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

Major League Baseball has officially incorporated Negro League statistics into the Major League record, the league announced Wednesday. MLB elevated the Negro Leagues to “Major League” status in 2020 and recognized the “statistics and records” of approximately 3,400 players who played in the Negro Leagues between 1920-48. They are now part of the official record.

“We are proud that the official historical record now includes players from the Negro Leagues,” commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “This initiative aims to ensure that future generations of fans have access to the statistics and milestones of all those who made the Negro Leagues possible. His achievements on the field will be a gateway to broader learning about this triumph in American history and the path that led to Jackie Robinson’s Dodger debut in 1947.”

Seven leagues comprised the Negro Leagues between 1920-1948: Negro National League (I) (1920-1931), Eastern Colored League (1923-1928), American Negro League (1929), East-West League (1932), Negro Southern League (1932), Negro National League (II) (1933-1948) and Negro American League (1937-1948). Experts estimate that the records of these leagues are 75% complete.

As a result of Wednesday’s integration, Negro Leagues legend Josh Gibson is now baseball’s all-time leader in career batting average (.372, surpassing Ty Cobb’s .366), slugging percentage (.718 , surpassing Babe Ruth’s .690) and OPS. (1.177, surpassing Ruth’s 1.164). Gibson is also the new single-season leader in those categories. The new single-season leaderboards:

“The Negro League’s shortened schedules, interspersed with revenue-raising exhibition games, were born out of MLB’s exclusionary practices,” said John Thorn, MLB’s official historian, in a statement. “To deny the best black players of the era their rightful place among the all-time leaders would be a double penalty.”

Gibson played for three Negro League teams – Memphis Red Sox, Pittsburgh Crawfords, Homestead Grays – from 1930-46 and finished his career as a .372/.458/.718 hitter with 166 home runs in 602 games. He was a 12-time All-Star and is widely considered one of the greatest catchers in the history of the sport.

“This is a historic moment for the game of baseball, as these great players will forever be recognized in the official record books of Major League Baseball. Congratulations to all of these great players, especially Pittsburgh’s own Josh Gibson,” Pirates president Bob Nutting said in a statement. “The Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays are an important part of Pittsburgh’s rich baseball history. The Pirates have long celebrated these great teams and players like Josh Gibson, Ray Brown, Oscar Charleston, Buck Leonard and so many others for their tremendous achievements. our Pirates Hall of Fame, the big baseballs on the riverbank, the Crawfords and Grays Championship flags, the many other displays throughout PNC Park, or the support of exhibits and educational programs in our community, we will continue to be proud of. to share the stories of these great players for generations to come.”

In 1972, Gibson became the second Negro League player inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, joining Satchel Paige. Paige was inducted in 1971. Including managers and executives, there are 37 Negro Leaguers in the Hall of Fame.

“When you hear Josh Gibson’s name now, it’s not just because he was the greatest player in the Negro Leagues, but one of the greatest of all time. These aren’t just Negro League statistics. They’re major league baseball statistics, “Sean Gibson, great-grandson of Josh, told USA Today. “This means a lot not only to the Josh Gibson family, but also to represent the 2,300 men in the Negro Leagues who didn’t have the opportunity to play (in MLB).”

Kenesaw Mountain Landis’ name was removed from the MVP trophy in 2020 after several Hall of Famers, including Barry Larkin and Mike Schmidt, expressed their discomfort. Landis, baseball’s first commissioner, played a major role in keeping baseball segregated during his time as commissioner from 1920-44. Gibson’s family hopes the MVP award will be renamed in his honor.

“How ironic it would be for Josh Gibson to replace the man who denied over 2,300 men the opportunity to play major league baseball,” Sean Gibson told USA Today. “Hopefully with these stats we can move him toward the Josh Gibson MVP award. These statistics make a great argument for it to be named in his honor.”

The Negro Leagues existed out of necessity, of course, arising from MLB’s racist and exclusionary practices that prohibited black players from competing in integrated leagues for more than 50 years.

MLB celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues during the 2020 season, with a league-wide celebration taking place on August 16.