The Bookshelf Conversation #171: Philip Lee

One of the main concerns when MLB announced it would incorporate Negro League statistics into the official canon was “How?”

It seemed there were a bunch of problems with that noble effort to recognize Black baseball on a more equal level with the Majors, but the lack of coverage made that difficult. The Black media did not cover the game on the same level as the “popular press. Financially strapped ball clubs eschewed regularly scheduled games more more lucrative exhibition contests. How can one reconcile the figures?

Anecdotally, Josh Gibson hit some 800 home runs, but according to the register Lee provides, that number drops to fewer than 250 “officially.” The same applies to other outstanding Black ballplayers: lots of stories about their talents, but no hard evidence.

Philip Lee makes a compelling set of arguments in Black Stats Matter: Integrating Negro League Numbers into Major League Records. Citing several standards from various sources, including Bill James’ Historical Baseball Abstract, Lee offers as much proof as can be found that these players deserve as much inclusion as those who appeared in such short-lived “major” entities as the short-lived Federal League, the Players League, and National Association, among others.