Move Over Barry Bonds: That's Why I Play in Center Field, Part III

No. 3: Oscar Charleston

Oscar Charleston will never get the recognition he deserves due to Major League Baseball's "color line" policy, which existed from the late 1800s through 1946. The policy excluded black players from the league, which, in addition to being an awful stain on our nation's history, meant that fans were deprived of watching some of the greatest hitters, pitchers, and fielders show off their skills in front of a mainstream audience. 

Fortunately, black ballplayers got together during this time of turmoil and formed the Negro Leagues, which hosted some of the best baseball talent known to man. Names like Satchel Paige, John Henry Lloyd, and Buck Leonard may be unfamiliar to the common fan but are legendary amongst the few who got to witness such genius on the field, as well as the historians who have since acknowledged their accomplishments. 

Oscar Charleston is one of those men: Both his contemporaries and the students of the game alike seem convinced that he is one of—if not the—greatest center fielders of all time.          

Early in his career, Charleston's speed and aggressive base-running style earned him the nickname "the Black Ty Cobb." He swiped bags in Cobb-like fashion, sliding with his spikes high. He consistently hit for a high average, posting an average over .350 each year from 1922 to 1930, including two seasons of .400 or better. Also like Cobb, Charleston could get on base by utilizing his talent for drag bunting. 

That being said, his contemporaries (including former major-league players) insist that Charleston's defensive abilities exceeded that of the great Cobb. In the words of teammate Dave Malarcher:

"Some people asked me, 'Why are you playing so close to the right field foul line?' What they didn't know was that Charleston covered all three fields, and my responsibility was to make sure of balls down the line and those in foul territory.

Charleston had sticky hands and excellent range. His speed allowed him to cover the entire outfield effectively—and as was typical of the elite center fielders of his day, he played shallow yet was still able to run down deep shots. 

But unlike Cobb, Charleston had a cannon for an arm.

In addition, Charleston's contemporaries insist that Oscar was a much more vicious slugger than "the Georgia Peach"; in the prime of his career, Charleston was indeed compared to Babe Ruth for his ability to hit for both average and power.

He best showed off this balanced offensive attack in 1921, as it is estimated that in 60 games, Charleston hit .446 with 28 stolen bases, while also leading the league in doubles, triples, home runs, total bases, and slugging average.

Charleston had quite a complex personality. He was a notorious brawler, whose fights both on and off the field are as legendary as his athletic feats. Charleston regularly fought with umpires, opponents, and even Cuban soldiers when he played in the Cuban winter leagues.

The most infamous tale of Charleston asserts that he once pulled the hood off of a Ku Klux Klan member and dared him to speak.
 

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?