Naylor

"Yeah, the Flying Dutchman would definitely have been good enough to join one of those teams; they grow 'em tough up there in Mansfield, Pennsylvania. He could have made it with no rest--in body or mind--and still brought in a batting average of .327 while transforming himself into a golden shield between second and third bases. He'd been just like Pop Lloyd in that respect. And it leaves me confused, why these newspapermen look back and Pop's career and call him the black Honus Wagner; all things being equal--or in this case unequal--the highest compliment to pay the Flying Dutchman is to call him the white Pop Lloyd. And I'll even bring Ty Cobb into that club, although he'd play dirty and spike a man in a second: he's the White Oscar Charleston if there's ever been one. Those other players, now, those others just couldn't have made it. And no, I haven't forgotten the Babe. Too temperamental. He couldn't have gone two seasons in Josh Gibson's shoes and held to his record, and so far as I am concerned, the title of a White Josh Gibson still goes unclaimed."
Gloria Naylor, Bailey's Cafe
April 7, 2009