Josh

Gibson, Josh (Joshua Gibson) 1911-47, American baseball player, b. Buena Vista, Ga. A catcher and the long-time batterymate of Satchel Paige, Gibson was called "the Babe Ruth of the Negro Leagues." Playing 17 years for the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Homestead Grays, he is said to have hit 84 home runs one season and perhaps 800 in his career, and to be the only man to have hit a fair ball out of New York's Yankee Stadium. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

Billings, Josh, pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw, 1818-85, American humorist and lecturer, b. Lanesboro, Mass. After a roving life as farmer, explorer, and coal miner, he settled in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., as an auctioneer and real estate dealer. In 1860 he began to write humorous sketches and homespun philosophies in rural dialect and soon became a popular lecturer. His first collection was Josh Billings: His Sayings (1869), but his best humor was published in his annual Farmer's Allminax (1869-80).

in full Joshua Gibson

(born Dec. 21, 1911, Buena Vista, Ga., U.S.—died Jan. 20, 1947, Pittsburgh, Pa.) U.S. baseball player. Gibson played as a catcher in the Negro leagues for the Pittsburgh Crawfords (1927–29, 1932–36) and the Homestead (Pa.) Grays (1930–31, 1937–46). Though precise records do not exist, he is believed to have led the Negro leagues in home runs for 10 consecutive seasons and to have had a career batting average of .347. His catching ability was praised by major-league stars against whom he played in exhibition games. Often called “the black Babe Ruth,” he was one of the greatest players kept from the major leagues by the unwritten rule barring black ballplayers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

Learn more about Gibson, Josh with a free trial on Britannica.com.

in full Joshua Gibson

(born Dec. 21, 1911, Buena Vista, Ga., U.S.—died Jan. 20, 1947, Pittsburgh, Pa.) U.S. baseball player. Gibson played as a catcher in the Negro leagues for the Pittsburgh Crawfords (1927–29, 1932–36) and the Homestead (Pa.) Grays (1930–31, 1937–46). Though precise records do not exist, he is believed to have led the Negro leagues in home runs for 10 consecutive seasons and to have had a career batting average of .347. His catching ability was praised by major-league stars against whom he played in exhibition games. Often called “the black Babe Ruth,” he was one of the greatest players kept from the major leagues by the unwritten rule barring black ballplayers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

Learn more about Gibson, Josh with a free trial on Britannica.com.

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