MLB Records Shattered: Josh Gibson Surpasses Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb with Incorporation of Negro Leagues Statistics
Major League Baseball (MLB) has made history by incorporating statistics from the Negro Leagues into its record books, leading to several notable milestones. Josh Gibson, a legendary figure in Negro League baseball, now holds the all-time career records for batting average (.372), on-base-plus-slugging percentage (1.177), and single-season batting average (.466) in 1943.
Gibson's achievements surpass those of baseball legends Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, who previously held the records for career batting average (.367) and slugging percentage (.690), respectively.
The incorporation of Negro Leagues statistics into MLB records is a significant step towards acknowledging the contributions of Black players in baseball history. More than 2,300 players from the Negro Leagues have had their statistics added to the MLB database following a three-year research project.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed his excitement about this development, stating that denying these exceptional Black players their rightful place among all-time leaders would be a double penalty. Baseball historians and experts welcomed this statistical restitution towards social reparation.
Josh Gibson's great grandson, Sean Gibson, shared his enthusiasm for the recognition of his great-grandfather and other Negro League family members. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick described this as a watershed moment for Black baseball and Negro League history.
Some of the most notable players whose statistics have been added to MLB records include Oscar Charleston, Satchel Paige, Mule Suttles, Buck Leonard, and Charlie