Josh Gibson

Josh Gibson (1911–1947) was an American Negro leagues catcher celebrated for extraordinary power hitting. He starred mainly for the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords.

Buck Leonard: Buck Leonard was a Negro leagues first baseman and longtime Homestead Grays teammate of Josh Gibson. Leonard and Gibson formed the Grays’ celebrated power-hitting core.
Homestead Grays: The Homestead Grays were a leading Negro leagues baseball team based near Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. Gibson spent much of his career as the Grays’ star catcher and hitter.
Negro leagues: The Negro leagues were professional baseball leagues formed primarily for Black players excluded from organized white baseball. They provided the professional stage on which Gibson built his career.
Baseball Hall of Fame: The Baseball Hall of Fame is an institution honoring people and preserving the history of baseball. Gibson’s induction helped establish his place in baseball’s national history.
Satchel Paige: Satchel Paige was a Negro leagues pitcher renowned for his control, longevity, and showmanship. Their matchups placed Gibson’s hitting against the era’s most famous pitching talent.
Pittsburgh Crawfords: The Pittsburgh Crawfords were a powerful Negro leagues team based in Pittsburgh during the 1930s. Gibson played for the Crawfords alongside several of the era’s greatest stars.
Homestead Grays Park: Homestead Grays Park was a baseball venue in Pittsburgh used by the Homestead Grays. The Grays’ home grounds were part of the setting for Gibson’s Pittsburgh career.
Major League Baseball integration: Major League Baseball integration was the gradual end of its exclusion of Black players, beginning with Jackie Robinson’s 1947 debut. Gibson’s death in 1947 left him outside the major leagues as integration began.
Cool Papa Bell: Cool Papa Bell was a Negro leagues center fielder celebrated for speed and skill. Bell and Gibson were prominent stars on the Pittsburgh Crawfords’ formidable teams.
1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords: The 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords were a celebrated Negro leagues team featuring multiple future Hall of Famers. Gibson’s Crawfords years included this unusually star-studded team.

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Buck O'NeilRelated: O'Neil helped preserve the history of Gibson and other Negro leagues stars.