Contents
Josh Gibson
Establishing an extraordinary batting record in the Negro leagues.
Power hitting · Hall of Fame
- Born
- 21 December 1911
- Birthplace
- Buena Vista, United States
- Died
- 20 January 1947
More people
Josh Gibson
Josh Gibson was an American catcher and power hitter whose career centred on the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords.
Early life
Pittsburgh move
His family moved from Georgia to Pittsburgh in 1923.
Working teenager
Trained for electrical work and played for a team sponsored by his employer, Gimbels.
Career
- 1930–1931
Homestead Grays
Entered leading Negro-league competition.
- 1932–1936
Pittsburgh Crawfords
Became a central hitter on a celebrated team.
- 1937–1946
Grays and overseas clubs
Returned to Homestead and also played in Caribbean and Mexican baseball.
Achievements
Power hitting
Built a reputation for exceptional home-run hitting.
Hall of Fame
Was elected for his Negro-league career.
Record integration
Entered MLB’s career batting-average lead when Negro-league statistics were incorporated.
Beyond baseball
Family
His wife Helen died giving birth to their twins in 1930.
Historical records
Incomplete league records and extensive exhibition play complicate claims about his total home runs.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Harrison Studio. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
