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[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by John1941

I'd be fine with all the major leaguers listed by MuncieNolePAZ (I had said ballot but looking back Jaffe said the ballot won't be released until tomorrow) except Garvey and Parker - their basic stats far outstrip their overall value.

I don't think Vic Harris belongs. Harris was an outfielder with an okay glove and a career OPS+ of 112. BR places his career value at 10.6 WAR for 645 games - and that's assuming that the Negro Leagues were 100% as good as the white major leagues, which I am skeptical of. I think he'd be close to the the worst hall of famer if inducted - probably better than Tommy McCarthy but not better than many others.

I have an open mind about Donaldson - he's an unusual case and I'd have to study his career deeply to be sure either way. His brief time in BLK/NLB is uneven - he seems to have been very good in 1918 and 1919 but undistinguished in other years. Because of that, the case for his greatness would have to depend heavily on his time pitching in the semi-pros. He dominated there, but a thorough study of the quality of his opposition would have to be made before we can know what that really means.

Harris is generally viewed as the best Negro League manager ever. I don't believe anyone sees him as getting in for his play specifically.

Whether he is the best Negro League candidate is a question, but he is a worthy one.

Donaldson played many of his games before the official leagues existed, but was a 1952 Courier 1st team member, which is a significant statement.