MLB adds Negro Leagues stats to record books, making Josh Gibson all-time leader in batting average, more

Main League Baseball has formally included Negro Leagues statistics into the Main League file, the league introduced Wednesday. MLB elevated the Negro Leagues to “Main League” standing in 2020 and acknowledged the “statistics and data” of roughly 3,400 gamers who performed within the Negro Leagues between 1920-48. Now they’re a part of the official file.

“We’re proud that the official historic file now contains the gamers of the Negro Leagues,” commissioner Rob Manfred stated in a assertion. “This initiative is concentrated on making certain that future generations of followers have entry to the statistics and milestones of all those that made the Negro Leagues attainable. Their accomplishments on the area can be a gateway to broader studying about this triumph in American historical past and the trail that led to Jackie Robinson’s 1947 Dodger debut.”

Seven leagues comprised the Negro Leagues between 1920-1948: Negro Nationwide League (I) (1920-1931), Japanese Coloured League (1923-1928), American Negro League (1929), East-West League (1932), Negro Southern League (1932), Negro Nationwide League (II) (1933-1948), and the Negro American League (1937-1948). Specialists estimate data from these leagues are 75% full.

As results of Wednesday’s integration, Negro Leagues legend Josh Gibson is now baseball’s all-time chief in profession batting common (.372, beating out Ty Cobb’s .366), slugging share (.718, beating out Babe Ruth’s .690), and OPS (1.177, beating out Ruth’s 1.164). Gibson can also be the brand new single-season chief in these classes. The brand new single-season leaderboards:

“Shortened Negro League schedules, interspersed with revenue-raising exhibition video games, have been born of MLB’s exclusionary practices,” John Thorn, MLB’s official historian, stated in an announcement. “To disclaim the very best Black gamers of the period their rightful place amongst all-time leaders can be a double penalty.”

Gibson performed for 3 Negro League groups — Memphis Crimson Sox, Pittsburgh Crawfords, Homestead Grays — from 1930-46 and completed his profession as a .372/.458/.718 hitter with 166 residence runs in 602 video games. He was a 12-time All-Star and is extensively thought of one of many biggest catchers within the historical past of the sport.

“This can be a historic second for the sport of baseball as these nice gamers will eternally be acknowledged inside Main League Baseball’s official file books. Congratulations to all these nice gamers, particularly Pittsburgh’s personal Josh Gibson,” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting stated in an announcement. “The Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays are an vital a part of the wealthy historical past of baseball in Pittsburgh. The Pirates have lengthy celebrated these nice groups and gamers reminiscent of Josh Gibson, Ray Brown, Oscar Charleston, Buck Leonard and so many others for his or her great accomplishments. Whether or not it’s in our Pirates Corridor of Fame, the massive baseballs on the riverwalk, the Crawfords and Grays Championship banners, the various different shows all through PNC Park, or the help of instructional shows and packages inside our neighborhood, we’re proud to proceed to share the tales of those nice gamers for generations to come back.”

In 1972, Gibson turned the second Negro Leagues participant inducted into the Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame, becoming a member of Satchel Paige. Paige was inducted in 1971. Together with managers and executives, there are 37 Negro Leaguers within the Corridor of Fame.

“Once you hear Josh Gibson’s title now, it isn’t simply that he was the best participant within the Negro Leagues, however one of many biggest of all time. These aren’t simply Negro League stats. They’re major-league baseball stats,” Sean Gibson, Josh’s great-grandson, informed USA As we speak. “This implies a lot for not solely the Josh Gibson household, however representing the two,300 males within the Negro Leagues who did not get the chance to play (in MLB).”  

Kenesaw Mountain Landis’ title was stripped from the MVP trophy in 2020 after a number of Corridor of Famers, together with Barry Larkin and Mike Schmidt, voiced their discomfort. Landis, baseball’s first commissioner, performed a task in maintaining baseball segregated throughout his time as commissioner from 1920-44. Gibson’s household hopes the MVP award can be renamed in his honor.

“How ironic would it not be for Josh Gibson to interchange the person who denied greater than 2,300 males the chance to play baseball within the main leagues,” Sean Gibson informed USA As we speak. “I am hoping with these stats that we are able to change it to the Josh Gibson MVP award. These stats make a nice case for it to be named in his honor.”

The Negro Leagues existed out of necessity, in fact, stemming from MLB’s racist and exclusionary practices that barred Black gamers from competing in built-in leagues for greater than 50 years. 

MLB celebrated the a centesimal anniversary of the Negro Leagues in the course of the 2020 season, with a league-wide celebration happening on Aug. 16.