Negro Leagues Recognized As Major

[Peter_Spaeth]

According to the "official" stats Josh Gibson hit 113 HR. I wonder how many he really hit.

[Fred]

Gibson's Hall of Fame plaque states he hit "almost 800 home runs in league and independent baseball during his 17-year career."

Other stats indicate he homered at a similar rate to the Babe. The guy had some mad hitting skills.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Fred

Gibson's Hall of Fame plaque states he hit "almost 800 home runs in league and independent baseball during his 17-year career."

Other stats indicate he homered at a similar rate to the Babe. The guy had some mad hitting skills.

If you look at some of those great photos of him in those old flannel uniforms, he just LOOKS like a hitter.

[trdcrdkid]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

According to the "official" stats Josh Gibson hit 113 HR. I wonder how many he really hit.

Actually, according to the numbers on Seamheads, which are the most complete available, Gibson hit 238 home runs in league games, i.e. games played against another team in the same league. But most Negro League teams only played around 50-70 league games in a season, the rest of their games being exhibition games on barnstorming tours and the like. A better basis for comparison is HR per 162 games. Gibson hit 42 HR per 162 (league) games in his Negro League career, higher than Hank Aaron's 37 and Barry Bonds's 41, but not as high as Babe Ruth's 46. That gives you an idea of the company he's in.