Sports
Just who are some names you think of while you think about the greatest home run hitters for all time? Willie Mays. Ken Griffey Jr. Mark Mcgwire. Hank Aaron. Babe Ruth. Truth is, possibly the best home run hitter to ever play baseball won't surface in any Mlb record books. His name was Josh Gibson. You most likely are acquainted with his playing career if you have seen the made for T.V. movie "Soul of the Game". For those who have yet to check out this movie, quit reading this article, sign onto Ebay and buy it. Due to the MLB's "Gentleman's Agreement" that segregated baseball, Gibson wasn't permitted to participate in the Majors. Instead, he took over the American Negro Leagues where legend says he hit anywhere between 750 and 1,000 home runs during his playing career. As a matter of fact, certain fans at the time referred to Babe Ruth as 'The White Josh Gibson'.
The Georgia native devoted the majority of his career with the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords. You will find a variety of tall tales about Gibson, like the time he hit a ball into the air at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh so high that it never landed...until the next day...in a different city. Honestly. Or maybe you have been told the one about Gibson hitting the only ball to ever leave Yankee Stadium, more than 500 feet. Although stout in build, he featured Hercules-like power, consistently hitting home runs in excess of 400+ feet. He hit 84 home runs through the 1936 season. Unfortunately, he started to develop drinking and drug habits later in his career after losing his wife. The agony he experienced from not being able to play in the Major Leagues did not help. Gibson's achievements and legend are often met with naysayers who believe that Gibson was skilled, but Negro League talent was second-rate to the talent in the Major Leagues. He did get the opportunity to play against Major League pitchers during exhibitions from time to time and often held his own. He passed away in 1947 as a result of a stroke, at only 36 years of age. Months later, Jackie Robinson would break the color barrier by being the first black baseball player to play in the Major Leagues. Any person interested in knowing more about the great Josh Gibson or other Negro League greats like Satchel Paige and Jackie Robinson can do so by going to the Negro Leagues baseball museum in Kansas City, MO.
By John Raso, creator of FromThisSeat.com. Blogger, entrepreneur, avid Tweeter (@FromThisSeat).
The Georgia native devoted the majority of his career with the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords. You will find a variety of tall tales about Gibson, like the time he hit a ball into the air at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh so high that it never landed...until the next day...in a different city. Honestly. Or maybe you have been told the one about Gibson hitting the only ball to ever leave Yankee Stadium, more than 500 feet. Although stout in build, he featured Hercules-like power, consistently hitting home runs in excess of 400+ feet. He hit 84 home runs through the 1936 season. Unfortunately, he started to develop drinking and drug habits later in his career after losing his wife. The agony he experienced from not being able to play in the Major Leagues did not help. Gibson's achievements and legend are often met with naysayers who believe that Gibson was skilled, but Negro League talent was second-rate to the talent in the Major Leagues. He did get the opportunity to play against Major League pitchers during exhibitions from time to time and often held his own. He passed away in 1947 as a result of a stroke, at only 36 years of age. Months later, Jackie Robinson would break the color barrier by being the first black baseball player to play in the Major Leagues. Any person interested in knowing more about the great Josh Gibson or other Negro League greats like Satchel Paige and Jackie Robinson can do so by going to the Negro Leagues baseball museum in Kansas City, MO.
By John Raso, creator of FromThisSeat.com. Blogger, entrepreneur, avid Tweeter (@FromThisSeat).
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