Origins & Early Life

Joshua Gibson (December 21, 1911 – January 20, 1947) was an American professional baseball catcher who played primarily in the Negro leagues. In 1972, he became the second Negro league player to be inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, after Satchel Paige. Gibson played for the Homestead Grays from 1930 to 1931, moved to the Pittsburgh Crawfords from 1932 to 1936, and returned to the Grays from 1937 to 1939 and 1942 to 1946. In 1937, he played for Ciudad Trujillo in Trujillo's Dominican League and from 1940 to 1941, he played in the Mexican League for Azules de Veracruz.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Gibson served as the first manager of the Cangrejeros de Santurce, one of the most historic franchises of the Puerto Rico Baseball League. Gibson was known as a spectacular power hitter who, by some accounts, hit close to 800 career home runs. Many encyclopedic sources only credit him with 176 home runs in league play, as Negro league records are incomplete and many of his home runs were hit in exhibition games. He was known as the "black Babe Ruth"; in fact, some fans at the time who saw both Ruth and Gibson play called Ruth "the white Josh Gibson". Gibson never played in the American League nor the National...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Al Capone — Contemporary (Died in 1947) (1947): Notorious American gangster and businessman during the Prohibition era.
• Alan Guth — Contemporary (Born in 1947) (1947): Pioneering cosmologist known for developing the theory of cosmic inflation.
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• Benjamin Disraeli — Shared historical date (12-21 · Born) (1804): British statesman and Conservative leader, known for defining the modern Conservative Party.
• Betty Wright — Shared historical date (12-21 · Born) (1953): Iconic American soul and R&B singer known for her powerful vocal style.
• Adam Oehlenschläger — Shared historical date (01-20 · Died) (1850): Pioneering Danish Romantic poet and playwright who shaped national literature.
• Al-Shafi'i — Shared historical date (01-20 · Died) (820): Founder of the Shāfiʿī school of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence and jurist.
• 1911 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1911
• December 21 (12-21) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 21
• 1947 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1947
• January 20 (01-20) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 20