MLB Elevates Negro League Records to Major League Status; Finally Gives Recognition to 3,400 Players

By Matthew Zimmer

Seven Negro Leagues are being given “Major League” status as Major League Baseball corrects a “longtime oversight,” the league announced on Wednesday.

As part of MLB’s 100th anniversary celebration of the creation of the Negro Leagues, MLB released the following statement.

Wow. MLB is officially recognizing the Negro Leagues as a Major League. MLB describes this as a “longtime oversight and the Negro Leagues now has its “long overdue recognition.” pic.twitter.com/iyoD3zYVc2

— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) December 16, 2020

MLB celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues on Aug. 16 during the COVID-19-shortened season. The first Negro League was founded on Feb. 13, 1920.

Now, the only reason the Negro Leagues existed was because of baseball’s racist past and (at the time) desire to keep Black athletes out of MLB.

In other words, the only reason the players of the Negro Leagues were not included (or given the chance at the majors) in MLB history was due to past racism and exclusionary practices.

To say this is overdue or even “long overdue” is an understatement. This should have been done a long time ago, but I guess MLB gets a pat on the back for “better late than never”.

What all this means is simple, the Negro League players, statistics and records will finally be recognized as Major League “level”.

Statements from MLB’s official historian @thorn_john and president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum @nlbmprez. pic.twitter.com/3F7KOeE4UP

— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) December 16, 2020

The list of seven Negro Leagues given Major League status are as follows:

The Negro Leagues that have been elevated to Major League status. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/iZVhK2bBjg

— MLB (@MLB) December 16, 2020

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