By J.D. Crowe

Long overdue ‘Welcome Home’: L to R, top to bottom: Satchel Paige, Buck Leonard, ‘Cool Papa” Bell, Oscar Charleston and Josh GibsonJD Crowe

Major League Baseball’s embrace of the Negro Leagues is long overdue. The welcome mat into the record books has been a long time coming but serves as a fitting leadup to the Road to Rickwood game in Brimingham on June 20. The game pits the San Francisco Giants vs. the St. Louis Cardinals. The players will be wearing Negro League era uniforms.

Hall of Famer Josh Gibson nudged Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth out of their lofty positions atop the record books in several major league hitting stats. Satchel Page is now near the top in ERA. Many other Black stars are finally, officially given their due in MLB history.

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