KANSAS CITY, Mo. — John Donaldson's stats speak for themselves — 5,091 strikeouts, 413 wins and 14 no-hitters.
The left-handed pitcher started playing in his hometown of Glasgow, Missouri, in 1908 before making his way to Kansas City in 1920 to play for the Negro Leagues team he named, the Monarchs.
After more than 30 years as a player, Donaldson became the first African American scout in baseball history.
His legacy in baseball is long and distinguished, but, for years, it also was buried until Peter Gorton took an interest and launched the John Donaldson Network 21 years ago.
It's a group of people from all over the country, who are committed to finding clippings and statistics from Donaldson's baseball career.
"Donaldson dominated on baseball fields in more than 725 different cities across North America. He won more games and struck out more hitters than any segregated pitcher in the history of our national game," Gorton said. "Donaldson’s ability to achieve lasting legacy was taken away from him by segregation in our country. A systematic elimination of a legitimate American hero. I believe we can change what history remembers of John Donaldson."
A significant milestone arrives Friday in Donaldson's hometown of Glasgow. A baseball field is set to be dedicated to the once-forgotten baseball giant.
"We are so amazed," Donaldson's niece, Cynthia Allen, said. Asked why, she continued, "Because this is a little town. This is a little, bitty — actually nowhere on the map."
Glasgow's history, like many small communities across the country, is complicated when it comes to matters of race.
"A Black man was lynched in the streets of Glasgow a few months before his birth," Todd Peterson, an author and member of the Donaldson Network, said.
People were divided by race in life as well as death.
"Most of the black people were on one side," Allen said. "The white people were on the other side of town. Black and white cemeteries. The whole nine yards."
Throughout its history, Glasgow has also been marked by a tenuous relationship between Black people and police.
"There were a lot of issues with Black people from the law enforcement there," Allen said. "It has gotten a lot better over the years."
Still, for the town to honor Donaldson represents "a tremendous step forward, especially in these times that they're going to dedicate that field to him," Peterson said.
"Words can't describe it," Donaldson's nephew, Dale Herriford, said.
Donaldson will be inducted into the Glasgow Hall of Fame on Friday as well, a milestone his family is proud to witness.
"It's been a long time coming but he's finally going to get the recognition that he deserved, and to see that is going to be really emotional," Allen said.
The next step for the Donaldson Network is a push to get him enshrined in Cooperstown at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
"Today, we know of his greatness and we must share out knowledge with everyone we meet," Gorton said.
For now though, his family and those committed to enriching and protecting his legacy are happily celebrating this moment and what it can teach us all at this point in our nation's history.
"I think this is a lesson to us all," Allen said.
