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The 25 greatest baseball players who never played in the MLB
Judy Johnson, far right, stands with his Pittsburgh Crawfords teammates. Clarence Gatson/Gado/Getty Images

The 25 greatest baseball players who never played in the MLB

Before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, black players weren’t allowed in Major League Baseball. Before the recent advances in the United States’ relationship with Cuba, it was rare for Cuban players to escape their homeland. Thus, the MLB wasn’t always a perfect sampling of the best players in the world.

Even without restrictions, some star international players (especially in countries like Japan) have simply decided not to make the leap to American baseball. Regardless of their backgrounds or reasoning, the following 25 men have two things in common: They were all fantastic at playing the game of baseball, and none of them ever signed a Major League contract.

(Please note that unless otherwise noted, all Negro and International League statistics are unofficial, as game records from that time were notoriously incomplete.)

 
1 of 25

Omar Linares

Omar Linares
Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images

Easily the best player in Cuba in the 1980s and 1990s, Omar Linares still holds records for the highest career average (.368), highest OBP (.487), highest slugging percentage (.644) and most runs scored (1,547), while ranking second in home runs (404). Linares also helped the Cuban National Team win gold medals at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics Games, and a silver in 2000.

 
2 of 25

Héctor Espino

Héctor Espino
Maria Espino, wife of the late Héctor Espino, not pictured, walks off the mound after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch. Photo by MIKE FIALA/AFP/Getty Images

Héctor Espino has been called “The Mexican Babe Ruth,” but don’t feel bad if you’ve never heard of him. After all, Espino played his entire career in Mexico. This was by choice, however, as Héctor received and rejected offers from the Cardinals, Mets, Padres and Angels, earning him another nickname: “The Rebel of Chihuahua.” After bursting on to the scene in 1962 with Rookie of the Year and MVP honors, Espino ended up slugging 484 career home runs, but historians say his true total might be closer to 800. Sure, most of Espino’s records (single-season HRs, hits, doubles, RBI, runs scored) have since been broken, but you could say the same of the Babe.

 
3 of 25

José Méndez

José Méndez
Photo Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images

Cuban pitcher José Méndez wasn’t inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame until 2006, even though he retired 80 years prior. Nicknamed “The Black Diamond,” Méndez shined best against the fiercest competition. In three games against the visiting Cincinnati Reds in 1908, he pitched 25 consecutive shutout innings, allowing only eight hits and three walks while striking out 24. Less than a week later, Méndez pitched another two shutouts — including a no-hitter and another complete game — against minor-league all-star teams.

 
4 of 25

James “Biz” Mackey

James “Biz” Mackey
The 2006 Hall of Fame induction of Biz Mackey, not pictured. Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Biz Mackey wasn’t the greatest offensive catcher of all time, but most would agree he was nevertheless the best behind the dish. Of course, this makes it sound like Biz was some sort of chump at the plate, but chumps don’t rank among the Negro League’s all-time leaders in total bases, RBI and slugging percentage. They definitely don’t have five All-Star nominations and career averages of .322 to their names either. And finally, how many chumps do you know in the Baseball Hall of Fame?

 
5 of 25

Masaichi Kaneda

Masaichi Kaneda
A Japanese baseball fan waves a flag of support. Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Allsport

Although other pitchers have bested Masaichi Kaneda in their primes, no other hurler has racked up more accomplishments than him. Despite playing on a losing team for most of his career, Kaneda’s scorching fastball and devastating drop curve helped him accumulate a whopping 400 wins while striking out 4,490 batters and boasting a 2.34 ERA. This was all good enough for 14 20-win seasons, 10 stints as the league leader in strikeouts, three as the ERA leader and three awards for being the best starter in baseball.

 
6 of 25

George “Mule” Suttles

George “Mule” Suttles
The 2006 Hall of Fame induction of Mule Suttles, not pictured. Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Take one look at the imposing size of George Suttles and his 50-ounce bat, and you won’t be surprised to find out that he’s among the all-time Negro League leaders in home runs, doubles, RBI, slugging percentage and total bases. However, the big man known as “Mule” also batted for a high average, regularly hitting between .300 and .400 each season. Suttles earned five All-Star nods as part of a 23-year Hall of Fame career.

 
7 of 25

Cristobal Torriente

Cristobal Torriente
Photo by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images

After facing off against the Babe Ruth and the New York Giants in a nine-game series in 1920, Cristobal Torriente outhit and out-homered the Great Bambino, helping his team win five games to four. Although he was dubbed “The Black Babe Ruth,” Torriente was actually a five-tool player with power to all fields, enough speed to regularly steal bags, and a strong and accurate arm in center field. An expert hitter, Torriente batted over .300 11 times, earning him two Cuban batting titles on the way to inductions to both the American and Cuban Halls of Fame.

 
8 of 25

Wilber “Bullet Joe” Rogan

Wilber “Bullet Joe” Rogan
Bullet Rogan, middle of front row, stands with his 1934 Kansas City Monarchs teammates. Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images

Although Wilber Rogan ranks fourth in all-time batting average as a .338 hitter with a .515 slugging percentage, it was his pitching that earned him the nickname “Bullet.” In addition to a signature fastball that had more steam than Satchel Paige’s, Rogan also threw an array of curveballs, spitballs, palmballs and forkballs to the tune of a 119-50 record (with 132 complete games) and a 3.68 ERA in the Negro Leagues. While leading the Kansas City Monarchs to a World Series title in 1924, Rogan hit .395 while boasting an 18-5 record on the mound. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.

 
9 of 25

Leon Day

Leon Day
1949 Baltimore Elite Giants Photo Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images

Hall of Famer Monte Irvin once compared Leon Day to the legendary Bob Gibson, except Day “was a better fielder, a better hitter, [and] could run like a deer.” Irvin also claimed Day was better than both Satchel Paige and Don Newcombe, calling him “one of the best complete athletes I’ve ever seen.” Complete indeed, as Leon was used almost every day in some capacity — be it as a started, a reliever, an outfielder or an infielder. Day also owned a no-hitter, was a seven-time All-Star and led his team to a Negro World Series Championship in 1946 as part of a Hall of Fame career.

 
10 of 25

William “Judy” Johnson

William “Judy” Johnson
Judy Johnson, far right, stands with his Pittsburgh Crawfords teammates. Photo by Clarence Gatson/Gado/Getty Images

Even beyond his numbers, third baseman Judy Johnson was a leader, one of the smartest guys to play the game and clutch beyond belief. His .298 career average is impressive but doesn’t accurately reflect how many seasons he batted above .300 (and at least once above .400), his ability to hit to all fields, and his expertise at both bunting and slugging. Johnson was selected as an All-Star twice and won one Negro World Series on the way to a 1975 Hall of Fame induction.

 
11 of 25

Isao Harimoto

Isao Harimoto
Isao Harimoto, right, talks with Major League outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, left. Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Outfielder Isao Harimoto isn’t the highest-ranked Japanese player on this list, but some still argue he was the best. After all, his 3,085 hits, 504 home runs and 319 stolen bases make him and Willie Mays the only players in baseball history to ever hit 3,000 hits, 500 homers and swipe 300 bags. As the only countryman to exceed 3,000 hits, Isao is still Japan’s hit king to this day. Isao also owns an obscene amount of awards. After being named Rookie of the Year in 1959, he also earned 18 All-Star selections, 16 Best Nine awards, seven batting titles and one MVP award.

 
12 of 25

“Cyclone” Joe Williams

“Cyclone” Joe Williams
Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images

Although he never pitched in the MLB, “Cyclone” Joe Williams is still regarded as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, and his 1999 Hall of Fame induction was long overdue. In addition to his startling Negro League numbers (including a 41-win season in 1914), Williams also amassed a 20-7 record against MLB stars in postseason barnstorming exhibitions. He faced an eventual NL champion team three times, winning two of the games. He lost the third against the 1917 New York Giants by a score of 1-0, despite tossing a no-hitter.

 
13 of 25

Ray Dandridge

Ray Dandridge
Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images

Not only was Ray Dandridge the best third baseman in Negro League history (and possibly could have been the best shortstop if it weren’t for another member of this list), but his hitting prowess and speed were enough to get him signed to a New York Giants farm team. Despite winning Rookie of the Year at age 36 while slashing .362/.397/.487 with 64 RBI in 99 games at age 36, being named MVP the following year while batting .311 with 80 RBI, and hitting .324 and .291 over the next two seasons, Dandridge was never called up. He was, however, rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

 
14 of 25

Katsuya Nomura

Katsuya Nomura
Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images

Easily the best backstop in Japanese baseball history, Katsuya Nomura was also one of the game’s most elite hitters, amassing 2,901 hits, 657 home runs and 1,988 RBI while slashing .277/.357/.508 over his 26-year career. In addition to leading the league in homers eight times, Katsuya also earned five MVP awards and won the league’s first Triple Crown in 1965.

 
15 of 25

Martín Dihigo

Martín Dihigo
Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images

Not only was Martín Dihigo the first Cuban-born player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, but he’s one of only two players to be inducted into the American, Cuban and Mexican Baseball Halls of Fame — and that’s to say nothing of his Dominican Republic and Venezuela honors. His combined numbers yield an overall pitching record of 252-132 (including 121 complete games and the lowest single-season ERA in Mexican history) paired with a lifetime batting average of .302, which was good for four Cuban MVP awards and two Negro League All-Star selections.

 
16 of 25

Shigeo Nagashima

Shigeo Nagashima
Photo by Diamond Images/Getty Images

Shigeo Nagashima was arguably Japan’s most popular player, and he spent almost his career batting cleanup behind arguably Japan’s best player (more on him later). Shigeo’s flashy fielding style got him named the best third baseman in the league in each of his 17 seasons, while also earning Rookie of the Year honors, five MVP awards, six batting titles, five RBI crowns and Gold Gloves in each of the two seasons they were offered. He ended his career with a .305 lifetime average, 444 home runs, 2,471 hits and 1,522 RBI.

 
17 of 25

Andrew “Rube” Foster

Andrew “Rube” Foster
Photo by Chicago History Museum/Getty Images

According to Sabermetrics, Andrew “Rube” Foster was the greatest pitcher in Negro League history. He rarely lost, regularly struck out 11 batters in a game, accumulated 44 wins in a row and led the X-Giants to victory over the Philadelphia Giants in the 1903 championship by pitching four of five games in the series. The following year, he switched to Philadelphia and tossed two no-hitters in the regular season on the way to beating the X-Giants in a championship rematch. He won two games in that series while also batting .400. As if this wasn’t enough already, “the father of black baseball” also founded the Chicago American Giants and the Negro National League.

 
18 of 25

Willie “The Devil” Wells

Willie “The Devil” Wells
Willie Wells, standing second from left, poses with teammates. Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images

One of the slickest fielders in baseball history, shortstop Willie Wells committed almost no errors and was credited for teaching Jackie Robinson to turn a double play. He also hit .319 in his career and set a record for most home runs in a season while earning 10 All-Star nominations and two Cuban League MVP awards. He earned his nickname, “The Devil,” while playing down in Mexico, because new players were always warned never to hit the ball in the direction of El Diablo. Wells and the aforementioned Dihigo are the only two players to be inducted into the American, Cuban and Mexican Baseball Halls of Fame.

 
19 of 25

Norman “Turkey” Stearnes

Norman “Turkey” Stearnes
Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Norman Stearnes wasn’t elected to the Hall of Fame until 2000, 21 years after his death, but don’t judge the man based on this fact. Turkey wasn’t just the best left fielder in the Negro Leagues, he was also one of the league’s best all-around players, according to some historians and former teammates. (In 2001, Bill James named him the 25th best player in baseball history.) Although his exact career totals are cloudy, it is rumored that Stearnes hit even more home runs than Mule Suttles or Josh Gibson, while also batting over .400 at least three times and earning five All-Star nods in 20 years.

 
20 of 25

John Henry “Pop” Lloyd

John Henry “Pop” Lloyd
Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images

Considered the best shortstop in Negro League history, Pop Lloyd owned a career batting average of .343 and a .450 slugging percentage, using his excellent bat control to drop hits between fielders and lay down bunts with expert precision. Flashing some speed as well, Pop could score runs as easily as he could drive them in. In his extensive 27-year career, Lloyd suited up for some 12 teams, and his wealth of knowledge and ability to teach allowed him to manage four teams while simultaneously playing for them. Lloyd was elected to Hall of Fame in 1977.

 
21 of 25

Sadaharu Oh

Sadaharu Oh
Photo by Diamond Images/Getty Images

Often referred to as the best player in Japanese baseball history, first baseman Sadaharu Oh swatted an unfathomable 868 home runs (still a world record) while powering the Yomiuri Giants to 11 Japan Series Championships and earning nine MVP awards, five batting titles and three triple crowns along the way. Throughout his 22 seasons, Oh also set records for RBI (2,170), walks (2,390), slugging percentage (.634) and OPS (1.080), before becoming a successful manager.

 
22 of 25

Oscar Charleston

Oscar Charleston
Oscar Charleston, center, stands with Pablo Mesa, left, and Alejandro Oms, right. Photo by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images

A five-tool player, Oscar Charleston has been compared to the likes of Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and Tris Speaker — or possibly all three rolled into one, according to Buck O’Neil. Charleston had a power arm, enough speed to steal over 100 bases in a season and a career .353 average (.318 against major leaguers in exhibition), once batting over .400 while also leading the league in doubles, triples and home runs. Oscar made the Hall in 1976.

 
23 of 25

James “Cool Papa” Bell

James “Cool Papa” Bell
Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images

Before Ichiro, before Lofton and before Rickey, there was Cool Papa Bell — and the legendary stories that surrounded him. Did you know Cool Papa once scored from first on a sacrifice bunt, standing up? Have you heard that he could round the bases in 12 seconds flat? Satchel Paige even quipped that “one time he hit a line drive right past my ear. I turned around and saw the ball hit him sliding into second.” And whenever Buck O’Neil was asked how fast Bell really was, he would always reply, “Faster than that.” Bell also regularly hit over .300 and occasionally .400, including .391 in exhibition against MLB pitchers. Cool Papa was elected to the HOF in 1974.

 
24 of 25

Walter “Buck” Leonard

Walter “Buck” Leonard
Photo by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images

When arguably the greatest Negro League hitter stepped to the plate for the Homestead Grays (more on that shortly), Walter “Buck” Leonard was on deck right behind him, batting cleanup. In addition to owning a lifetime average around .320, Buck was a sure-handed first baseman, often drawing comparisons to Lou Gehrig. Leonard also amassed 13 All-Star selections in his 15 seasons, despite not joining the league until age 26. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

 
25 of 25

Josh Gibson

Josh Gibson
Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images

Eight hundred. That’s the estimated number of homers crushed by Josh Gibson throughout his 17 years in both the Negro and Independent Leagues from 1930-46. Although the exact number can’t be confirmed, many people nevertheless consider Gibson to be the greatest hitter to ever play in the Negro Leagues and possibly baseball in general, with Bill Veeck calling him the best hitter he ever saw. Gibson also had a career average of around .359 (among the all-time leaders) while winning two Negro World Series titles. He was the second Negro Leaguer to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, after only Satchel Paige.

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