Major League Baseball (MLB) plans to fully incorporate Negro League statistical history into its official records on Wednesday. USA Today.
This long-awaited move follows MLB’s recognition of the Negro Leagues as a professional “major league” organization in 2020. From that point on, it was only a matter of time before both leagues went on the record.
The Homestead Grays Negro League Baseball Club poses for a team photo at their home stadium, Forbes Field, in Pittsburgh, in 1942. The club’s Hall of Fame members include Josh Gibson, standing third from the left, and Buck Leonard, standing at the far right (Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics via Getty Images)
“We are proud to now include Negro League players in the official historical record,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said. Yahoo Sports“This initiative is designed to ensure that future generations of fans have access to the statistics and milestones of all those who helped make the Negro Leagues possible. Their accomplishments on the field will serve as a gateway to learning more broadly about this triumph in American history and the journey that led to Jackie Robinson’s debut with the Dodgers in 1947.”
The addition of just one player from the Negro Leagues would result in some notable changes to the official MLB record book. Josh Gibson, the greatest player in Negro League history, would replace Ty Cobb as the all-time leading hitter with a career batting average of .372. Gibson’s slugging percentage of .718 would also replace Babe Ruth’s slugging percentage of .690. Additionally, Gibson’s OPS of 1.177 would surpass Ruth’s career OPS of 1.164.
“When you hear the name Josh Gibson today, you’re left with the impression that he was not only the best player in the Negro Leagues, but one of the best players of all time. And that’s not just a Negro Leagues statistic. It’s a major league statistic.” Said “This not only means a lot to Josh Gibson’s family, but to the 2,300 players from the Negro Leagues who never got a chance to play,” said Sean Gibson, great-grandson of the Negro Leagues legend.
Oscar Charleston, Josh Gibson, Ted Page and Judy Johnson pose for a group photograph during a Negro League baseball game in San Francisco, California, 1940. (Clarence Gatson/Gad/Getty Images)
Gibson played in the Negro Leagues from 1930 to 1946. During that time, he batted an incredible .372/.458/.718. He was an All-Star 12 times and hit 166 home runs in just 602 games.
Gibson died in 1947, the same year Jackie Robinson made his MLB debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1972. Gibson’s 1972 induction came one year after fellow Negro League star Satchel Paige was inducted in 1971.
In total, 37 Cooperstown Hall of Famers played most or all of their careers in the Negro Leagues.
