The Once and Future King: Josh Gibson is number one after Negro League stats join MLB

Josh Gibson of the Homestead Grays, 3 April 1931. Photo: Homestead Studios / Wikimedia Commons. by Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor Just a few months before Jackie Robinson would make history and break the color barrier preventing Black players from competing in Major League Baseball, Josh Gibson passed away at 35 years old. In the early 1940s he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and died on January 20, 1947 of a stroke. But Josh Gibson lives in his statistical achievements which place him at the top of all baseball players of all time. The MLB announced on May 29, that it has added the statistics of over 2,300 Negro Leagues players from 1920 to 1948. The update in records now means that Josh Gibson is now Major League Baseball’s all-time career leader in batting average at .372. Gibson overtakes Ty Cobb who is at .367. Gibson also surpasses baseball legend Babe Ruth in career slugging percentage. 1930-31 Homestead Grays. Authorities on the Negro Leagues have made them the consensus pick as the best team ever. Standing:& Cumberland Posey*, Bill Evans, Jap Washington, Red Reed,& Smokey Joe Williams*,& Josh Gibson*,& George “Tubby” Scales,& Oscar Charleston*, Charlie Walker, Jr. Kneeling:&...