

No. 62 – Smokey Joe Williams

A vintage black-and-white photo of a baseball player standing outdoors. He is wearing a baseball uniform with knee-high socks and a cap, holding a baseball in one hand and a glove in the other. Trees are visible in the background.

No. 53 – Walter “Buck” Leonard

A black and white photo of a baseball player wearing a cap with a G on it. The player is facing the camera, with a neutral expression. The background is blurred.

No. 42 – Jackie Robinson

A baseball player wearing a classic uniform and cap with the letter B stands facing forward. The jersey reads Dodgers. The image is in black and white, giving it a vintage appearance.

No. 25 – John Henry “Pop” Lloyd

A vintage black and white photo of a baseball player standing on a field, wearing a classic uniform with a cap, holding a bat. The image captures the player smiling, with trees and some distant structures in the background.

No. 15 – Josh Gibson

A baseball player stands poised with a bat, wearing a vintage uniform on a field. The blurred background shows spectators in the stands. The players jersey has visible letters, indicating a team name. The scene is in black and white.

No. 10 – Leroy “Satchel” Paige

No. 5 – Oscar Charleston

No. 4 – Henry Aaron

No. 1 – Willie Mays