Gibson, Star Catcher, 'Ruth' of Negro Game, Stroke Victim at 35 -- January 20, 2022

Washington Evening Star, 21-January-1922

Josh Gibson, the great Negro Leagues slugger who never got to play in the major leagues because of the color line, died of a stroke 75 years ago today, on 20-January-1947. He was 35 years old.

 

Gibson, Star Catcher,

'Ruth' of Negro Game,

Stroke Victim at 35

The booming bat of Josh Gibson, famed Negro slugger who was rated by Hans Wagner as one of the greatest natural hitters in baseball history, has been silenced. The home-run king of the Negro National Baseball League and a crack catcher with the Washington Homestead Grays since 1938, died of a stroke at Pittsburgh on Sunday at the home of his mother.

Often called the Babe Ruth of colored baseball, Gibson several years ago was rated by Clark Griffith, president of the Nats, as worth $100,000 to any major league club. A right-handed hitter, he threw out opposing runners from a kneeling position and led the Negro National League in batting with a .393 mark in 1945.

Gibson broke into Negro professional baseball at the age of 13 with the Pittsburgh North Side Red Sox in 1927. He started playing with the Grays in 1930, later switched to the Pittsburgh Crawfords and rejoined the Grays in 1936.

Frequently a battery mate of the veteran Satchel Paige, noted Negro pitcher, Gibson blasted four home runs in a game against the Memphis Red Sox at Zanesville, Ohio, in 1936. He was a familiar figure to Negro fans at Griffith Stadium and smashed some of the longest hits ever to clear Forbes Field fences at Pittsburgh.

Thirty-five years old, Gibson played baseball throughout the year, traveling to Mexico, Cuba, Canada and South America, and was voted the most valuable player in the Mexican Winter League in 1942. Gibson is survived by his wife, two children, a sister and a brother.

Satchel Paige in the Hall, 50 Years -- February 9, 2021

 

Lincoln, Nebraska Voice, 26-August-1948

Fifty years ago today, on 09-February-1971, Satchel Paige, who may have been the greatest pitcher who ever lived, became the first Negro League player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The committee that had studied the question said that he had to be first. 

The Lincoln, Nebraska Voice was an African-American owned weekly newspaper. 

Negro Leagues are Major Leagues -- December 16, 2020

Phoenix Index, 15-August-1942

"This Diamond Quartette is as good as any in the big league." Well, today Major League Baseball announced today that it will consider the various Negro Leagues as major leagues, and will include their statistics with other post-1900 statistics. It is about time, although the statistics will be complicated. 

The Homestead Grays are one of the best-remembered teams of the Negro Leagues. Their 1942 roster included Satchel Paige, Buck Leonard,  and the men in the photo: Sam Bankhead, Howard Easterling, B Wilson (Jud Wilson?), L Williams (?) and Matthew Carlisle. Sam Bankhead and his 4 brothers all played in the Negro Leagues. 

Cleveland Indians -- December 16, 2020

 

The Cleveland Indians have announced that, because of pressure from Native Americans and people who support them, they will change their name. They may not do it until 2022. Perhaps they can call themselves the Spiders or the Naps. 

My dad grew up a Cleveland fan. He saw Bob Feller and Satchel Paige pitch in Municipal Stadium. I would like to hear his thoughts on the subject of the name change. He might have approved. 

I love Bill Veeck's books. 

The New York Giants swept Cleveland in the 1954 World Series. 

Bob Feller 100 -- November 3, 2018

Bob Feller, great pitcher of the Cleveland Indians and WWII Navy vet, was born 100 years ago today, on 03-November-1918. The Indians brought him up when he was 17, in 1936.

My father was a big fan. He got to see Bob Feller and Satchel Paige pitch in Municipal Stadium.

Sgt Rock -- November 10, 2017

www.listal.com

Sgt Rock and Easy Company was a popular feature in DC's Our Army at War.  Later the book changed its name to Sgt Rock.  Artist Joe Kubert created the character with writer Robert Kanigher. I like the way this cover incorporates a quote from great pitcher Satchel Paige. 

1954 World Series -- October 17, 2017

In 1954, I would have rooted for the New York Giants, who swept the Cleveland Indians.  This year, depending how the playoffs turn out, I will probably root for the Indians.  My dad was a big fan.  He got to see Bob Feller and Satchel Paige pitch in Municipal Stadium.  Willie Mays made The Catch off of Vic Wertz during the first game at the Polo Grounds.