Perspective: A surprising new era has arrived for lovers of the sport among African Americans in baseball.
You know: Pigs can fly, Republicans are liberal once more, and the Detroit Lions are on their way to the Super Bowl! These are some of the ridiculous things one could believe after this week's announcement from Major League Baseball (MLB).
Yes, it's tempting to indulge in such fantasies when faced with news as astounding as the claim that Josh Gibson is now baseball's all-time batting champion, beating out Ty Cobb's lifetime average of .367 with a career .372. This impressive achievement, which feels like an event straight out of dreams, came about with an announcement by MLB officials that they will be incorporating player stats from the Negro Leagues into their historical records. The negotiation started in 2019 when a 17-person committee of historians, statisticians, and other experts was formed to correct a "longtime oversight," as MLB puts it.
For over half a century, MLB has been grappling with reconciling its history with that of the Negro Leagues, which provided a refuge for some of America's finest athletes, who earned their livelihoods playing a game Americans loved. On one hand, these leagues offered a sense of belonging for Black superstars who helped bring baseball to new heights; on the other, they were a testament to the insanity of legally enforced segregation. As Black players like Jackie Robinson brought diversity to the sport (breaking the color barrier in 1947) and shattered barriers, people began to question whether it was justifiable to say that White baseball legends from the early 20th century—from Walter Johnson to Babe Ruth to Lou Gehrig to Joe DiMaggio—were better than Gibson, Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell, and other Negro League stars whose exceptional talents have been more lauded since integration.
And now, you can officially verify this by consulting your favorite baseball statistics resource.
Gibson, a legendary catcher during the racially segregated '30s and '40s, spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays. Nicknamed "the Black Babe Ruth," he decisively outplayed Ruth according to those who had seen him in action. Gibson was among more than 2,300 players from the Negro Leagues whose stats are being included in MLB's official history. The committee also declared Gibson's record-smashing .466 single-season average during the 1943 season with the Homestead Grays as the new standard for such percentages. He was also recognized as the leader in slugging percentage (.718) and on-base-plus-slugging percentage (1.177), surpassing Ruth's .690 and 1.164, respectively.
Momentous changes are afoot for die-hard baseball enthusiasts, especially those who are Black. Since Gibson's death in 1947 from a stroke at age 35, many have wondered whether the denied opportunities he met due to racism could have unleashed his unrivaled skills in the majors. Now, these fans wake up to a revised world where Gibson is finally acknowledged as having been the best baseball player of all time.
However, despite this milestone, discussions around Gibson's status are far from over. While it's undeniable that Gibson's .466 season of 1943—the last time a big-league player breached the .400 mark—trumps Williams' phenomenal .406 season in 1941, Cobb's supporters will undoubtedly continue to argue for his greatness. Just imagine the indignation of Cobb's ghost, known for his fierce rage and bigoted outlook, now that his reputation as "the Black Babe Ruth" is in tatters.
But in baseball (aka "the Church of Baseball"), few values are held as dear as fairness. This abiding faith, seen in everything from a regional official's umpire error to decades-long injustices, manifests itself in various forms, such as Gibson's tremendous stats from 1943, which came just two years after Ted Williams' legendary .406 season in 1941.
True baseball fans, like the ever-passionate Ted Williams, the "Splendid Splinter," have diligently studied baseball history. At his Hall of Fame induction, Williams encouraged Cooperstown to devote space to recognize Black players like Gibson, Satchel Paige, Buck Leonard, and other luminaries who were deliberately excluded.
What would Teddy Ballgame say about Gibson's .466 average breaking his .406? Would he be upset by Gibson's achievement? I think you know the answer—if you understand the essence of fairness that baseball so lovingly propounds.
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Despite the excitement over Josh Gibson becoming baseball's all-time batting champion, some may still hold firm to their opinions about Ty Cobb's prowess. Regardless of the statistical evidence, passionate baseball fans may continue to debate the greatness of these legendary players.
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