By Ahmed V. Ortiz | Special to The OBSERVER

Black players’ impact on Major League Baseball couldn’t help but be tectonic. From the moment Jackie Robinson made one giant leap for Black America at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn on April 15, 1947, African Americans’ presence in the game has been measured seismically. They have written and rewritten the record books and marked our memories with their feats.

As Sacramento readies for its own giant leap into the big leagues, if only (perhaps) temporarily, The OBSERVER presents an admittedly subjective list of the top nine Black MLB players with Sacramento ties. They have left indelible impressions as players, coaches, and managers. Several had exhibited a knack for turning up at memorable moments, whether starring or supporting.

We chose a four-four, infield-outfield split with one pitcher as something of a necessity; only about 20 Blacks have played catcher in MLB, none hailing from here. That might not change. As cost-prohibitive travel teams continue to drive opportunities for youth to play at higher levels, African American MLB player representation continues to wane, from a high of 18% in the early 1980s to roughly 6% now.

INFIELDERS

Derrek Lee: Much was expected of Lee when he was picked 14th overall in 1993 out of El Camino High School. He is, after all, the lineage of local baseball royalty: son of longtime overseas star Leon Lee and nephew to eight-year big-leaguer Leron Lee. Derrek didn’t disappoint across an impressive 15 seasons: a two-time all-star, a World Series champion with the 2003 Marlins, and a three-time Gold Glove winner at first base. His magnum opus season came in 2005 for the Cubs. He started hot and never let up, leading MLB in hitting (.335), slugging (.662), OPS (1.080), OPS+ (174), total bases (393), and doubles (50); and the NL in hits (199). He was third in the MVP balloting. Post-playing career, he has worked to promote baseball internationally.

Ricky Jordan: The imposing first baseman, taken 22nd overall in 1983 out of Grant High School, announced himself with a home run in his first big-league at-bat in 1988. He finished eighth in the NL Rookie of the Year vote. Injuries shortened his career, but not before he played for the Phillies in the 1993 World Series, which he watched end from the dugout on Joe Carter’s Game 6 home run, one of only two such World Series finishes.

Jerry Manuel: Drafted 20th overall out of Cordova High School in 1972, Manuel’s MLB playing career consisted of only 142 plate appearances spanning five seasons. He made his big-league name as a leader, guiding the Chicago White Sox to an American League-best 95-67 finish and winning Manager of the Year in 2000. He managed Chicago for six seasons (1998-2003) and the New York Mets for two full seasons and most of another after taking over for Willie Randolph 69 games into the 2008 season and nearly chasing down eventual pennant winner Philadelphia for the National League East title.

Jerry Royster: Fast-tracked to the bigs after signing with the Dodgers at age 17 straight out of Sac High, he debuted as a 20-year-old in 1973. His career didn’t quite match his rapid rise, but he did make a 16-year career from being a valuable, versatile player, primarily an infielder. Ten of those seasons were with Atlanta, where he was traded in 1975 as part of a deal that sent fellow Sacramentan Dusty Baker to the Dodgers. Royster also later managed the Brewers for most of 2002 after Davey Lopes was fired 15 games in. 

OUTFIELDERS

Dusty Baker: If there’s a godfather of Black Sacramento baseball, it’s Johnnie B. Baker. We could list the Del Campo High School alumnus’ many distinctions and accomplishments as a player and manager, but you probably know that story. Here’s Dusty in another context: As of the end of the 2024 season, approximately 480,482 MLB games, including postseason, have been played since its formation in 1871. Baker, who retired from managing after the 2023 season, participated in 7,052 of them as a player, manager, or coach – about 1.47%. That’s iconic.

Jermaine Dye: The 2005 World Series MVP prepped at Will C. Wood High in Vacaville, but was drafted out of Cosumnes River College. He hit .438 for the White Sox in that ’05 Series, including the winning hit in a 1-0 victory that capped a Chicago sweep for its first title since 1917. Dye also was a two-time all-star, won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger, and finished fifth in the American League MVP vote in 2006 when he hit 44 home runs and drove in 120 and slashed .315/.385/.622. He was a key member of three A’s playoff teams and finished with 325 career home runs and 1,072 RBI.

Dion James: Across 13 seasons, the 1980 first-rounder out of C.K. McClatchy High was a reliable contact hitter who batted .288 and had more career walks than strikeouts (318-307). His moment of infamy came in 1987 for Atlanta when he hit a routine fly ball that struck a bird as Mets left fielder Kevin McReynolds tracked it, killing the bird. James wound up on second base with one of the strangest doubles in MLB history.

Greg Vaughn: After making a name as a Kennedy High School Cougar, this cat mauled MLB pitching to the tune of 355 home runs over 15 seasons, making him the career leader among all players from Sacramento. That included 50 for San Diego in 1998, four seasons of 30 or more and three of 40-plus. The four-time all-star homered twice in Game 1 of the 1998 World Series for San Diego vs. the Yankees. That offseason, he was traded to Cincinnati, making him the first player to be traded immediately following a 50-homer season. After retiring, he started the Vaughn’s Valley Foundation, which grants scholarships and provides youth mentoring in greater Sacramento.

PITCHER

Darren Oliver: Son of 1970s big-leaguer Bob Oliver, Darren began his career as a reliever, moved to starting for most of a decade, then back to the bullpen for most of the second decade of his 20-year, 118-win career. The reliable, rubber-armed left-hander, who attended Rio Linda High School, was the starting pitcher in two notable games: the first interleague regular-season game in 1997 (pitching for home team Texas, he threw the first official interleague pitch) and the Sept. 7, 1998, game in which Mark McGwire tied Roger Maris’ then-season record with his 61st home run. He started and pitched admirably in the Rangers franchise’s first home playoff game in 1996. And he was the first pitcher to face Michael Jordan in spring training 1994 during the basketball great’s foray into baseball.