Gibson, Josh

Gibson, Josh (Joshua Gibson) 1911–47, American baseball player, b. Buena Vista, Ga. A catcher and the long-time batterymate of Satchel Paige, Gibson was called “the Babe Ruth of the Negro Leagues.” Playing 17 years for the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Homestead Grays, he is said to have hit 84 home runs one season and perhaps 800 in his career, and to be the only man to have hit a fair ball out of New York's Yankee Stadium. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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