Key Points:
- Negro Leagues stats officially incorporated into MLB records.
- Josh Gibson becomes MLB’s all-time leader in batting average, slugging percentage, and OPS.
- Efforts to uncover more verifiable statistics ongoing, with 75% complete.
After over three years of research, the statistics of more than 2,300 players from the Negro Leagues between 1920-1948 were officially incorporated into Major League Baseball’s records on Wednesday. The monumental move elevates the accomplishments of the Negro Leagues to the major league level.
“This initiative is focused on ensuring that future generations of fans have access to the statistics and milestones of all those who made the Negro Leagues possible,” said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. “Their accomplishments on the field will be a gateway to broader learning about this triumph in American history and the path that led to Jackie Robinson’s 1947 Dodger debut.”
Among the biggest changes, legendary Negro Leagues star Josh Gibson takes over as MLB’s all-time leader in batting average (.372), slugging percentage (.718) and OPS (1.177 – on-base plus slugging percentage). He surpasses batting average king Ty Cobb (.367) and slugging/OPS leader Babe Ruth (.690 slugging, 1.164 OPS).
“Josh Gibson was the greatest baseball player of all time,” said Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. “To see his name at the top of so many statistical categories, while not surprising to me, would be surprising to a lot of folks. He was the absolute truth.”
Gibson’s incredible 1937 season, when he slugged .974 and had an otherworldly 1.474 OPS, are also new single-season MLB records. Barry Bonds’ 2001 season (.863 slugging, 1.421 OPS) drops down the leaderboard.
“Gibson was an equal opportunity destroyer,” said Kendrick. “He didn’t discriminate on who he beat up. He beat up on the pitchers, whether they were Negro Leaguers, major leaguers in exhibition games, or guys from Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. He beat up on everybody.”
Other Negro Leagues stars also saw their totals updated and rise up the ranks. Willie Mays gains 10 hits to bring his total to 3,293, passing the 3,000 hit mark. Minnie Miñoso surpasses 2,000 career hits after adding 150 from his time with the New York Cubans. Jackie Robinson’s hit total increases to 1,567 after his Kansas City Monarchs stats were included.
“Folks that may not have embraced the magnitude of those stars, they’re going to see these names and instantly jump out at them,” said Kendrick. “We’re going to see Buck Leonard, we’re going to see Oscar Charleston. We hope it will serve as a gateway for people to want to learn more about what made them so special.”
The updating of statistics was a painstaking, years-long process led by a committee of historians and researchers chaired by MLB’s Official Historian, John Thorn. They reviewed box scores, newspaper accounts, and other data sources while dealing with issues like incomplete records and nicknames in place of given names.
The complete set of statistics has yet to be uncovered, as the MLB says the process is 75% complete. However, efforts are still underway to unearth verifiable statistics. Anecdotal evidence and barnstorming game stats were not included, but as researchers uncover more, the statistics will be updated.
The Negro Leagues stats integration is just the latest move to properly recognize Black baseball history, following some Negro Leagues players —like Buck O’Neil— induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame and the inclusion of Negro League Teams in MLB’s video game last year.
“This won’t be a surprise to baseball fans who really know about the game’s history,” says Kendrick. “But it’s an example of us giving the Negro Leagues’ history a mainstream voice.”
Kendrick acknowledged there will still be pushback from some who don’t want to accept the statistical proof of the Negro Leagues’ elite level of play. However, he’s hopeful this will get more people interested in learning about the Negro Leagues story.
“One of our posters says, ‘The difference was the skin, the game was the same,’” says Kendrick. “This notion that because of skin color, someone couldn’t play at a high level is absurd. We hope through these stats, people will want to learn more.”
MLB will celebrate the Negro Leagues’ statistical intersection on June 20th when the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals play at Rickwood Field, home of the Birmingham Black Barons, in a special tribute game.
