[Pelican]

So, what do you say to the (many) home runs that Gibson hit against the best MLB pitchers in head-to-head games? Or, for that matter, the ones Ruth hit against lousy pitchers for dreadful AL teams?

Not sure what your factual basis is for saying that the Negro Leagues were "full of minor league equivalent players" (if that is your view). You might be right. I am willing to admit that I don't have the answer. Unlike the stars, the worst MLB players never got to play the worst Negro League guys. So, it's all just speculation.

My guess is that bad Negro League players had a lot in common with bad MLB players. Rosters were filled out with mediocre players. Mediocre as compared to Ruth and to Gibson. Better than 99% of baseball players.

For sure, the white leagues had many more minor league players to choose from for replacements. By the 1930's most MLB teams, following the Cardinals' example, had coherent minor league organizations. But in most cases, there was a reason - related to ability - they were in the minors.

Agree with you on era-adjusted stats. The game does a good job of that, and users can fine-tune the results. I'm playing in 1911, and the difference between expected stats in that season and in 2024 is astounding, hitters and pitchers (although with a .241 MLB batting average this year, we may be moving in the Deadball direction, at least as to that outdated metric, if not as to slugging).