Josh Gibson is widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, with a legacy that transcended the sport over seven decades ago. Despite his remarkable accomplishments, he was never properly recognized in Major League Baseball.
This week, a monumental change occurred.
For the first time in history, the previously excluded statistics of over 2,400 Negro Leagues ballplayers have been incorporated into the MLB record books. Combining the records from both leagues now places Gibson ahead of legendary players like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Lou Gehrig.
By merging the records from both leagues, Gibson has emerged as the new MLB all-time hitting leader with a career batting average of .372, surpassing Cobb’s .367. He also holds the title for career leader in slugging percentage (SLG) and on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS), surpassing Ruth in both categories.
Gene J. Puskar/AP
Known as the “Black Babe Ruth,” Gibson was a dominant force in the Negro Leagues, excelling as a catcher and slugger. Despite his extraordinary talent, Gibson was denied the opportunity to play in the Major Leagues due to racial segregation. It wasn’t until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947 that Black athletes were able to integrate into the previously all-White league.
Keith Srakocic/AP
In December 2020, MLB announced the reclassification of the Negro Leagues as part of the major leagues, allowing players like Gibson, Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, and Willie Mays to have their Negro Leagues stats included in the MLB record books. After three years of historical research, Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred revealed that this was a move the league was proud to announce.
“This initiative aims to ensure that future generations of fans can access the statistics and milestones of all those who contributed to the Negro Leagues,” Manfred stated in a statement. “Their achievements on the field will provide insight into this significant moment in American history and the path that led to Jackie Robinson’s historic debut in 1947.”
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An updated version of MLB’s historical database will be released during a Negro Leagues tribute game on June 20 between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants. Phil Dixon, a Negro Leagues expert involved in the project, praised the decision while acknowledging that there is still more work to be done in unraveling the history.
“Collaborating with this group of baseball historians has been a privilege. This is a significant endeavor,” Dixon expressed. “There are numerous untold stories waiting to be discovered through the numbers, articles, and box scores. The future for Black men in baseball is shining brighter than ever.”
