The statistics detectives work on a game-by-game basis for a specific season with the ultimate goal of compiling a player's career statistics. "I have mined more than 400 newspapers for Negro Leagues data," Lester said. Modern-day researchers have had to collect multiple newspapers from around the United State to verify performances. The available box scores often aren't of good quality and omit important statistics. As a result, some box scores never were printed, creating a dead end for historians. Newspapers that served Black communities - like the Chicago Defender, Pittsburgh Courier, Baltimore Afro-American and Kansas City Call - are the main source for Negro Leagues statistics, but they only printed weekly until the 1930s and couldn't cram a week's worth of daily box scores into only two or three pages dedicated to sports. The popularity of the leagues faded into oblivion as more Black players joined MLB in the 1950s and 1960s. Some tangible Negro Leagues records from newspapers and other publications weren't considered "valuable" and often were discarded after Jackie Robinson broke MLB's color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, the researchers said. "And you are like: Why haven't I heard of this ballplayer? It shakes your faith in baseball Americana." "He's pitching, playing center field, leading his team in home runs and hitting over. "You read about a great ballplayer like a 'Bullet' Rogan and see the games on the screen where he gets two or three hits every game," Lester said. Lester has become teary-eyed looking into the microfilm viewer.
The quest has been inspirational, frustrating and emotional for the researchers. Lester has 20 four-drawer file cabinets at home, each packed with newspaper clippings, box scores, biographies and other Negro Leagues data.
He owns a trove of copied box scores and microfilmed pages, constantly seeking to uncover forgotten stories. Ashwill's desk is covered in old newspapers.