Take Note, Ty Cobb Fans

[Leon]

+1

As the postcard below states, this organized, and well resourced team, was looking to play local teams across the country. I don't know how all the stats were vetted but it seems to me these almost-professional teams outclassed the teams they played. I am not sure if these are types of teams included in statistics though.

Originally Posted by JustinD

I am not missing the point, I am simply stating it is not apples to apples. The statistics you cite are not traditionally clean numbers. These games used statistically by authors like Holman were often Negro Teams consisting of the best barnstormers they could get and some of the best Cuban players. The traveling teams from MLB only needed 5 players with MLB experience to count and were whomever the promoters could afford and some semi-pro players to fill. Some tours even contained not a single major league pitcher in the tour, so for me these numbers do not show depth of everyday players.

There are very few entries of data in which a complete NL team played a complete Major league team. Without that history, the statement of competitive equality is unproven and assumed. It was was most commonly groups of players vs players, not team vs team. I don't see a fair comparison to anything other than WBC.

Please don't mistake this as a downplaying of the Negro League. It of course had numerous players that in the best of worlds would have been playing with the majors. I am only stating that the statistics would have been better done in another way that was less confusing and yet still honored the league.