So, what's the big deal? Well, this means the incredible stats of players like Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell, and Turkey Stearns will now stand proudly alongside those of Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb. And guess what? Josh Gibson is now MLB's all-time career leader in batting average (.372), slugging percentage (.718), and OPS (1.177). Talk about rewriting history!
To give you a taste of the changes, here are some of the standout stats from USA Today:
- Josh Gibson's .974 slugging percentage in 1937 now ranks first all-time.
- Gibson's .446 batting average in 1943 also ranks first.
- Satchel Paige's 1.01 ERA in 1944 ranks as the third-best in history.
- Willie Mays now has 3,293 career hits, including his 1948 total with the Birmingham Black Barons.
- Jackie Robinson’s career hit total jumps to 1,567, thanks to his time with the Kansas City Monarchs in 1945.
Sean Gibson, Josh Gibson's great-grandson, summed it up perfectly: "When you hear Josh Gibson's name now, it's not just that he was the greatest player in the Negro Leagues, but one of the greatest of all time. These aren't just Negro League stats. They're major-league baseball stats."
However, it wasn't just about making an announcement. The practical work of integrating these records is complex. Many Negro League games were poorly scored, if they were scored at all, making the players' statistical records incomplete. But the goal is clear: make sure these legends' achievements are fully recognized in MLB history.
Now, according to multiple reports, we know that the Negro Leagues' statistics will officially become part of the major league historical record on Wednesday. This step ensures that the incredible contributions of Negro League players are finally given the recognition they deserve.
And there’s more to come. As new statistics are uncovered, we'll see additional changes to historical records. Josh Gibson, for example, is credited with "almost 800 home runs" on his Hall of Fame plaque, including homers hit during barnstorming tours. Future updates may add even more to his career totals.
In 1969, when a special committee on baseball records met to decide which leagues should be considered "major leagues," they made a critical mistake. They only included four additional leagues, none existing after 1915, and completely ignored the Negro Leagues. This decision perpetuated the segregation of Black and white baseball leagues, leaving out the significant achievements of Negro League players.
It's been a long journey, but with MLB's recent decision, the game is finally stepping up to the plate to correct these historical oversights.
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