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Josh Gibson Explained The Pros And Cons Of Playing Major League Baseball
The baseball legend never got a chance to play in the segregated professional leagues but definitely thought about it
The new official all-time leader in batting average in baseball history is former Negro Leagues catcher and Hall-of-Famer, Josh Gibson. Widely considered one of the greatest players to ever pick up a bat, sadly, he was excluded from playing with his white counterparts due to segregation that remained in place until after his early death in 1947 at the age of 35. A generally quiet man, he didn’t speak on the record often, but on one occasion he discussed what he considered the pros and cons if he was allowed to play Major League Baseball.
The right-handed Gibson pivoted into a career as a professional ballplayer after deciding against becoming an electrician. It was a prescient move, as he was such a powerful hitter that he became known as “The Black Babe Ruth (Some referred to Ruth as the white Josh Gibson).
Gibson played in his first big-league game in the Negro :eagues in 1930 as an 18-year-old, and was a full-fledged star shortly thereafter.
Unfortunately, Negro League statistics are spotty and still being compiled. In addition to league games, teams…
