Most Influential African American Baseball Figure Besides Jackie Robinson

sbfinley · #1 10-23-2014, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Runscott

Surprised at the responses. To me it's Rube Foster - no-brainer. Based on his involvement with bringing semi-pro baseball to the Midwest, and then building on that, popularizing black baseball through his tours and Chicago city league involvement, and then using all of that to create the Negro National League, which gave black players the exposure and experience to push for being allowed in the Major Leagues. No Rube Foster - no Jackie Robinson.

This.

Every name listed is historically important for one reason it another, but without someone (Foster) creating a viable and competitive league for African-Americans, many of the names listed would be lost to history. You can sweeten up Branch Rickey's intentions all you want, but the fact of the matter is that first and foremost he turned to African American ball players to make his team better. No Foster and no Negro Leagues means no Paige, Aaron, Mays, Gibson, etc.

irishdenny · #2 10-23-2014, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Runscott
Surprised at the responses. To me it's Rube Foster - no-brainer. Based on his involvement with bringing semi-pro baseball to the Midwest, and then building on that, popularizing black baseball through his tours and Chicago city league involvement, and then using all of that to create the Negro National League, which gave black players the exposure and experience to push for being allowed in the Major Leagues. No Rube Foster - no Jackie Robinson.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbfinley

This.

Every name listed is historically important for one reason it another, but without someone (Foster) creating a viable and competitive league for African-Americans, many of the names listed would be lost to history. You can sweeten up Branch Rickey's intentions all you want, but the fact of the matter is that first and foremost he turned to African American ball players to make his team better. No Foster and no Negro Leagues means no Paige, Aaron, Mays, Gibson, etc.

Totally Agree with Scott & Steve!
Everything that I have read & learned about Mr. Foster has Always lead me to believe that "He iS the Man!!!"

There's Even a Story about Mr. Rube Foster BeiN' "The Man" Who Taught Christy Mathewson His Fade~Away Pitch... Mr. Mathewson never disputed the Story, So I Believe iT's True!

That's how Influential Mr. Foster was Back iN the Day!

I Salute Mr. Foster... I Believe No One Worked Harder Than He Did oR Even Fir aS Long aS He DiD!!! I Even Think He would give Mr. Jackson a run fir his money aS BeiN' the Most Influential African American... Mr. Jackson was Hand Picked and even Coach'd at times oN how to Act, Re~Act & Carry Himself to the Public's Eye, Not So with ole' Rube! Mr. Foster was a Natural Born Leader. Don't Get me wrong here... They both had their place iN History... I Just think that Mr. Rube Foster was a Remarkable Human Being & the more I learn of Him... the More I Believe!

Derek... Your Typo was Just Classic!
TalkiN form da Grave RiGHT B4 ALL Hallow's Eve... Freeeaky Dude

TimCarrollArt · #3 10-24-2014, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbfinley

This.

Every name listed is historically important for one reason it another, but without someone (Foster) creating a viable and competitive league for African-Americans, many of the names listed would be lost to history. You can sweeten up Branch Rickey's intentions all you want, but the fact of the matter is that first and foremost he turned to African American ball players to make his team better. No Foster and no Negro Leagues means no Paige, Aaron, Mays, Gibson, etc.

And this.

Where would the legends get their start/platform if there were no Negro Leagues? Rube Foster had a monster impact on the game.

Tim

packs · #4 10-24-2014, 08:10 AM

Curt Flood gets my vote.

The question is hard to answer. I think to be truly influential you need to have changed the game of baseball forever. I think that Foster falls into the category of influential to African Americans, but he did not have a lot impact on Major League baseball. The players who would play in the Negro League certainly did, but Foster was far removed by that time. Though I of course understand there is no Negro League without him.

I choose Curt Flood because he influenced baseball at large, just like Jackie Robinson did when he broke the color barrier. After Curt Flood the game would never be the same, which is the same influence Robinson had on it.

Brian Van Horn · #5 10-24-2014, 08:20 AM

Curt Flood because of the reserve clause.

Now, someone who could have been influential if he had not taken his energies and ego into pursuit of ticking off teammates and management alike-Reggie Jackson. If he had put his focus in another vein, he would have easily been on the list.

byrone · #6 10-24-2014, 08:39 AM

Have to go with Satchel Paige.

He gives meaning to the Johnny Cash song "I've Been Everywhere"

Exhibitman · #7 10-24-2014, 10:14 AM

conor912 · #8 10-24-2014, 10:39 AM

I don't think those choices could be any more esoteric. The most influential to the most people had to be Mays. I can see the call for Aaron and what his record did for the game, but I'm sticking with Mays.

bn2cardz · #9 10-24-2014, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conor912

I don't think those choices could be any more esoteric. The most influential to the most people had to be Mays. I can see the call for Aaron and what his record did for the game, but I'm sticking with Mays.

Esoteric or not it is about the most influential person to the game. Just because people haven't heard the names doesn't mean they weren't the most influential person.

John Barber patented the Gas Turbine Engine, yet just because not everyone knows he was doesn't mean he wasn't influential in the history of engines.

conor912 · #10 10-24-2014, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bn2cardz

Esoteric or not it is about the most influential person to the game. Just because people haven't heard the names doesn't mean they weren't the most influential person.

John Barber patented the Gas Turbine Engine, yet just because not everyone knows he was doesn't mean he wasn't influential in the history of engines.

I disagree. "Most influential" to me means "had influence on the most people". You can't tell me that any of the guys in that poll had more influence on more people than Mays. To each his own, though.

oldjudge · #11 10-24-2014, 11:09 AM

Pumpsie Green. Firsts and lasts are always important. While the Dodgers were the first team to integrate, the Red Sox were the last, in 1959. Apparently, team owner Tom Yawkey fought the process. In fact, Jackie Robinson called Yawkey "one of the most bigoted guys in baseball."

Exhibitman · #12 10-24-2014, 11:15 AM

Pre-war, Satchel Paige.

Jason19th · #13 10-24-2014, 11:17 AM

Sam Lacy, Wendell Smith, Frank A. Young, Joe Bostic, Chester L. Washington, W. Rollo Wilson, Dan Burley, Ed Harris, A.S. "Doc" Young and Romeo Dougherty

The players may have been performing the feats but without these guys no one hears about them. They also were very active in trying to set up tryouts and get mainstream support.

Along the same lines, but not black, Shirley Povich (yes Maury's dad) wrote some incredible editorials about integration in the 1930 and 40's

gnaz01 · #14 10-24-2014, 11:22 AM

Hank Aaron

Peter_Spaeth · #15 10-24-2014, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Pumpsie Green. Firsts and lasts are always important. While the Dodgers were the first team to integrate, the Red Sox were the last, in 1959. Apparently, team owner Tom Yawkey fought the process. In fact, Jackie Robinson called Yawkey "one of the most bigoted guys in baseball."

http://www.wbur.org/2013/04/12/jacki...-movie-red-sox

Econteachert205 · #16 10-24-2014, 12:17 PM

My rationale behind Paige is that while Foster was important, another capitalist african american would have likely replaced him in founding a league because of it's financial potential. Paige had no equal in terms of skill and personality and was a big force in driving integration. People wanted to know how good he really was. Then, at such an advanced age, performing so well and in the process capturing people's hearts with his unique style, and also the tragedy of what might have been in terms of major league numbers.

Wihawk · #17 11-21-2014, 10:46 PM

Chalk up another vote for Satchel Paige

toledo_mudhen · #18 11-22-2014, 06:04 AM

Buck O'Neil for me.....

http://newtown100.heraldtribune.com/...seball-beyond/

Fred · #19 11-22-2014, 06:44 AM

Ok, I did it. Up to this post here are the "also rans" or "others" not listed in the original poll. Note that if you said more than one person, then l didn't count either. If I saw you post twice, the second "mention" didn't count. I'd give this list a good chance of being accurate (either that or I'm f*@&ing with you all and just making this up - nah....

)

Hank Aaron - 16
Satchel Paige - 7
Curt Flood - 6
Buck O'Neil - 4
Willie Mays - 3
Frank Robinson - 2

The following had a vote a piece: Josh Gibson, Jim Claxton, Doc Ellis, Pumpsie Green, Larry Doby, Roy Campenella, Clarence Thomas, Maury Wills, Barry Bonds, Derek Jeter.

View Poll Results: Most Influential African American Baseball Figure Besides Jackie Robinson
Bud Fowler (First Black Professional Ballplayer)	0	0%
Moses Fleetwood Walker (First Black Major League Ballplayer)	11	6.71%
Sol White (History of Colored Baseball)	2	1.22%
Rube Foster (Founder of Negro National League)	63	38.41%
Other (Please identify)	88	53.66%
Voters: 164. You may not vote on this poll

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