TheDonaldsonNetwork

Together we will restore the legacy of John Wesley Donaldson "The Greatest Colored Pitcher in the World." A hero of generations and ballplayer you should know!

[Bob Kendrick @nlbmprez]

The first player inducted into the @baseballhall for his Negro Leagues career, Satchel Paige (1971), and the first Black player inducted into the HOF, Jackie Robinson (1962), were teammates on the 1945 Kansas City Monarchs!

@MLBNetworkRadio @sn_mlb @Dodgers @CleGuardians

[NSPN - Minnesota @NSPNminnesota]

🫰With the tying run on second, pitcher Jake Tamble CLUTCHED UP. Irondale picks up its second win of the season over second-ranked Mounds View.

May 8, 2026: Irondale vs Mounds View Baseball
#MSHSL @IrondaleBSB @irondalehigh

[Irondale Knights Baseball @IrondaleBSB]

Big win over our crosstown rivals!
Sam Gorton 6.2 IP | 1 H | 1 ER | 4 BB | 9 SO
Jake Tamble SAVE | 0 H | 0 BB | 1 SO

[Minnesota Twins @Twins]

Take a look at Target Field's newest mural, Baseball Heroes - a celebration of Black baseball greats with ties to the Upper Midwest!

Make sure to visit section 114-116 to view the mural, learn about the artist and celebrate the players' stories.

[Saskatchewan Dugout Stories @SKDugoutStories]

“He was the best southpaw I ever saw, black or white." The great John Donaldson passed away on this date in 1970 after an outstanding career in the Negro Leagues and on the barnstorming circuit, which included a perfect game in Moose Jaw in 1925. ⚾🇨🇦 https://t.co/0rgIAoOeQF

[TheDonaldsonNetwork @TheDonaldsonNet]

@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

[Graig Kreindler @GraigKreindler]

#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.

[TheDonaldsonNetwork @TheDonaldsonNet]

@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!

[Passion4Baseball @Passion4Baseba1]

⚾️ 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

[Billy Menz @billymenz]

Support John Donaldson Baseball League on Give to the Max Day! - https://t.co/hcWwOzP127

[TheDonaldsonNetwork @TheDonaldsonNet]

Please support the John Donaldson Baseball League
Baseball opportunities for young people cost money!

https://t.co/r1aDzrCU02

[Brandon Cole @BrandonSCole26]

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

[TheDonaldsonNetwork @TheDonaldsonNet]

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

[Old-Time Baseball Photos @OTBaseballPhoto]

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

[90SecondReCap @90SecondRecap]

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

[Brandon Cole @BrandonSCole26]

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:

https://t.co/ARYRatbE9f

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

[TheDonaldsonNetwork @TheDonaldsonNet]

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

[TheDonaldsonNetwork @TheDonaldsonNet]

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

[TheDonaldsonNetwork @TheDonaldsonNet]

@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…

[TheDonaldsonNetwork @TheDonaldsonNet]

How John Donaldson Pioneered Modern Pitching https://t.co/XT0Q3aIMMN