Vital Statistics:
Born: Dec. 21, 1911 in Buena Vista, Ga.
Died: Jan. 20, 1947
Teams: Pittsburgh Crawfords (1930-37), Homestead Grays (1937-46)
Inducted into Hall of Fame: 1972
Height: 6-1
Weight: 210
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary position: Catcher
Career Highlights:
- Considered perhaps the greatest power hitter in the history of the Negro Leagues, Gibson was called the "black Babe Ruth." Some who saw both play said they should have called Ruth the "white Josh Gibson."
- At age 18, he hit the first ball to clear the 457-foot fence in center field in Forbes Field.
- In recorded at-bats vs. major league pitchers, he hit .426.
- Hit .462 to win the Negro National League batting title by 79 points in 1937.
- Won 12 home run titles, and is generally credited with hitting .351 with roughly 800 home runs in his 17-year career.
After Retirement:
- Was in poor health due to drinking late in his career and died of a stroke at age 35, just three months before Jackie Robinson's debut with the Dodgers.
