As MLB changes its records, Josh Gibson, not Ty Cobb, is all-time batting leader

The Athletic NYT ^ | 5/28/24 | Tyler Kepner

[Round Earther]

It has been an article of faith for nearly a century, as if chiseled onto a tablet by Abner Doubleday himself: The leading hitter in major league history is, and always will be, Tyrus Raymond Cobb.

But history evolves. We know that Doubleday did not, in fact, invent baseball. And as of Wednesday, Josh Gibson will replace Cobb as the leading hitter in the official records of the game. At .372, Gibson’s career batting average eclipses Cobb’s by six points.

[MinorityRepublican]

Doubtful Gibson could have hit .372 had he been allowed to play MLB.

Probably .300

Maybe .290

[dfwgator]

What was the quality of pitching he faced?

[1Old Pro]

DEI at work.

Yep, post #2, no need to look any further.

[BobL]

Sad, DEI was my first thought, then I looked it up, just to find I was right.

[MinorityRepublican]

What was the quality of pitching he faced?

That's the question mark. There were outstanding pitchers like Satchel Paige. Others?

[KC Burke]

Yet another slight to Cobb by these events. I read/listened to a great corrective biography of Cobb: Ty Cobb, A Terrible Beauty. It was a great book.

[MinorityRepublican]

The debate is whether Negro Leagues is considered to be Major League quality or Triple A. I’ll have to do more research.

[dfwgator]

Well what’s done is done. Of course this is just virtue signaling on the part of MLB.

[MinorityRepublican]

I’m suspicious on the timing and it reeks of DEI. That said, Josh Gibson was a tremendous player. Obviously, there should be a way to recognize his achievements.

[dfwgator]

Is he in the Baseball Hall of Fame?

[cgbg]

I have no idea who this is—but I am sure a few months in a re-education camp could change that.

;-)

[MinorityRepublican]

In 1972, Gibson and Buck Leonard became the second and third players, behind Satchel Paige, inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame based on their careers in the Negro leagues. Gibson's Hall of Fame plaque claims "almost 800" home runs for his career, although this number cannot be substantiated.

[dfwgator]

Should we also allow Japanese League players in the record books?

[Tommy Revolts]

Never heard of him. Is he black?

You got it.

[KC Burke]

The biggest difference in record comparison was Cobb (playing 15 years earlier) played during the “dead-ball” era when the ball was much less lively. The spit ball and dead ball era didn’t pass until sixteen years into Cobbs career. As his recent biographies prove this makes his accomplishments untouchable.

[joethedrummer]

No one alive today has ever seen Cobb or Gibson actually play.

As we know, negro league stats aren’t complete or accurate.. especially when comparing to a different league of players.

This is goofy.

We had a kid - Tommy Austin, in our little league. He played circles around every other player. Should HE also be included?

[cowboyusa]

Great Ballplayer. Not as great as Ruth.

[piytar]

Cobb and Gibson may have both benefited from playing against diluted talent.

Yup.

[piytar]

Depends which one it is. See https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1313&_nkw=Josh+Gibson+rookie+baseball+card&_sacat=0

[Golden Eagle]

If you never heard of Josh Gibson you’re not a baseball fan.

Ridiculous, I played 4 years high school ball, pitching and batting cleanup my senior year. I have a baseball card collection worth many thousands of dollars and used to subscribe to Beckett magazine if you even know what that is. I’m even a current subscriber to mlb.tv if you even know what that is.

If I don’t know who this guy is, almost nobody knows.