Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason19th
...It is important that when most people talk about the Negro Leagues they are talking about the Top Level Leagues which were really high level and really only totaled about 200 players as we are talking about 15ish teams who had pretty small rosters. There was not a developed minors Leagues for the Negro Leagues. It compares to the 1910’s in MLB where there were the Majors and then a bunch of other totally independent leagues that varied widely in talent. The players in the Negro “majors” were all very good players who were able to move into some level of Organized ball if they wanted to.
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Very good point. Also, Robinson breaking the color line in 1947 didn't exactly open the flood gates. A disproportionate number of the Negro League players who joined the majors in the several years following went on to be stars. In all probability, there were many other players from the Negro "majors" who had the talent to play major league ball even if not among the elite players. Had they been white with their level of talent and experience, they would have been on rosters all over league, even if only as common cards (as it were).