By Ted Knorr | Harrisburg, PA | November 10, 2026

Throughout the 2026 baseball season, members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) voted on six All-Time Eras Teams as part of baseball’s celebration of the 150th anniversary of the National League’s founding in 1876.Each of the six All-Time Eras Team ballots were released throughout the baseball season. SABR members voted for players at every position on the diamond, as well as the top manager and executive from that era.Below are the six eras, the top vote-getter in each era, the highest-ranking player of color, and the number of players of color who finished among the top 25.

This survey of baseball experts of today makes a compelling case for seeing the Negro Leagues in a stronger light than ispresently accepted. The Negro Leagues have been recognized as a Major League since December 16, 2020. I’ve listed some factors, from this poll, which reinforce that decision:

• Since 4/15/47, two of the three eras are topped by players (Bob Gibson, Mariano Rivera) who would have not been permitted in the Majors prior to April 15, 1947.
• In two of the three post-integration eras, the top vote-getter was a player who would have been barred from the Major Leagues before
• MLB should be commended for their December 16, 2020, recognition of the Negro Leagues as major and for their willingness to admit they erred in 1969 when they failed to include the Negro Leagues at that point in time.
• I also commend SABR for their 2026 All-time Eras poll that I will be revisiting in the future in this column after I study it some more.
• I look forward to commending the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum when they better educate the public on the history of baseball in the first half of the twentieth century by inducting more Negro League Hall of Famers.The Hall of Fame remains at least 41 Negro League inductees short of fairly recognizing Black baseball’s contribution to the game.

In closing today’s column, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out the credentials earned by six of the non-Hall of Fame players (and one manager) have earned … all six are Hall of Fame worthy. Here they are in reverse order:

From the 19^th century, George Washington Stovey made the third team – finishing 15^thamong 50 pitchers on the ballot. Every pitcher finishing ahead of him is in the Hall of Fame. He outpolled four other Hall of Fame pitchers, and no other non-inducted pitcher beat him.

Next,Spottswood Poles who lies in eternal rest in a Hall of Fame known as Arlington National Cemetery finished 8^th among outfielders …..finishing ahead of three Hall of Famers and 19 of the 20 non-Hall of Fame candidates on the ballot– who beat him you might ask – Shoeless Joe Jackson.

I slate John Donaldson next … he finished 13^th among 15 pitchers with everyone ahead of him having a Cooperstown plaque.More significantly, Donaldson finished ahead of every non-Hall of Fame pitcher on the ballot.

There are no second baseman in the Hall for Negro League play. Newt Allen finished 3^rd in the poll behind Rogers Hornsby and Charlie Gehringer …finishing ahead of 7 other keystoners including four Hall of Famers.

No Major League manager who appeared in as many games as Vic Harris has a higher winning percentage.No manager is in the Hall representing the Negro Leagues in that role. He finished behind only Miller Huggins and Joe McCarthy who won 10 World Series and 15 pennants between them.

Finally, when the results of the Segregated Era were announced it was stated that only players on the first, second and third team would be announced … watching live the first item that I noticed was the names  – Heilmann, Simmons and Waner – of the third team. I was extremely disappointed because, even I did not expect my hero to – Rap Dixon – to make first or second team. While I did feel he finished strong I had no way of really knowing how well he had done all I knew is, at best, he had finished 10^th among thirty outfielders. SABR reconsidered its policy and just last week announced full results … lo and behold, Rap Dixon did finish 10^th. Losing to 9 Hall of Famers such as  Ruth, DiMaggio, Oscar Charleston. He defeated 11 other Hall of Fame outfielders on the ballot and, in theory four others, considered, who failed to make the final cut. Thus, Rap Dixon did better than 15 of the 24 Hall of Fame outfielders considered by SABR. C’mon Man!

These six candidates for this poll – and, hopefully, the December 2027 Classic Baseball Era Committee vote of the Hall of Fame – all belong.

Last Week’s Shadow Ball Significa Question of the Week

What yet to be inducted Hall of Fame caliber Negro League shortstop was nicknamed “King Richard”? Will Clark, Hackensack, NJ, submitted the correct answer – Dick “King Richard” Lundy. Will is leading all readers in correct Significa answers.

This Week’s Shadow Ball Significa Questions of the Week

Speaking of Negro League polls that identify the best Negro League players, one of the earliest was the 1952 Pittsburgh Courier poll … name the only three “players” named to that polls 1^st team yet to be inducted into the baseball hall of fame?

Ted Knorr is a Negro League baseball historian, longtime member of the Society for American Baseball Research’s Negro League Committee, and founder of the Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference and several local Negro League Commemorative Nights in central Pennsylvania.

Beyond his research and organizing work, Ted is frequently invited to speak at sporting events, community programs, family gatherings, and educational forums, where he brings Negro League history to life. His deep knowledge of the players, teams, and cultural impact of Black baseball has made him a trusted voice for audiences who want to understand the legacy and significance of the Negro Leagues.

Send questions or Significa answers to shadowball@truthseekersjournal.com or Shadow Ball, 3904 N Druid Hills Rd, Ste 179, Decatur, GA 30033.

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