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Monday, January 21, 2013

Baseball's All-African-American Team

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, here's my MLB All-African-American team. Only players who began their careers after Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in 1947 are eligible, so that means I did not include Negro League stars such as Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, and Oscar Charleston.

C Roy Campanella-Three-time NL MVP, though that third one should have gone to teammate Duke Snider
1B Eddie Murray-One of four players with 3,000 career hits and 500 home runs (Aaron, Mays, and Rafael Palmeiro are the others)
2B Joe Morgan-The greatest keystone player since World War II
3B Dick Allen-Spent more time at first base, but played about one-third of his games at the hot corner
SS Ernie Banks-Alex Rodriguez is the only shortstop with better power numbers
LF Barry Bonds-Disregarding steroids, he's the best baseball player who ever lived
CF Willie Mays-Apologies to Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio, but the Say Hey Kid is the best center fielder in the sport's history
RF Hank Aaron-His career numbers boggle the mind
U Jackie Robinson-The man who opened the door for generations of non-white ballplayers
DH Frank Thomas-Should go into Cooperstown on the first ballot next year
RHP Bob Gibson-The most intimidating pitcher of all-time
LHP CC Sabathia-Has a good chance to win 300 games if he stays healthy
CL Lee Smith-Only Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman have more saves

Reserves
C Elston Howard
1B Willie McCovey
1B Willie Stargell
2B Lou Whitaker
3B Bill Madlock
SS Barry Larkin
LF Rickey Henderson
LF Tim Raines
CF Ken Griffey Jr.
RF Frank Robinson
RF Reggie Jackson
RF Dave Winfield
SP Dwight Gooden

Honorable Mention: Larry Doby, Lou Brock, Billy Williams, Fred McGriff, Kenny Lofton, Bernie Williams, Ozzie Smith, Jim Rice, Reggie Smith, Vada Pinson, Dave Parker, Darryl Strawberry, Andre Dawson, Kirby Puckett, and Torii Hunter

Also I can't wait to see the new Jackie Robinson movie, 42, when it comes out in April. Looks great!

5 comments:

  1. Tony Gwynn, Cecil Cooper, Bobby Bonds, Ken Griffey Sr, George Foster, JR Richards, Chet Lemon, Willie Horton, Cecil Fielder, Prince Fielder, Mo Vaughn, Mickey Rivers, Oil Can Boyd, Willie McGee, Eric Davis, Willie Wilson, Ron LeFlore, Ben Ogilvie, Al Oliver, Ryan Howard, Hal Mcrae, Gary Templeton, Garry Maddox, Gary Sheffield, Albert Belle, Frank white, Vince Colemen, Lonnie Smith, Ken SIngleton, George Scott, Harold Baines, Bobby Bonilla, ,,,,

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  2. I assume that Fergie Jenkins is excluded because he is an African-Canadien

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  3. Vida Blue, Don Baylor, Kevin Mitchell, Mudcat Grant, Gary Matthews, Alvin Davis, Ron Gant, David Justice, Reggie Sanders, Curtis Granderson....

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  4. Tony Phillips...Roy White, willie randolph

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