Take Note, Ty Cobb Fans

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by MuncieNolePAZ

Lots of valid points on both sides. I find it interesting in how I personally view this argument based on my collecting and reading habits. In 2020 (when this was first discussed), I was mainly collecting Ty Cobb and Walter Johnson. I had read a ton of biographies on pre integrated MLB HOFs. I thought the idea of merging records was silly and should not happen. Today, my main focus is still Walter Johnson but also Negro League players. My last several biographies have been from Negro League players. I now am for integrating the records. I am not sure if my change in thoughts is based on my love of the Negro Leagues or my current collecting/reading habits or something else. Nothing ground breaking here or am I trying to say my view is more valid than anyone else's, just some random thoughts. I do enjoy the discussion. Chad Paskiewicz

I don't see how anyone can doubt that the Negro Leagues was top baseball, or that the big stars would have been big stars in the major leagues. Was the quality of ball at a big league level, or AAA, AA, A, etc.? We'll never know. One factor to consider is that whites made up 90% of the population then, so they had a much bigger cohort to draw from. Same with 19th century ball, Latin American ball, Japanese ball, etc. So why don't we just have the separate records that were actually set for each of them and concede that some of their players would have been setting records in the majors had they been playing there instead. I just don't see trying to shoehorn them in together in a combined record books--Cooperstown and other honors, sure--as a productive exercise. Let's look at what they actually did in their own leagues and find amazement and inspiration in that.