The Greatest Outfield in the History of the Game

The outfield of the Harrisburg Giants from 1924 through 1927 in the Eastern Colored Leagues consisted of the great Oscar Charleston, Steelton’s Rap Dixon and two-sport superstar Fats Jenkins. It was an unparalleled and spectacular set of flyhawks.

In the history of major league baseball there have only been 8 outfields that were intact for four or more years and included at least one future Hall of Famer. Only one Negro League team met that standard – the Harrisburg Giants. Here is a complete list of such outfields (Hall of Famers in bold):

1891-95 Philadelphia Phillies: Ed Delehanty, Billy Hamilton, Sam Thompson
1910-16 Boston Red Sox: Tris Speaker, Harry Hooper and Duffy Lewis
1924-27 Harrisburg Giants: Oscar Charleston, Rap Dixon, Fats Jenkins
1925-29 New York Yankees: Babe Ruth, Earle Combs, Bob Meusel
1928-31 Chicago Cubs: Hack Wilson, Ki Ki Cuyler, Riggs Stephenson
1929-32 Pittsburgh Pirates: Paul Waner, Lloyd Waner, Adam Comorosky
1954-58 Boston Red Sox: Ted Williams, Jimmy Piersall, Jackie Jensen
1957-62 Pittsburgh Pirates: Roberto Clemente, Billy Virdon, Bob Skinner
1966-70 Pittsburgh Pirates: Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Matty Alou

The above certainly makes a case for the greatness of the Harrisburg Giant outfield. Oscar Charleston is universally considered the greatest outfielder in the Negro Leagues; baseball analyst Bill James ranks Charlie behind only Ruth, Wagner and Mays at any position in any league. Buck Leonard placed Fats Jenkins in his all-time outfield while both Charleston and Cool Papa Bell include Dixon in their all-time outfields. Charleston & Jenkins were 6 time all-stars; Dixon five times. All three participated in the initial East-West Classic. The three Giants hit a composite .353 during the four year period with Charleston hitting over .400. During the 1924-27 period, 25 outfielders played who later were named to the Hall; of them only 4 were African-American. Since integration, 12 of 17 HOF outfielders have been African-American. Thus clearly the Negro Leagues are under represented in the Hall from the twenties; the point being both Dixon & Jenkins are Hall of Famers if judged on merit. It is no stretch to imagine these three as simply the best set of teammates to ever play outfield together in baseball history.