TheDonaldsonNetwork

@Jimfrombaseball Image is not John Donaldson— he’s not already in the HOF because segregation works. All you have to do is establish his career as “less-than” and history will back your narrative. The Hall of Fame is lesser without him. If you know about his influence you know he belongs

"John Donaldson influenced Satchel Paige. He was the first guy to go barnstorming his way up and down the Dakotas, pitching for whatever team would pay him. He showed Satchel the way, and the fact is there are many people who saw them both who say John Donaldson was just as good as Satchel. “I Was Right On Time.” Buck O'Neil "Satchel Paige is a great pitcher all right … but Donaldson had more stuff. There never was a pitcher, Black or White, who could put more on the ball than John Donaldson." J.L. Wilkinson, HOF Owner of the Kansas City Monarchs. "John Donaldson played centerfield. He got out to centerfield and squatted like a catcher. The Monarchs had a catcher named Young, he squatted behind home plate and they played catch from 300 feet. They threw the ball on a line. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it." "Submarine" Auker 1929. 33 years pitching. 413 wins. 5,081 strikeouts. 14 no-hitters. Two perfect games. 22 strikeouts during a game in August 1914. One of the founders of the Kansas City Monarchs, it's even said that he came up with the name, "Monarchs." “I am not ashamed of my color. I am a negro. There is no woman whom I love more than my mother. I am light enough so that baseball men told me before I became known that I could be passed off as a Cuban. One prominent baseball man, in fact, offered me a nice sum , $10,000 in 1917, if I would go to Cuba, change my name and let him take me into this country as a Cuban. It would have meant renouncing my family. One of the agreements was that I was never again to visit my mother or to have anything to do with colored people. I refused. I am clean morally and physically. I go to my church and contribute my share. I keep my body and mind clean. And yet when I go out there to play baseball, it is not unusual to hear some fan cry out: ‘Hit the dirty ni****.’ That hurts, for I have no recourse. I am getting paid, I suppose, to take that. But why should fans become personal? If I act the part of a gentleman, am I not entitled to a little respect?” John Donaldson. Explain to me like I'm six years old, how and why John Donaldson is NOT in the National Baseball HOF??????

#OTD in 1891, John Donaldson was born in Glasgow, MO. Never heard of him? He’s reported to have won 413 games, struck out 5,081 batters, threw 14 no-hitters and two perfect games in his 33-year career. Here’s a color study of the man with Schmelzer’s All-Nations club in 1915.

@Passion4Baseba1 Thanks for the nod on our work for John Donaldson. We’re back underground doing our work because we know Donaldson’s greatness. You need to know we’ve discovered John Donaldson playing in 804 different cities for 60 different teams winning 437 games and striking out 5,342!

⚾️ ALL TIME MLB DRAFT ⚾️ 🚨 PICK 293 — CINCINNATI REDS SELECT 🚨 🟡 JOHN DONALDSON — SP 🔨 TEAM BUILD SO FAR 2B Jackie Robinson C Mike Piazza 1B Johnny Mize RF Al Kaline SP Gaylord Perry LF Tim Raines 3B Graig Nettles SS Joe Tinker SP David Cone SP John Donaldson WHY THIS WORKS This is one of those picks where you realize how much baseball history most people never learned. John Donaldson is not just a Negro League pitcher. He is one of the most dominant pitchers to ever live — period. Donaldson barnstormed across the country for decades, pitching against Negro League stars, Major Leaguers, minor leaguers, town teams, semi-pro teams — anyone who would step in the box. And over thousands of documented games, the results are staggering. Strikeouts in bunches. Wins everywhere. Dominance across eras, leagues, and competition levels. Researchers have spent years piecing together box scores, newspaper clippings, and eyewitness accounts to reconstruct his career, and what they’ve found is a pitcher whose numbers rival — and in some cases exceed — the legends of the Major Leagues. He was said to have a fastball that simply overpowered hitters. A breaking ball that disappeared late. And the endurance to pitch game after game after game with no drop in effectiveness. But here’s the part that makes this pick special. Donaldson wasn’t just good in Negro League circles. He beat Major Leaguers in exhibitions. He struck out hitters who would go back to MLB clubhouses and tell teammates, “You wouldn’t believe this guy.” He was a traveling nightmare for hitters across the country. Now look at this Reds rotation. Gaylord Perry — deception and movement. David Cone — modern precision and swing-and-miss. John Donaldson — raw, overpowering dominance and stamina. That’s three completely different styles that hitters cannot prepare for in a series. And behind him? Robinson, Tinker, Nettles, Piazza, Raines, Kaline — elite defense everywhere to support a power arm. This pick is about restoring a legend to the place he belongs. Because John Donaldson is not a trivia answer. He’s a giant of baseball history whose story is still being uncovered, and whose dominance is now impossible to ignore. The Reds didn’t just add a starter. They added one of the most underrated pitching legends the game has ever seen. ⏰ NEXT TEAM ON THE CLOCK — CLEVELAND GUARDIANS

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On our way home from KC we took a detour to Glasgow & let me tell you. John Donaldson Field at sunrise is absolutely breathtaking. @nlbmprez @TheDonaldsonNet @NLBMuseumKC #negroleagues #MLB

This concludes the activity of The Donaldson Network John Donaldson's Legacy is safely boxed in my basement. @petegorton

Born #OTD in 1891 in Glasgow, Missouri was John Donaldson, arguably the greatest pitcher not in the Hall of Fame. He started his pro career in 1911 with the Tennessee Rats and would over time play for the Hannaca Blues, Missouri Black Tigers and the legendary Kansas City Monarchs. In a career that spanned over 30 years, Donaldson amassed over 400 wins and 5,000 strikeouts

On this date in 1891, Black Baseball legend John Wesley Donaldson—likely the greatest pitcher you’ve never heard of, the man who was Satchel Paige’s pitching coach—was born in Glasgow, MO. @nlbmprez @NLBMuseumKC @NSLMBham @MLB @negroleaguerspr @MLBNetwork @SABRwomeninbb @whitesox @Royals @KCStar @sportsinkansas @DesMoinesGov @MLBTheShow @TheDonaldsonNet @baseballhall #johndonaldson #johnwesleydonaldson #BHM2025 #negroleagues #blackbaseball #blackhistorymonth #BlackHistoryMonth2025

In this episode of A League Not Forgotten: Stories From The Negro Leagues, I sit down with Pete Gorton of The Donaldson Network to discuss the man who was John Donaldson & the work that The Donaldson Network does to preserve his legacy. Episode available EXCLUSIVELY on YouTube through the link below: youtu.be/iyV2vY22ed4 While you're there don't forget to subscribe o the channel for more baseball content! @MLB @nlbmprez @NLBMuseumKC @TheDonaldsonNet #MLB #Baseball #BaseballHistory #NegroLeagues #BlackHistoryMonth

@CooperstownDave @MNTwinsZealot By paying attention. It’s pretty easy to see. No rocket science here.

@TheDonaldsonNet @MNTwinsZealot I know John Donaldson was on the ballot. How do you know who Molitor and Blyleven voted for?

Paul Molitor had 3,000+ hits, batted over .300 & stole 500+ bases. He’s 1 of just 4 players to ever accomplish this.

@CooperstownDave @MNTwinsZealot Why don’t you look and see if John Donaldson rings a bell…

@TheDonaldsonNet @MNTwinsZealot What does “Had a candidate in the field” mean?

@CooperstownDave @MNTwinsZealot Had a candidate in the field. Someone had to explain why John Donaldson wasn’t included in the HOF. Never again will a representative of Black baseball even get a ballot spot. Good luck trying…

@TheDonaldsonNet @MNTwinsZealot How do you know who he did or didn’t vote for then?

How John Donaldson Pioneered Modern Pitching chsn.com/videos/donalds…

@jay_jaffe @fangraphs I had not heard of John Donaldson until yesterday, when I read Cody Stavenhagen’s excellent article on him and the quest to gain him recognition for eventual Hall of Fame induction.

@educated_real @lumpawonka @Joaquin_nic333 What’s wrong with the wiki? Those numbers are reliable

@lumpawonka @Joaquin_nic333 @TheDonaldsonNet And this is why Wiki is not a reliable source; especially on early 20th century players. When it came to researching older ball players, I would just go to other sources. Continued...

WE will change what history has thought of John Donaldson. WE will make it impossible for him to be forgotten again. It will not be easy… They will tell us we are wrong. They will say despite the mountain of evidence that he was not good enough. 1/2

@nlbmprez @2Corinth3_18 @baseballhall @MLB @petegorton @MLBNetwork @NLBMuseumKC You know but some people can’t see past their own nose So why bother trying to convince them…John Donaldson was well aware of the location of the back of the bus.

@nlbmprez @2Corinth3_18 @baseballhall @MLB @petegorton @MLBNetwork @NLBMuseumKC 3% of Donaldson’s career numbers are recognized by MLB

Disappointed that neither John Donaldson or Vic Harris received enough votes for induction into the @baseballhall! Donaldson is easily one of the greatest pitchers ever and Harris was an outstanding player and one of the greatest managers of all times! Hopefully, next time! @MLB

@2Corinth3_18 @baseballhall @MLB @petegorton @TheDonaldsonNet @MLBNetwork @NLBMuseumKC That’s essentially penalizing him for playing in an era prior to the Negro Leagues at a time that he couldn’t play in the Majors. He could only play against the competition he could play against.