Black Aces

The Black Aces are a group of African American pitchers who have won 20 or more games in a season in the National League or American League after integration. The term was coined by pitcher Mudcat Grant in a book he wrote of the same name.

The Black Aces specifically mentioned by Grant in his book are:

• Vida Blue, who won 20+ games in 1971, 1973 and 1975
• Al Downing, who won 20+ games in 1971
• Bob Gibson, who won 20+ games in 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 and 1970
• Dwight Gooden, who won 20+ games in 1985
• Mudcat Grant, who won 20+ games in 1965
• Ferguson Jenkins, who won 20+ games in 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1974
• Sam Jones, who won 20+ games in 1959
• Don Newcombe, who won 20+ games in 1951, 1955 and 1956
• Mike Norris, who won 20+ games in 1980
• J.R. Richard, who won 20+ games in 1976
• Dave Stewart, who won 20+ games in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990
• Earl Wilson, who won 20+ games in 1967

Subsequent African American pitchers who have won 20+ games in a season are:

• David Price, who won 20+ games in 2012
• CC Sabathia, who won 20+ games in 2010
• Dontrelle Willis, who won 20+ games in 2005

Further Reading

• Dan Cichalski: "A pitching club more exclusive than perfect games: The Black Aces consist of African American 20-game winners", mlb.com, February 11, 2025. [1]
• Jim "Mudcat" Grant, Tom Sabellico and Pat O'Brien: The Black Aces: Baseball's Only African-American Twenty-Game Winners, Aventine Press, Chula Vista, CA, 2007. ISBN 978-1593304881
• Ben Weinrib: "CC proud to be part of exclusive 'Black Aces'", mlb.com, February 8, 2018. [2]