Wilson Redus: The Lost Negro League Legend?
The Power Hitter Pantheon: Baseball’s Greatest Home Run Heroes
This project aims to determine the greatest home run hitter of all time by comparing each slugger’s statistics to the average of their era using three formulas. The final adjusted stats will then be used to compare them head-to-head with other all-time greats.
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Wilson Redus will be the next legendary Negro League slugger examined in this study. For a brief biography of Redus, please click here.
According to Baseball Reference, Wilson Redus’ official statistics reveal a total of 86 home runs over 2,772 at-bats resulting in an average of 32.23 at-bats per home run (AB/HR).
Wilson Redus played in the Negro National League (NNL) from 1924 to 1931. He later competed in the East-West League (EWL) in 1932 and the Negro National League II (NN2) from 1933 to 1935. Additionally, Redus participated in the Negro American League (NAL) from 1937 to 1940.
When aggregating the statistics from each of the seasons Redus competed in, the league totals include 211,542 at-bats and 2,584 home runs, resulting in an average of 81.87 at-bats per home run (AB/HR).
With this data, we can evaluate how Redus’ performance compared to the average Negro League hitter of his era.
Raw Difference: 49.64
Formula: League Average – Player Career AverageImprovement Factor: 2.54
Formula: League Average / Player Career AveragePercentage Difference: 60.63%
Formula: (League Average – Player Career Average) / League Average × 100%
Redus required 49.64 fewer at-bats per home run than the league average. A lower AB/HR indicates greater power-hitting efficiency, Redus was hitting home runs far more frequently than his peers.
An improvement factor of 2.54 means Redus was 2.54 times more efficient at hitting home runs than the average player. Put another way, for every home run the average player hit in 81.87 at-bats, Redus hit one in just 32.23 at-bats. This shows he was a standout power hitter.
Redus’ AB/HR was 60.63% better (lower) than the league average. In relative terms, this is a massive gap, highlighting his dominance as a slugger. A percentage difference this high underscores that his performance wasn’t just incrementally better—it was in a different league.
Wilson Redus was an exceptional slugger, far surpassing the average Negro League player of his time in home run efficiency. His 32.23 AB/HR compared to the league’s 81.87 paints him as a generational talent. His performance suggests he could have been a superstar in any league, including Major League Baseball, had integration occurred earlier.
The 2.54 improvement factor is a testament to his dominance. The high league AB/HR average make Redus’ numbers even more impressive; he thrived where others struggled to generate as much power. These stats bolster the case for Redus as a “legendary Negro League slugger.” His ability to hit home runs at more than twice the rate of his peers cements his place among the greats.
In our initial analysis, we examined the careers of Mickey Mantle, Alex Rodriguez, and Joe DiMaggio using our formulas. Following that, we also evaluated the careers of Josh Gibson, Sadaharu Oh, Buck Leonard, Tetsuharu Kawakami, Mule Suttles, Noboru Aota, Oscar Charleston, Katsuya Nomura, Turkey Stearnes, Makoto Kozuru, Willie Wells, and Hiromitsu Ochiai.
Now, let's compare Redus’ career statistics against these baseball legends to gain a clearer perspective on how he stacks up.
Raw Difference:
Redus’ 49.64 fewer at-bats per home run than his league average is staggering. He outpaces icons like Mickey Mantle (26.10), Sadaharu Oh (25.66), and Alex Rodriguez (16.24) by wide margins, showing he was a power-hitting machine in an era where home runs were hard-won.
Improvement Factor:
Redus hit home runs 2.54 times more efficiently than the average Negro League player of his time. This rivals Katsuya Nomura (2.56), Makoto Kozuru (2.58), and even Mickey Mantle (2.73).
Percentage Difference:
Redus’ 60.63% improvement over the league average is a testament to his brilliance. He’s neck-and-neck with Nomura (60.93%), Kozuru (61.27%), and Mantle (63.32%).
Wilson Redus emerges from this comparison as a standout among baseball’s greatest sluggers. His 49.64 raw difference and 60.63% improvement over the Negro League average showcase a player who redefined power hitting in his era, rivaling the likes of Mantle and DiMaggio.
With an improvement factor of 2.54, Redus didn’t just outperform his peers—he dominated them, hitting home runs at a clip that left most legends in the dust. His stats whisper greatness; his legacy shouts it.
Against fellow Negro League icons, Redus stands as a titan. He may not reach Gibson’s stratospheric heights, but his numbers—60.63% better than average—prove he belongs in the conversation with Charleston, Leonard, and Wells as one of the game’s most fearsome sluggers.
Across continents and leagues, from Japan’s Oh to America’s Mantle, Redus’ stats hold their own. His 32.23 AB/HR is a beacon of excellence, a testament to a man who could have conquered any diamond, any era, had fate allowed.
