Reality of Josh Gibson’s incredible talent transcends even his legend
The only thing grander than Josh Gibson’s power on a baseball field might have been the stories told about his power.
It is believed that in 1930, an 18-year-old Gibson launched a ball that traveled beyond the 457-foot fence in center field at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
There are claims that he hit home runs out of Yankee Stadium in 1930, ’34 and ’37. The Sporting News wrote in 1967 that the ‘37 shot traveled 580 feet and actually fell a couple of feet shy of leaving the ballpark.
“I saw him hit a ball one night in the Polo Grounds that went between the upper deck and lower deck and out of the stadium,” said Hall of Famer Buck Leonard, who was teammates with Gibson. “It must have gone 600 feet.”
Sam Jethroe, the 1950 National League Rookie of the Year Award winner, once said: “If someone had told me Josh hit the ball a mile, I would have believed them.”
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Gibson’s Hall of Fame plaque states that he bashed nearly 800 home runs during his career. Other estimates have that number closer to 1,000.
These accounts — apocryphal or not — all add to Gibson’s towering baseball legacy. It’s why he is known as “The Black Babe Ruth,” although many Negro League fans in Gibson’s heyday instead referred to Ruth as “The white Josh Gibson.”
“This is a historical moment for the game of baseball as these great players will forever be recognized within Major League Baseball’s official record books,” Pirates chairman of the board Bob Nutting said. “Congratulations to all these great players, especially Pittsburgh’s own Josh Gibson. The Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays are an important part of the rich history of baseball in Pittsburgh. The Pirates have long celebrated these great teams and players such Josh Gibson, Ray Brown, Oscar Charleston, Buck Leonard and so many others for their tremendous accomplishments. Whether it is in our Pirates Hall of Fame, the large baseballs on the riverwalk, the Crawfords and Grays Championship banners, the many other displays throughout PNC Park, or the support of educational displays and programs within our community, we are proud to continue to share the stories of these great players for generations to come.” fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm fgm
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