When Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball in 1947, it began a trend of talented Black athletes making an impact in the big leagues. Many were accomplished on the mound.
Don Newcombe was the first Black pitcher to win 20 games in a season, in 1951. After Newcombe did it two additional times, in 1955 and 1956, Sam Jones joined him with a 20-win season in 1959.
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Since then, 13 other pitchers have joined the fraternity known as the Black Aces. Coined by the late Jim “Mudcat” Grant, the Black Aces collectively are all of the Black pitchers from the United States and Canada who have won at least 20 games in a Major League Baseball season.
Throughout February, The Athletic will highlight each member of the Black Aces. This series will conclude on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
Don Newcombe
The first major-league pitcher to capture Rookie of the Year, MVP and a Cy Young Award in a career, Newcombe was the first member of baseball’s Black Aces. He first won 20 games in 1951, then achieved that feat again in 1955 and 1956. Newcombe had a dominant fastball, and per his oldest-living teammate, 97-year-old Carl Erskine, that fastball was all Newcombe needed. READ MORE
Al Downing
Downing was only 20 when he made his first appearance for the New York Yankees in 1961 and became the first Black pitcher to play for the organization. Thirteen years later, Downing gave up home run No. 715 to Hank Aaron as he broke Babe Ruth’s long-standing record. Everything that happened in between is a story in itself, particularly when he earned his only 20-win season playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1971. READ MORE
Mike Norris
In a season he called “magical,” Norris won 22 games for the Oakland A’s in 1980. That year was one of the highlights of a career that had multiple ups and downs. Norris battled drug abuse in the ’80s but managed to not only turn his life around but also become the only A’s pitcher in franchise history with a victory in three decades. READ MORE
Sam Jones
Jones had a curveball that hitters feared. Stan Musial once called it “the best curveball I ever saw.” Jones led the National League with 198 strikeouts for the 1955 season with that curveball. And while on the mound, Jones oftentimes was seen with a toothpick in his mouth. Jones was the second Black pitcher to win 20 games in an MLB season. READ MORE
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Bob Gibson
There are baseball fans who believe Gibson became the face of the St. Louis Cardinals once Stan Musial retired in 1963. Very few people intimidated Gibson. In fact, Gibson, who played from 1959 to 1975, often was the intimidator when he pitched. And when it came to speaking up for civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s, he wouldn’t hold his tongue — for anyone — when something was on his mind. READ MORE
J.R. Richard
Richard stood 6 foot 8 and had a fastball that approached 100 mph. He was confident, and during his 10-year career with the Houston Astros, he backed up his words with actions. Richard was a walking tall tale, and he won 20 games for the Astros in 1976. Unfortunately, his life took a sudden turn four years later, just 22 days after starting the All-Star Game for the National League. READ MORE
Jim ‘Mudcat’ Grant
“Cool” was a word often used to describe the man with the nickname “Mudcat.” There were times when Grant would grab a microphone and put on an impromptu concert. He knew famous people like singer Patti LaBelle. He even had his own band. As much as Grant loved to entertain, he also loved baseball history. He coined the term “Black Aces” and co-authored a book about those who earned membership into the fraternity. READ MORE
Dave Stewart
Confidence always has been a part of Stewart’s reputation. How many other young players in the minors would tell a two-time All-Star and World Series champion like Dusty Baker that Baker is wearing his number? Once Stewart was promoted to the majors, and his patience met his confidence, he emerged into a top pitcher who not only won 20 games in four consecutive seasons but also earned three World Series rings. READ MORE
Dwight Gooden
It all started with Gooden pitching in the MLB All-Star Game as a 19-year-old rookie. From there, Gooden’s baseball résumé included a National League Triple Crown in 1985, four All-Star appearances, two World Series rings and membership into the Black Aces with a 24-win season. But with all of the positives, Gooden has had to battle his own personal demons. READ MORE.
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Ferguson Jenkins
When Jenkins played his 19 MLB seasons, he was always a hard worker, someone who constantly stayed in motion. Nothing has changed for the 81-year-old, as Jenkins keeps busy with pitching clinics, memorabilia shows, golf tournaments, fundraisers and various speaking engagements for charities. That relentless nature helped Jenkins become a dynamic pitcher, one who won 20 games in a season seven times. READ MORE
Vida Blue
Blue wanted to use his time on the mound as an opportunity for teammates to rest. Strong innings from him meant minimal work for everyone else. Blue, who died May 6 of complications from cancer, is remembered as someone who had funny stories, loved doing charitable actions and enjoyed the game of baseball. He helped Oakland win three consecutive World Series titles from 1972-74 and was a three-time 20-game winner for the A’s, in 1971, 1973 and 1975. READ MORE
Dontrelle Willis
Willis was described by MLB analyst and former outfielder Doug Glanville as “good and charismatic, fun and unorthodox.” As a rookie in 2003, Willis helped the Florida Marlins win a World Series championship. Two years later, he earned membership into the Black Aces with a 22-win season. His windup was memorable, as he’d bring his right leg up high, his knee near his face, and then turn his back to batters before launching his variety of pitches, making it difficult for batters to find the ball. READ MORE
Earl Wilson
Wilson was a physical presence who struck fear into batters when he took the mound. He also was the consummate teammate who preached reputability on and off the field. As his former teammate Jim Lonborg remembered, Wilson was the “kind of guy that would put his arm around you and have a chat with you.” Wilson won 22 games with the Detroit Tigers and became a member of the Black Aces in 1967. READ MORE
David Price
Price is the most recent pitcher to join the Black Aces after a 20-win season in 2012. He retired from MLB competition at the end of 2022, but during his time on the mound, he mastered the art of pitching as a 6-foot-5, 215-pound lefty, delivering two fastballs (two-seam and four-seam), a cutter, a changeup and a curveball. That variety was responsible for 2,076 career strikeouts and five seasons in which he recorded at least 200 strikeouts. READ MORE
CC Sabathia
Sabathia is one of only three Black pitchers to reach 3,000 strikeouts, and he is eligible for election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame next year. Sabathia joined the Black Aces in 2010, after winning 21 games in his second season with the New York Yankees. It was a welcomed result for the pitcher who, once upon a time, had his doubts about playing home games in the Bronx. READ MORE
(Top illustration: Ray Orr / The Athletic; top photos of Al Downing, Bob Gibson and Mudcat Grant: Bettmann / Contributor; and Diamond Images / Getty Images)