Whole lot of 'Eight Men Out' actors in this
I counted at least 7 actors in 'Matewan' that also appeared in Sayles' 'Eight Men Out' a year later:
David Strathairn
Kevin Tighe
John Sayles
Jace Alexander
Gordon Clapp
Michael Mantell
Maggie Renzi
Yep, and only David Strathairn got top billing with Charlie Sheen and John Cusack, even though most of the other actors you listed played roles just as large and given secondary billing. They simply weren't known outside of Sayles' stock company at the time.
I think Chris Cooper would have made a good Shoeless Joe in Eight Men Out