Greatest player to never play in the Major Leagues?

[George H Ruth]

Who do you guys think is the great player to never reach the Major Leagues? There's so many players that was never able to reach the Major Leagues for so many different reasons, like the color barrier, died before he had a chance, only played in Japan ect. Who do you guys think is that player and why?

[BoSox Rule]

Probably Oscar Charleston. Bill James has him ranked as the fourth greatest baseball player of all-time. By all accounts he was an amazing hitter for average and power, and one of the best defensive players to ever step on the field.

In exhibition games vs. white Major Leaguers he hit .318 with 11 HR in 53 games.

[OleMissCub]

Josh Gibson, maybe?

[jalbright]

For my money, there's only three nominees: from Japan, Sadaharu Oh; and from the Negro Leagues, Charleston or Josh Gibson. As much as I admire Oh, I think he falls to those two Negro Leaguers (and probably a few more). If you're talking solely on peak performance, I take Gibson. A solid defensive catcher hitting for top averages and power on a par with the very best is even more impressive to me than a five-tool CF like Oscar was (and I'm very impressed with the package of talents he had. If you're talking career, I have to go with Oscar, who had a clearly longer career. If you mix the two, it depends on exactly what mix you choose which of the two I'd take.

[Frank]

*Hector Espino*-Perhaps the greatest player in the history of the Mexican League, no one has hit more homers in the Minors than his 484. He's already in the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. At one time, he held all-time Mexican records in runs, hits, doubles, RBIs and total bases.

*Joe Bauman*-His 72 home runs in 1954 remains the Minor League record and was the pro mark until Barry Bonds hit 73 in the bigs in 2001. As a result, the annual award to the Minors' leading home run hitter bears his name. But he was more than just that one season: Bauman batted .337 in over 1,000 games with 337 home runs and 1,057 RBIs.

*Martin Dihigo*-He is the only man to ever be elected in to the Cuban, Mexican, and United States Baseball Halls of Fame.

*Bill Thomas*-had 383 wins in the minor's

[Bill Burgess]

1. Oscar Charleston
2. Josh Gibson
3. Smokey Joe Williams
4. John 'Pop' Lloyd
5. Biz Mackey
6. Louis Santop Loftin
7. Sadaharu Oh
8. Steve Dalkowski

[Honus Wagner Rules]

1. Oscar Charleston
2. Josh Gibson
3. Biz Mackey
3. Louis Santop Loftin
4. Sadaharu Oh
5. Steve Dalabwosksi

Bill do you mean Steve Dalkowski the flame-throwing lefty from the 1950s-60s?? An interesting choice. But he didn't play in the majors because he wasn't good enough. I'd replace Dalkowski with Satchel Paige.

[Bill Burgess]

Bill do you mean Steve Dalkowski the flame-throwing lefty from the 1950s-60s?? An interesting choice. But he didn't play in the majors because he wasn't good enough. I'd replace Dalkowski with Satchel Paige.

Yes, that is exactly who I meant. Wore Coke-bottle bottom glasses. Had no control.

I revised my rankings. Forgot all about ole Satch, and Smokey Joe W. too. Thanks for reminding me, Adam, my old compadre.

[Frank]

Satchel Paige did get to play 5 or 6 seasons in the Majors...

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Satchel Paige did get to play 5 or 6 seasons in the Majors...

Well that technically true but wasn't he lie 42 years old when he debuted in the majors?

[Westlake]

Bill do you mean Steve Dalkowski the flame-throwing lefty from the 1950s-60s?? An interesting choice. But he didn't play in the majors because he wasn't good enough. I'd replace Dalkowski with Satchel Paige.

Ineligible.

Shigeo Nagashima is another player who might be in the discussion.

[Frank]

Yes-he was 41{but I don't think anyone really knows for sure}.

[mordeci]

Ernie Banks. All those great years with the Cubs, never got to play with a major league team. What a shame.

[RuthMayBond]

Dang, who was the black Honus Wagner?
Was Kaneda the Japanese guy who had about 400 wins, Nomura the great catcher?

[Westlake]

Dang, who was the black Honus Wagner?
Was Kaneda the Japanese guy who had about 400 wins, Nomura the great catcher?

Katsuya Nomura was the great Japanese catcher. He has a good case for being the 2nd best Japanese player ever -- but at his best, he was never better than Shigeo Nagashima. The longevity is what gets him ranked so high.

Kaneda won exactly 400 games, but Kazuhisa Inao was much more impressive, putting up an ERA 1.4 runs better than Kaneda at the same time period.

Sadaharu Oh and Nagashima are the two Japanese players you'd want to look at for this question..