The ultimate legacy for baseball players is induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. However, the Hall of Fame was not established until 1936, about 60 years after the first major league teams took the field. As a result, many players were overlooked, particularly those from the nineteenth century and from the negro leagues. Furthermore, the early years of the Hall of Fame was inconsistent in determining who got in and who was left out.
Given these factors of the early baseball Hall of Fame, many worthy players were largely forgotten by baseball. Here are nineteen pre-1950 players who I think deserve a second look for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame:
Paul Hines: The “original” Triple Crown winner (1878). He was the first player to ever lead the league in batting average, home runs, and RBIs in a single season. He also reportedly took part in the first unassisted triple play in history.
Jack Glasscock: Nicknamed “Pebbly Jack” because he would obsessively clear stones from his shortstop position. He was arguably the best defensive shortstop of the 1800s and retired as the all-time leader in hits (since surpassed).
Harry Stovey: A speed demon who was the first player to reach 100 career home runs. He also pioneered the use of sliding pads to protect his legs while stealing bases—which he did 588 times.
Bill Dahlen: Known as “Bad Bill” for his volcanic temper, he was a defensive wizard at shortstop. He held the record for the longest hitting streak (42 games) for three decades until Joe DiMaggio broke it.
Sherry Magee: He was a dominant force for the Phillies, winning a batting title in 1910. His Cooperstown case is hampered by an infamous 1911 incident where he knocked out an umpire with a single punch after a called third strike.
Ed Konetchy: A model of consistency at first base, “Big Ed” racked up over 2,800 hits. He was one of the few stars to jump to the short-lived Federal League and still maintain elite production upon his return.
Joe Jackson: “Shoeless Joe.” His .356 career average is the 3rd highest ever. His exclusion from the baseball Hall of Fame is purely due to his lifetime ban regarding the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, despite hitting .375 in that very World Series.
Heinie Groh: Famous for his “Bottle Bat”—a bat with a thin handle that swelled out dramatically into a thick barrel. He used it to lead the Giants to two World Series titles and remains one of the greatest defensive third basemen ever.
Alex Radcliff: A perennial All-Star third baseman for the Chicago American Giants. He was the brother of the famous “Double Duty” Radcliffe and was known for having one of the most powerful arms in the game.
Tommy Bridges: A curveball specialist for the Tigers. He once came within one out of a perfect game (broken up by a pinch hitter) and was a hero of the 1935 World Series, refusing to be taken out in the 9th inning of the clincher.
Bucky Walters: Originally a struggling third baseman, he converted to pitcher and became an MVP (1939). He won the “Pitching Triple Crown” that year, leading the league in Wins, ERA, and Strikeouts.
Stan Hack: A beloved Cubs third baseman with a career .301 average. He was notoriously difficult to strike out and was known for his perpetual “sunny” disposition, earning the nickname “Smiling Stan.”
Sam Bankhead: The first Black manager in Minor League Baseball (post-integration). A versatile utility man, he was Josh Gibson’s best friend and a mentor to a young Jackie Robinson.
Bob Johnson: “Indian Bob” was a model of elite production, driving in 100+ runs in each of his first seven seasons. He suffered from playing for bad Philadelphia Athletics teams, which hid his Hall of Fame-level stats from the national spotlight.
Bill Byrd: Known as “Daddy” Byrd, he was the master of the spitball. Even after it was banned in the Majors, Byrd continued to baffle hitters with it in the Negro Leagues, becoming one of the winningest pitchers in history.
Frank McCormick: The 1940 NL MVP. He was an “Iron Man” who once played 652 consecutive games at first base. He was a contact-hitting machine, once striking out only 13 times in an entire 150-game season.
Henry Kimbro: A fiery outfielder with a “don’t mess with me” attitude. He was a lead-off specialist with an incredible eye, often finishing near the top of the league in walks and runs scored.
Neil Robinson: One of the most athletic players of the 1940s, Robinson was a legendary home run hitter for the Memphis Red Sox and a multi-time All-Star known for his flair in the outfield.
Ted Strong: A true “two-sport” legend, Strong played for the Kansas City Monarchs and was also an original member of the Harlem Globetrotters. At 6’6″, he was a massive power hitter who could play almost any position.
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