Yes, we missed seeing Josh Gibson. And Cool Papa Bell. And Satchel Paige in his prime. But imagine all the others we would have missed, too, had Jackie Robinson not broken the color line. Below are some of the players who emigrated from the Negro Leagues from 1947-59 -- the year the final team integrated.
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Jackie Robinson
Negro: Kansas City Monarchs.
Debut: April 15, 1947, with Dodgers.
All-Star: 6.
Of note: Generally considered the most significant player in history. Was the first black man to play in the majors, win the MVP and enter the Hall of Fame.
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Don Newcombe
Negro: Newark Eagles.
Debut: May 22, 1949, with Dodgers.
All-Star: 4.
Of note: Only player in history to win rookie of the year, MVP and Cy Young awards while pitching for the Dodgers.
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Roy Campanella
Negro: Baltimore EliteGiants.
Debut: July 1, 1948, with Dodgers.
All-Star: 8.
Of note: So great were his talents that he began playing for the Elite Giants at 15. Went on to win three NL MVPs.
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Larry Doby
Negro: Newark Eagles.
Debut: July 5, 1947, with Indians.
All-Star: 7.
Of note: The second black man to play in the majors and the first in the American League, which proved to be much slower to integrate.
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Minnie Minoso
Negro: New York Cubans.
Debut: April 19, 1949, with Indians.
All-Star: 6.
Of note: Made quite the first impression in 1949, hitting .326 and leading the AL in stolen bases as a rookie.
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Satchel Paige
Negro: Homestead Grays, Pittsburgh Crawfords, Kansas City Monarchs.
Debut: July 8, 1948, with Indians.
All-Star: 2.
Of note: He was perhaps the most storied player in the history of the Negro Leagues.
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Willie Mays
Negro: Birmingham Barons.
Debut: May 25, 1951, with Giants.
All-Star: 24.
Of note: If not for a two-year stint in the army (1952-53), he might have been the one to break Babe Ruth's home run record.
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Ernie Banks
Negro: Kansas City Monarchs.
Debut: Sept. 17, 1953, with Cubs.
All-Star: 11.
Of note: From 1955-60, he hit more home runs than anyone in the majors. He became almost as famous for his passion for the game e.g. "Let's play two."
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Hank Aaron
Negro: Indianapolis Clowns.
Debut: April 13, 1954, with Braves.
All-Star: 21.
Of note: He never hit more than 44 home runs in a season, but his consistency was legendary en route to becoming the game's all-time home run hitter (755).
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Jim Gilliam
Negro: Baltimore EliteGiants.
Debut: April 14, 1953, with Dodgers.
All-Star: 2.
Of note: His talents forced the Dodgers to shuttle Robinson between second and third base in order to get him in the lineup.