Introducing Josh Gibson, the MLB record-breaking player

Regarded as one of the all-time greatest baseball players, Josh Gibson’s legacy transcended the sport over seven decades ago. Despite this, his achievements were never fully recognized by Major League Baseball.

However, a groundbreaking change occurred this week.

For the first time in history, the previously excluded statistics of over 2,400 Negro Leagues ballplayers have now been incorporated into the MLB record books. Combining the records from both leagues has placed Gibson ahead of legendary players like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Lou Gehrig.

This overdue move has made Gibson the new MLB all-time hitting leader with a career batting average of .372, surpassing Cobb’s .367. Additionally, Gibson now holds the career records in slugging percentage (SLG) and on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS), outshining Ruth in both categories.

Dubbed the “Black Babe Ruth,” Gibson was a standout in the Negro Leagues, playing for three teams during his 17-year career in the 1930s and ’40s. A 12-time All-Star, Gibson is renowned for his exceptional skills as a catcher and a powerful hitter.

Despite his incredible talent, Gibson was never given the chance to play in the Major Leagues due to the segregation of professional baseball at the time. His untimely death from a stroke at the age of 35 occurred just months before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947.

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 officially recognized. After extensive historical research lasting three years, Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred proudly declared the decision this week.

“This initiative aims to ensure that future fans have access to the milestones and statistics of all those who contributed to the Negro Leagues,” stated Manfred in a release. “Their achievements on the field serve as a gateway to deeper understanding of this triumph in American history and the path that led to Jackie Robinson’s historic debut in 1947.”

An updated version of MLB’s historical database is set to 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 statistical review, praised the decision while acknowledging that there is still much historical research to be done.

“Collaborating with this esteemed group of baseball historians has been an honor. This is a significant endeavor,” Dixon remarked. “There is a wealth of work and compelling stories that can be uncovered through the numbers, articles, and box scores – both those discovered and those yet to be revealed. The future of Black men in baseball is brighter than ever.”