By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA – December 8, 2024

Ted Knorr, a passionate baseball historian from Harrisburg, PA, has made it his mission to secure the rightful recognition of Negro League legend Hebert Alphonso “Rap” Dixon in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Knorr, a fixture in the Negro League baseball history community, delivered an inspiring presentation in June to the Kingston Woman’s History Club (KWHC). It was his third appearance before the organization.

Knorr’s address centered on Dixon, a trailblazing outfielder whose name resonates in the archives of Negro League baseball. Despite being named to the prestigious Negro League Centennial Team in 2018, Dixon remains the only position player from that roster yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

A Historian’s Mission

Knorr’s journey with baseball history began with tales shared by his father about Pittsburgh Negro League greats like Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson. His fascination deepened after joining the Society for American Baseball Research in 1979 and its Negro League Research Committee in 1984. This passion eventually led him to Dixon, who played for the Harrisburg Giants.

Discovering that Dixon’s team had played at Rossmere Base Ball Park—on the very site of his high school in Lancaster—sparked a 36-year odyssey of research for Knorr. He’s since emerged as one of the foremost advocates for Dixon’s enshrinement in Cooperstown, building a case rooted in decades of meticulous study.

The Push for Cooperstown

Dixon, born September 15, 1902, in Kingston, Georgia. He lived a life shaped by both talent and struggle. The son of John and Rose Goodwin Dixon, his family relocated to Steelton, Pennsylvania, when he was a child. Dixon went on to have a remarkable career in the Negro Leagues. Dixon’s name became synonymous with speed, power, and skill in the outfield.

Knorr highlighted Dixon’s contributions to baseball during his presentation. He urged the KWHC audience to join the push for his induction. Ann Bridges-Jones, a former KWHC president, has been instrumental in amplifying Knorr’s efforts. She collaborated with him to create permanent exhibits honoring Dixon’s legacy at the club’s museums.

“The Hall of Fame is incomplete without Rap Dixon,” Knorr argued, emphasizing the glaring oversight.

A Timely Effort

The National Baseball Hall of Fame evaluates Negro League players alongside Classic Baseball Era candidates, focusing on contributions before 1980. The Classic Baseball Era Committee, which meets every three years, convening today, offered a critical window for Dixon’s consideration. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum announced on November 11, 2024, an eight-person ballot that will be considered today by its Classic Baseball Era Committee for Hall of Fame election for the Class of 2025. That ballot failed yet again to include Dixon as a candidate.

Knorr’s campaign reminds the baseball world of the enduring need to honor players who were denied equal opportunities during their lifetimes. “We owe it to players like Dixon to ensure their stories are preserved and celebrated,” he said.

Keeping History Alive

The Kingston Woman’s History Club, which hosted Knorr, maintains two local museums: the Kingston History Museum and the Confederate Memorial Museum. These institutions, open on weekends, provide insight into the region’s post-Civil War life and Civil War artifacts, respectively.

Knorr’s advocacy bridges the worlds of local history and national recognition. Through his dedication, he hopes to immortalize Dixon’s contributions and inspire future generations to uncover and honor the unsung heroes of baseball.

The Classic Baseball Era Committee will announce live the results of their deliberations on MLB Network’s “MLB Tonight” at 6:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, Dec. 8. Knorr’s efforts stand as a powerful reminder that history’s legends deserve their place in the spotlight.

In addition to any electees who emerge from the 2025 Baseball Writers’ Association of America election, which will be announced on January 21, 2025, the candidate who receives votes on 75 percent of the committee’s ballots will be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and inducted in Cooperstown on July 27, 2025

Managers, umpires, executives, and players who have been retired for more than 15 seasons can all be considered for Hall of Fame status through the Era Committee procedure, of which the Classic Baseball Era Committee is one of three groups.