Josh Gibson has officially become Major League Baseball’s career leader in batting average, boasting a remarkable .372, surpassing Ty Cobb’s .367. This significant update follows the incorporation of Negro Leagues records for over 2,300 players after a meticulous three-year research project.
Gibson’s stellar .466 average for the 1943 Homestead Grays now stands as the season record, dethroning Hugh Duffy’s .440 from 1894. Additionally, Gibson now leads in career slugging percentage (.718) and OPS (1.177), moving ahead of Babe Ruth’s legendary stats.
“This initiative ensures that future generations have access to the milestones of all those who made the Negro Leagues possible,” said baseball commissioner Rob Manfred. “Their accomplishments are a gateway to learning about this triumph in American history and the path to Jackie Robinson’s 1947 Dodgers debut.”
MLB’s decision to recognize the Negro Leagues rectifies a longstanding oversight. John Thorn, MLB’s official historian, chaired a 17-person committee that included experts and statisticians who worked diligently to integrate these records.
An updated MLB database will be released before a tribute game between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants on June 20 at Birmingham’s Rickwood Field.
Among other notable changes, Gibson’s .974 slugging percentage in 1937 becomes the season record, pushing Barry Bonds’ .863 in 2001 down to fifth place. Additionally, Willie Mays gained 10 hits from his time with the 1948 Birmingham Black Barons, increasing his career total to 3,293, and Satchel Paige added 28 wins, raising his total to 125.
Thorn estimates that 72% of Negro Leagues records from 1920 to 1948 have been included, with ongoing research expected to yield future updates. This project ensures that the legacies of Negro Leagues players are rightfully recognized in baseball history.
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