J Donaldson to Baseball Hall of Fame?

[Seth Stohs]

Here is a fantastic article from Mike McFeely in the Fargo Forum about a legendary baseball player in Minnesota who most probably haven't heard of, but he's got a chance to go into the baseball Hall of Fame this weekend when the Early Baseball Era vote is announced. 

John Donaldson was a left-handed pitcher who never had the chance to pitch in the big leagues. Why not? Because he was a black man who pitched from about 1908-1949. However, he was a legend throughout Minnesota. He would barnstorm around small towns around the state pitching. He is said to have won over 400 games and struck out over 5,000 batters. 

He spent several years playing for the local team in tiny Bertha, MN. Bertha is a small town with a population of around 500-600 people is west central Minnesota. 

For more on John Donaldson: 

The Donaldson Network on Twitter and their website. 

 

[nicksaviking]

Just read the article before coming back to TD to mention it. 

Honestly, this feels like a story I should have known about long ago. Awesome work by the historians bringing Donaldson's story to light, I'm cheering for his induction.

[Seth Stohs]

 

[mk]

I clicked because I thought this was a post about Josh Donaldson taking a family vacation to Cooperstown.

[Doctor Gast]

Thank you Seth for revealing John Donaldson to us. He is indeed a Minnesota gem that deserves to be recognized and valued.

[ashbury]

J Donaldson = John Donaldson, not Josh Donaldson?

But kudos on a good point of view!

[wabene]

Tricky

[Cap'n Piranha]

41 minutes ago, mk said:

I clicked because I thought this was a post about Josh Donaldson taking a family vacation to Cooperstown.

Josh Donaldson is already top 40 all time in WAR at 3B.  6.1 more WAR, and he enters the top 30.  15 more WAR, and he enters the top 20.  I don't think top 30 is quite enough to guarantee inclusion, and I don't think Donaldson has 15 more WAR in him, but stranger things have happened, so I think Donaldson is closer to HOF legitimacy than some may think.

[dex8425]

4 hours ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

Josh Donaldson is already top 40 all time in WAR at 3B.  6.1 more WAR, and he enters the top 30.  15 more WAR, and he enters the top 20.  I don't think top 30 is quite enough to guarantee inclusion, and I don't think Donaldson has 15 more WAR in him, but stranger things have happened, so I think Donaldson is closer to HOF legitimacy than some may think.

Yep. Needs 15 more WAR-three seasons of 5, or 5 seasons of 3. Not impossible. He put up 3.2 WAR last year. Just hit like Nelson Cruz and he will continue to play, even as DH. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Awesome article! John Donaldson looked to be overpowering. I hope he makes it. 
 

i can’t imagine quitting a full time job to campaign to get a guy elected to the baseball hall of fame. Unreal!

[DJL44]

John Donaldson was overpowering - against town ball amateurs. He was a legitimate professional. Look at his Negro League stats against top competition and they're good but not as impressive.

 

John Donaldson - Seamheads Negro Leagues Database