In 1939, eight years before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith asked Leonard if he wanted to play in the major leagues. But nothing came of the meeting. Thirteen years later, at age 45, Leonard was offered a contract to play in the major leagues. He knew that age was against him and declined the offer.

Josh Gibson could mash, Satchel Paige dominated 1944, and other takeaways from a groundbreaking day for baseball stats.

Integrating Negro Leagues stats into the pre-existing MLB statistical record was a complicated phenomenon that didn't happen overnight.