If
anyone is going to produce a card set dedicated to the greats of the
Negro Leagues, you know this guy will be featured, perhaps the greatest
shortstop to ever play the game, John “Pop” Lloyd:
Lloyd, who played in organized Negro League play between 1906 and 1923,
was widely considered the greatest to play his position, and that
opinion was shared by none other than Babe Ruth himself!
On top of that, he was often referred to as the “Black Honus Wagner”, to
which Wagner himself is quoted as stating “It’s an honor to be compared
to him”.
Coming up he played for none other than Negro League icon Sol White,
before moving on to play for yet another legend, Rube Foster, where he
led a team some consider the greatest of all-time, the Chicago Leland
Giants.
Depending on what research you believe, Lloyd batted between .337 and
.343 in league play before moving on to playing semi-professional ball
in Atlantic City, New Jersey up until 1942.
Of course, once the greats of the Negro Leagues were considered for the
Baseball Hall of Fame in the 1970’s, Lloyd eventually given his rightful
place in Cooperstown, getting elected by special committee in 1977.