The next Negro League Legend from my custom set released last year to get a spotlight here on the blog is one of the great power hitters, Turkey Stearnes:
Over the course of 18 seasons between 1923 and 1940, Stearnes put up
impressive numbers, finishing his career with a .344 batting average
while clubbing 183 home runs, unofficially the NBL record.
The man was such an accomplished all-around five-tool player that Bill James ranked him 25th in all-time players, regardless of league!
The great Satchel Paige was even quoted as saying that he considered Stearnes just as good as legend Josh Gibson, or anyone else who held a bat in his hand.
The man was such an accomplished all-around five-tool player that Bill James ranked him 25th in all-time players, regardless of league!
The great Satchel Paige was even quoted as saying that he considered Stearnes just as good as legend Josh Gibson, or anyone else who held a bat in his hand.
He
batted over .400 three times and led the Negro Leagues in home runs
seven times, while also leading the league in triples six times between
1923 and 1936.
Sadly, as was the case with so many NBL greats, by the time Stearnes was
recognized by Cooperstown with induction to the Hall of Fame, he had
passed away 21 years prior in 1979 at the age of 78.
