Their time has come

Negro League and pre-Negro League players and executives being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame today:

Negro League players

“ Ray Brown: Starting pitcher from 1931-1945, pitching exclusively for the Homestead Grays starting in 1932. Led team to eight Negro National League pennants.

“ Willard Brown: Center fielder played 15 seasons in the Negro Leagues and had .351 lifetime batting average.

“ Andy Cooper: Pitched 19 of 22 seasons in Negro Leagues; had 116-57 record.

“ Biz Mackey: Caught 24 seasons between 1920 and 1947. Lifetime .329 average.

“ Mule Suttles: A slugging first baseman and outfielder who had a lifetime .327 batting average.

“ Cristobal Torriente: Compiled a .339 lifetime batting average in the Negro Leagues.

“ Jud Wilson: Career .351 batting average.

Pre-Negro League players

“ Frank Grant: Considered best African-American player of 19th century, playing in top integrated minor leagues after a decade with premier all-black teams.

“ Pete Hill: Center fielder hit over .300 eight times and over .400 twice.

“ Jose Mendez: Hard-throwing right-hander who played in Cuba.

“ Louis Santop: A catcher, he was one of the biggest drawing cards because of his home run power.

“ Ben Taylor: Was recognized as the premier first baseman of his era.

Executives

“ Alex Pompez: Franchise owner also introduced Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal and Willie McCovey to the Negro and major leagues.

“ Cum Posey: Principal owner of the Homestead Grays.

“ J.L. Wilkinson: Wilkinson was principal owner of the Kansas City Monarchs from 1920-48.

“ Sol White: A former player, he teamed with sportswriter H. Walter Schlichter in 1902 to found the Philadelphia Giants.

“ Effa Manley: Manley, who was white, is the first woman elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame. Co-owned the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League with her husband, Abe.