Ray Dandridge: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1987

Born: August 31, 1913
1933-39: Negro Leagues
1940-43: Mexican League
1942, 1944: Negro Leagues
1945-48: Mexican League
1949: New York Cubans Manager
1949-55: Minor Leagues
1949: American Association Rookie of the Year
1950: American Association MVP
1955: Retired
1987: Elected to Hall of Fame (Vets Cmte)
1994: Died
1999: Elected to Virginia Sports Hall of Fame

Accomplishments:
3x All Star
1949 American Assoc Rookie of the Year
1950 American Assoc MVP
Negro League Average: .355

Rube Foster: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1981

Born: September 17, 1879

1897-1901: Independent Leagues

1902: Chicago Union Giants

1903: Cuban X Giants

1904-06: Philadelphia Giants

1905: 25-3 confirmed record. Foster claims he was 51-4.

1907-10: Leyland Giants (Player-Manager)

1909: Suffered broken leg

1911-17: Chicago American Giants (Player-Manager)

1917: Retired as a player

1911-26: Managed Chicago American Giants

1920: Founded National Negro League

1926: Confined to a mental institution

Died: December 9, 1930

1931: NNL collapsed

1981: Elected to Hall of Fame (Negro League Cmte)

2010: USPS issued a Rube Foster stamp

Accomplishments:

Founded NNL

Hall of Fame caliber pitcher

Willie Mays: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1979

Born: May 6, 1931

1947-50: Negro Leagues

1950: Signed by the New York Giants

1950-1: Minor Leagues

Debut: May 25, 1951 (Giants)

1951: Started 0-for-23 then homered off Warren Spahn

1951: Rookie of the Year

1951: Giants start first all black OF in history

1951: Giants win Pennant

1952-3: Korean War service

1954: NL MVP

1954: .345, 41, 110, 119 runs, 195 hits, 1.078 OPS, .667 Slugging, .411 OBP, 377 TB

1954: Won Batting Title (.345)

1954: Made most famous catch in baseball history in World Series

1954: Giants win World Series

1955: 51 Home Runs

1956: 30-30 club (36 HR/40 SB)

1957: 20-20-20-20 club (26 doubles, 20 Triples, 35 HR, 38 SB)

1957: Giants move to San Francisco at season's end

1961: 4 HR game vs. Milwaukee

1962: Giants win Pennant

1963: Homered to end a 16 inning duel between Juan Marichal and Warren Spahn (1-0 final)

1963: All Star Game MVP

1965: NL MVP

1965: .317, 52, 112, .398 OBP, .645 slugging, 1.043 OPS, 360 TB, 118 runs

1965: Hit 500th home run

1968: All Star Game MVP

1969: Hit 600th home run

1970: Voted Player of the Decade for the 1960s by TSN

1971: Roberto Clemente Award

1972: Traded to the New York Mets

1972: Giants retire #24

1973: Mets win Pennant

1973: Retired

1979: Elected to Hall of Fame (94.7%)

1980: Mays took a job at a casino, Commissioner Kuhn later banned him from the game for the association.

1985: Reinstated to baseball by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth

1986-present: Special Asst to the President of the SF Giants

1999: All Century Team


Accomplishments:
1954 World Champion

24x All Star

2x MVP

3,000 Hit Club

600 HR Club

1954 Batting Champ

4x HR Champ

1951 Rookie of the Year

1971 Roberto Clemente Award

12x Gold Glove

2x ASG MVP

4x Player of the Month

Player of the Decade-1960s

All Century Team

Only player with a 3 triple game and a 4 HR game

4 HR Game (4-30-61)

"The Catch"

.302 Average

2,062 Runs

3,283 Hits

523 Doubles

140 Triples

660 Home Runs

1,906 RBI

338 SB

.384 OBP

.557 Slugging

.941 OPS

6,066 TB

100+ Runs: 12x

208 hits (1958)

40+ doubles: 6x

30+ doubles: 5x

10+ triples: 5x

20 Triples (1957)

50+ HR: 2x

40+ HR: 6x

30+ HR: 11x

20+ HR: 17x

100+ RBI: 10x

20+ SB: 7x

30+ SB: 3x

40 SB (1956)

112 walks (1971)

.300 average: 10x

.400 OBP: 5x

.500 slugging: 14x

.600 slugging: 5x

1.000 OPS: 5x

300 TB: 13x

Led league in runs: 2x

Led league in hits (190): 1960

Led League in triples: 3x

Led league in HR: 4x

Led league in SB: 4x

Led league in walks (112): 1971

Led league in OBP: 2x

Led league in slugging: 5x

Led league in TB: 3x

Postseason: .247, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 3 SB, .660 OPS

Pop Lloyd: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1977

Born: April 25, 1884

1905: Began pro career

1906: Cuban X-Giants

1907-09: Philadelphia Giants

1910: Leland Giants

1911-15: Lincoln Giants

1914-7: Chicago American Giants

1915: Lincoln Stars

1918-20: Brooklyn Royal Gianst

1919-1932 (on and off): Bacharach Giants

1921: Hired to help form Columbus Negro League squad

1921: Columbus Buckeyes
1923: Hilldale Giants

1924: Won Batting Title

1924: Had 11 straight hits

1926-30: Lincoln Giants

1931-32: Managed Bacharach Giants

Died: March 19, 1964

1977: Elected to Hall of Fame


Accomplishments:
.343 career hitter

Martin Dihigo: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1977

Born: May 25, 1906

1922: Began pro career in Cuba

1922-47: Cuban Leagues

1923: Joined Negro Leagues

1923-7: Cuban Stars (East)

1927-8: Homestead Grays

1929: Hilldale Giants

1930: Cuban Stars (East)

1930-1: Hilldale Giants

1935-36, 1945: New York Cubans

1937-47: Mexican League

1951: Elected to Cuban Baseball HOF

1964: Elected to Mexican Baseball HOF

Died: May 20, 1971

1977: Elected to Hall of Fame (Negro League Committee)


Accomplishments:
2x Negro League All Star

Cuban and Mexican Baseball Hall of Fames

Ernie Banks: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1977

Born: January 31, 1931

1950: Graduated High School

1950: Signed with Kansas City Monarchs

1951-3: Korean War Service

1953: Back to Monarchs

1953: Sold to Chicago Cubs

Debut: September 17, 1953 (Cubs)

1955: Set HR record for shortstops

1958: NL MVP (.313, 47 HR, 129 RBI, .614 Slugging, .980 OPS, 379 TB)

1959: NL MVP (.304, 45 HR, 143 RBI, .970 OPS, .596 Slugging, 351 TB)

1961: Banks moved to the outfield (later first base)

1962: Three HR game after returning from a concussion received in a beaning

1962: Ran for Chicago Alderman, but lost

1963: Suffered from the mumps

1965: Hit 400th homerun

1967-71: Player/Coach

1967: Became first black owner of a Ford Dealership

1968: Lou Gehrig Award

1969: Cubs overtaken by Miracle Mets for the Pennant

1970: Hit 500th homerun

1971: Retired

1977: Elected to Hall of Fame (83.8% of the vote)

1982: Cubs retired his #14

1999: All Century Team

2008: Cubs unveil statue

2008: Eddie Vedder's song "All The Way" was a birthday gift to Banks

2009: Named Library of Congress Living Legend

2013: Presidential Medal of Freedom


Accomplishments:
14x All Star

2x MVP

1960 Gold Glove

895 Consecutive Games played

.274

512 home runs

1636 RBI

1305 runs

2583 hits

407 doubles

90 triples

.330 OBP

.500 Slugging

.830 OPS

4706 TB

100+ runs: 2x

30+ doubles: 2x

11 triples (1958)

20+ HR: 13x

30+ HR: 7x

40+ HR: 5x

100+ RBI: 8x

Hit .300: 2x

.500 slugging: 8x

.614 slugging (1958): Led league

300 TB: 6x

Led league in games played: 6x

Led league in HR: 2x

Led league in RBI: 2x

Led league in IBB: 2x

Led league in TB (379): 1958

Oscar Charleston: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1976

Born: October 14, 1896

1911-5: Served in U.S. army

1915-18: Indianapolis ABCs

1916: Lincoln Stars

1919: Detroit Stars

1920: ABCs

1921: St Louis Giants

1922-3: ABCs

1924-27: Harrisburg Giants

1928-29: Hilldale

1930-1: Homestead Grays

1932-37: Pittsburgh Crawfords

1941: Philadelphia Stars

1954: Died

1976: Elected to Hall of Fame (Negro League Committee)

1999: Finalists All Century team

Accomplishments:

3x All Star

.348 average

Judy Johnson: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1975

Born: October 26, 1899
1919: Joined semi-pro team
1921: Purchased by Hilldale Daisies for $100
1924: Hilldale won Pennant
1925: Hilldale won Negro League World Series
1929: Hilldale club went bankrupt; joined Homestead Grays as player-manager
1930: Discovered Josh Gibson
1932: Moved to Pittsburgh Crawfords
1935: Crawfords won Pennant
1954: Became first black MLB coach for Phillies
1975: Elected to Hall of Fame
Died: 1989
Accomplishments:
1925 NL Champion
2x All Star 

Cool Papa Bell: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1974

Born: March 17, 1903

1921: Signed with Compton Hill Cubs as a pitcher, but the team disbanded

1922-31: St. Louis Stars

1924: Began to move away from pitching; he learned the outfield and how to switch hit

1928, 1930-31: Stars win League Championship

1929-41: Great Depression

1932: Detroit Wolverines

1932-4: KC Monarchs

1933-38: Pittsburgh Crawfords

1937-41: Played abroad

1942: Memphis Red Sox

1942: Chicago American Giants

1943-46: Homestead Grays

1943-4: Grays win Championship

1950-70: Managed, Scouted, worked as security and custodian at St Louis City Hall

1974: Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame (Negro League Committee)

Died: 1991

1999: All Century Team

Accomplishments:

5x Champion

8x All Star 

.337 Average

St. Louis Cardinals erected a statue of him outside Busch Stadium

Monte Irvin: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1973

Born: February 25, 1919

High School: Set New Jersey state records in Javelin.

Attended Lincoln University

1938-48: Negro Leagues

1942: Mexican League

1943-45: World War II service

1949: Signed by New York Giants

Debut: July 8, 1949 (Giants)

1949-50: Minor Leagues

1951: .312, 24 HR, 121 RBI, .929 OPS

1951: Formed first all-black outfield with Willie Mays and Hank Thompson

1951: Giants win the Pennant

1954: Giants win World Series

1955: Rule 5 pickup by Cubs

1957: Minor Leagues

1957: Retired

1967-8: Scout for Mets

1968-84: PR specialist for MLB

1973: Elected to Hall of Fame (Negro League Committee)

2010: Giants retired his #20

Accomplishments:

1954 World Champion

1952 All Star

5x Negro League All Star

.293 Average

366 Runs

731 Hits

99 HR

443 RBI

.858 OPS

.383 OBP

.475 Slugging

11 Triples (1951)

20+ HR: 2x

Led League 121 RBI (1951)

Hit .300: 3x

.400 OBP: 2x

.500 Slugging: 2x

Postseason: .394, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 2 SB, .913 OPS (2 World Series)

Buck Leonard: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1972

Born: September 8, 1907

1921: Finished school at 14. Black youths could not attend High School at the time.

1933: Negro League debut (Brooklyn Royal Giants)

1934: Joined to Homestead Grays

1937-45: Grays won the NNL title each season

1950: Retired from NNL

1950-5: Played in Mexico and in Minors

1952: Offered a major league contract, but declined due to his age

1955: Permanently retired

1972: Elected to Hall of Fame

1997: Died

1999: Finalist for All-Century team

Josh Gibson: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1972

Born: December 21, 1911

Debut: 1929 (Homestead Grays)

1930: Became regular catcher for Grays

1932: Moved to Pittsburgh Crawfords

1936-7: Cuban Winter League

1937: Returned to Grays

1937: Dominican League

1937-8: Cuban Winter League

1939-40: Puerto Rican Winter League

1940-41: PR Winter League

1941: Mexican League

1942: Back to Grays

1943: Has mental breakdown

1947: Died of a stroke on January 20

1972: Elected to Hall of Fame (Negro League Committee)

Satchel Paige: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1971

Born: July 7, 1906

1919-1923: Committed to an Industrial school for truancy

1924-26: Played Semi-pro ball for Mobile Tigers

1926: Signed with Chattanooga Black Lookouts

1927: Sold to Birmingham Black Barons

1927-9: Black Barons

1929: Jumped to Cuban League

1930: Baltimore Black Sox

1931: Homestead Grays

1933: Jumped teams again

1934: Pitched against Dizzy Dean in several exhibitions (they continued through 1945 in the offseason)

1935: Jumped teams again; received a ban from the NNL for jumping

1936: Faced Joe DiMaggio in an exhibition (DiMaggio went 1-for-4 and knocked in the winning run)

1936: Returned to NNL

1937: Jumped to the Dominican Republic

1938: Went to Mexico

1939: Arm problems left him teamless, so he barnstormed some more

1939-40: Puerto Rico

1940-47: Kansas City Monarchs

1946-47: Barnstormed against Bob Feller

1948: Signed by Cleveland Indians

Debut: July 9, 1948 (Oldest man ever to debut at age 42)

1948: Hesitation pitch ruled illegal

1948: Indians win World Series

1951: Signed by St. Louis Browns

1952-53: Made All Star Team

1954-57: Minors and barnstorming

1957: Appeared in the movie, The Wonderful Country

1965: Signed by Kansas City A's

1966: Played final game in minors

1968: Became deputy sheriff in Jackson County, Missouri (lost re-election)

1968-9: Coach/Pitcher for Braves (Braves signed him so he could get a pension)

1971: Elected to Hall of Fame (Negro League Committee)

1982: Died

Accomplishments:

1948 World Champion

2x All Star

28-31 record

3.29 ERA

179 games-26 starts-7 CG

4 SHO

109 GF

Led league in GF (35): 1952

32 saves

476 IP

288 Strikeouts

1.279 WHIP

Postseason: 1 game, 0.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 0 runs, 0 strikeouts (1948 World Series)   

Roy Campanella: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1969

Born: November 19, 1921

1937: Dropped out of High School to play baseball

1937-45: Played in Negro Leagues

1942-43: Played in Mexican League

1946: Signed by Brooklyn Dodgers

1947: Jackie Robinson desegregates baseball

Debut: April 20, 1948 (Dodgers)

1949: Dodgers lose World Series

1951: NL MVP

1952 and 1953: Dodgers lose World Series

1952: Caught Carl Erskine’s no-hitter

1953: Set Dodger RBI record (143)-since broken

1953: Set home run record for catcher (40)- since broken

1953: NL MVP

1955: NL MVP

1955: Dodgers win World Series

1956 Caught no-hitters for Carl Erskine and Sal Maglie

1956: Dodgers lose World Series

1957-8: Dodgers move to Los Angeles

1958: Car accident leaves Campy paralyzed

1959: Appeared on Lassie

1959: Roy Campanella Night at the Coliseum

1959: Wrote book, It’s Good to be Alive

1959-93: Worked for/with Dodgers

1969: Elected to Hall of Fame (79% of vote)

1972: Dodgers retired his #39

1993: Died (heart attack)

2006: Honored with a postage stamp

2006: Dodgers named an award after him

Accomplishments:

1955 World Champion

3x MVP

8x All Star

Highest caught stealing percentage in history (57%)

 

Caught Three No-Hitters

.276

242 HR

856 RBI

627 runs

1161 hits

.360 OBP

.500 Slugging

.860 OPS

103 Runs (1953)

33 Doubles (1951)

20+ HR: 7x

30+ HR: 4x

41 HR (1953)

100+ RBI: 3x

Led league in RBI (142): 1953

Hit .300: 3x

.500 slugging: 3x

.611 slugging (1953)

1.006 OPS (1953)

317 TB (1953)

Postseason: .237, 4 HR, 12 RBI, .696 OPS (5 World Series)

Ted Williams: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1966

Born: August 30, 1918

1936-7: Played in the Pacific Coast League (discovered by Eddie Collins)

1938: Signed by Red Sox

Debut: April 20, 1939 (Red Sox)

1939: Babe Ruth declared Williams “rookie of the year”

1940: Pitched two innings against the Tigers, he allowed one run and struck out Rudy York

1941: Hit GW walk-off in ASG

1941: Hit .406 (won Batting Title)

1942: Won Triple Crown/DiMaggio wins MVP (36, 137, .356)

1943-5: World War II

1946: Williams shift first employed by Cleveland Indians’ manager Lou Boudreau

1946: Red Sox win Pennant

1946: Williams wins AL MVP

1947: Wins Triple Crown/DiMaggio wins MVP (.343, 32, 114)

1948: Sox lose pennant playoff against Indians

1948: Won batting title (.369)

1949: Wins AL MVP

1950: Breaks arm in ASG

1952-3: Korean War

1954: Broke collarbone

1956: Spat on a fan

1957: Hit .388 at age 40 (Won Batting Title)

1958: Won Batting Title (.328)

1960: Hit 500^th home run

1960: Homered in last AB of career

1966: Elected to Hall of Fame

1966: Gave memorable speech honoring Negro League players and calling for their recognition

1969-72: Managed Washington Senators/Texas Rangers (273-364)

1991: Presidential Medal of Freedom

1999: Honored at Fenway Park ASG

1999: All Century Team

2000: Elected to the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame in 2000

2002: Died (litigation followed)

2004: Son, John-Henry died

2004: Red Sox finally win World Series

Accomplishments:

19x All Star

2x MVP

2x Triple Crown winner

6x Batting Champ

4x Home run champ

Last man to hit .400

Led league in games (155): 1949

Led league in runs: 6x

.344

521 HR

1839 RBI

1798 runs

2654 hits

525 doubles

2021 walks-709 strikeouts

.482 OBP (1^st all time)

.634 slugging

1.116 OPS

4884 TB

100+ runs: 9x

30+ doubles: 8x

40+ doubles: 4x

Led league in doubles: 2x

10+ triples: 2x

30+ HR: 8x

43 HR (1949)

4x RBI Champ

100+ RBI: 9x

159 RBI (1949)

100+ walks: 11x

Led league in walks: 8x

Hit .300+: 15x

Hit .350+: 5x

.406 (1941)

.400 OBP: 15x

.500 OBP: 3x

Led league in OBP: 12x

.500 slugging: 15x

.600 slugging: 12x

.700 slugging: 3x

Led league in slugging: 9x

OPS 1.000 or higher: 17x

Led league in OPS: 10x

300 TB: 9x

Led league in TB: 6x

Postseason: .200, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .533 OPS

Jackie Robinson: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1962

Jackie Robinson

Born: January 31, 1919

1937-39: Attended Pasadena Junior College

1938: Arrested for disputing the arrest of a friend by police.

1939-41: Attended UCLA where he was a track star

1942: Drafted into army

1943: Commissioned 2^nd lieutenant

1944: Court-martialed for refusing to sit in the back of a desegregated bus

1944: He was acquitted and honorably discharged

1944-5: Athletic Director for Sam Houston College

1945: Signed with KC Monarchs of Negro Leagues

1945: Branch Rickey signs Robinson to a Minor League contract with the Dodgers

1946: Plays for Montreal Royals

Debut: April 15, 1947 (Dodgers)

1947: Robinson becomes first black player in Major Leagues since 1887

1947: Won Rookie of the Year

1947: Dodgers lose World Series to Yankees

1949: “Did You See Jackie Hit That Ball?” becomes a hit single

1949: Testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee

1949: Won batting title (.342)

1949: Won NL MVP

1949: Dodgers lose World Series to Yankees

1950: The movie, The Jackie Robinson Story starring Robinson is released

1951: Hit dramatic home run to force pennant playoff (Dodgers lost playoff)

1952: Dodgers lose World Series to Yankees

1953: Was openly criticizing segregation by this point

1953: Dodgers lose World Series to Yankees

1955: Steals home in World Series. Yogi Berra swears he was out.

1955: Dodgers win the World Series

1956: Dodgers lose World Series to Yankees

1957: Retired after being traded to the Giants

1957-64: VP for personnel for Chock full o’ Nuts

1960: Endorsed Richard Nixon for President

1962: Elected to Hall of Fame

1964: Served on Nelson Rockefeller’s presidential campaign

1965: First black hired to do color analysis

1966: GM for Brooklyn Dodgers in the Continental Football League

1970: Started Robinson Construction Company to build for low income families

1971: Son died in an auto accident

1972: Did color commentary for Montreal Expos

1972: Dodgers retired his #42

1972:  Appeared at World Series advocating for black managers

1972: Died

1975: Frank Robinson became the first black manager

1984: Won the Presidential Medal of Freedom

1987: The Rookie of the Year Award was named in his honor

1997: MLB retired #42 for all clubs

1999: Time Magazine named him one of the most 100 influential people of the 20^th century

1999: All Century Team

2005: Won the Congressional Gold Medal

2013: The Movie 42 is released starring Harrison Ford

Accomplishments:

Desegregated Baseball

1955 World Champion

1949 NL MVP

1947 Rookie of the Year

1949 Batting Champ

6x All Star

#42 retired by all MLB teams

Negro League All Star

2x stolen base champ

.311 average

137 Home runs

734 RBI

947 runs

273 doubles

54 triples

197 steals

.409 OBP

.474 Slugging

.883 OPS

Hit .300: 6x

Scored 100 runs: 6x

203 hits (1949)

30+ doubles: 6x

12 triples (1949)

124 RBI (1949)

20+ steals: 5x

37 steals (1949)

106 walks (1952)

740 walks-249 strikeouts

.400 OBP: 6x

.500 slugging: 5x

Led league in SH: 2x

Led league w/7 HBP (1948)

Postseason: .234, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 6 SB, .679 OPS (6 World Series)