On Wednesday, Major League Baseball (MLB) finally acknowledged the remarkable achievements of players from the Negro Leagues by incorporating their statistics into its historical record. It’s about time!

This groundbreaking decision elevates legends like Josh Gibson, now the all-time Major League batting champion, and Satchel Paige, who is third all-time for a single-season ERA. It’s undeniably historic.

However, this decision is only the tip of the iceberg regarding justice for these players. I fear MLB is patting itself on the back while conveniently ignoring the real debts owed.

Incorporating stats from the Negro Leagues

Famous White players like Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb have long held many MLB records. Now, those records belong to relatively unknown Black players like Josh Gibson and Satchel Page.

The Negro Leagues operated for 60 years until Jackie Robinson integrated MLB in 1947. But the Negro league only existed because legal segregation barred Black players from MLB.

It’s great that MLB is acknowledging that Gibson’s batting prowess and Paige’s pitching skills are the best in baseball history. Unfortunately, the “what if” Babe Ruth had to face Satchel Paige on the mound will be lost forever to history.

Even so, I can’t imagine a single fan does not fully appreciate how good those Black players were.

The true cost of segregation: lost income and opportunities

This acknowledgment presumes to correct historical wrongs. But it does not go far enough. After all, players from the Negro Leagues were not only denied the opportunity to compete in MLB but also suffered immense financial and professional losses.

“Separate but equal” accommodations were just legal fiction. Separate but equal leagues were too. Yet Blacks were forced to play in separate but unequal leagues for over 60 years.

As a result, they faced severe income disparities and lost opportunities. These players’ talent and skill were on par with, if not superior to, their MLB counterparts. Yet they earned a fraction of the income. They also endured inferior playing conditions, traveling conditions, and living accommodations.

Reparations: more than just statistics

Recognizing player stats from the Negro Leagues in the MLB record books is mostly symbolic. It does little to address the tangible losses these players endured.

MLB must go beyond symbolic recognition and provide financial reparations to the survivors and families of players from the Negro Leagues. This would acknowledge the economic injustices these players faced and offer a measure of compensation for the opportunities and income they were unjustly denied.

Justice demands a comprehensive approach that includes financial reparations for the descendants of players from the Negro Leagues. By addressing both the symbolic and economic wrongs, MLB can take a significant step towards healing the wounds of segregation and honoring the true legacy of these legendary athletes.