
NEGRO LEAGUES CENTENNIAL TEAM BOBBLEHEAD SERIES: Oscar McKinley "Charlie" Charleston

Item Number: | 2076436 |
---|
Item Description
The Negro League Centennial Team (1920-2020) is comprised of 30 of the greatest African-American and Cuban players from 1895-1947 plus a manager and a team owner. Each individual is depicted on a baseball-shaped base with replica of Kansas City's Paseo YMCA, the site where the Negro National League was organized on February 13th, 1920. The bobbleheads are officially licensed by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and approved by the families when applicable. Each player is individually numbered to only 2,020. This bobblehead is of Oscar McKinley "Charlie" Charleston, a member of the Harrisburg Giants.
Charleston, a five-tool player, was a combination of Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker and Babe Ruth and widely considered the Negro Leagues' greatest player. While Charleston possessed a legendary temper on the field, he was also a charismatic fan favorite and mentor to many young players. Charleston managed the great Pittsburgh Crawford team of 1936, considered by some the best Negro Leagues' team ever assembled. In 1945, he scouted for Branch Rickey as manager of the Brooklyn Brown Dodgers, a subterfuge team Rickey created to mask the scouting of Negro League players. Charleston recommended both Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella to pioneer integration. Charleston was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976.
Charleston, a five-tool player, was a combination of Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker and Babe Ruth and widely considered the Negro Leagues' greatest player. While Charleston possessed a legendary temper on the field, he was also a charismatic fan favorite and mentor to many young players. Charleston managed the great Pittsburgh Crawford team of 1936, considered by some the best Negro Leagues' team ever assembled. In 1945, he scouted for Branch Rickey as manager of the Brooklyn Brown Dodgers, a subterfuge team Rickey created to mask the scouting of Negro League players. Charleston recommended both Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella to pioneer integration. Charleston was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976.