Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2024 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Evening News Harrisburg, PA Tuesday, 21 January 1947 GIBSON, Slugging Negro Star, Dies Pittsburgh, Jan. 21. - JOSH GIBSON, 35, the Negro "Babe Ruth" died yesterday of a stroke at his home here. GIBSON was the star catcher of the Homestead Grays, and won the Negro National League batting championship in 1945 when he bat- ted .393. Born in Buena Vista, Ga., GIBSON came to Pitts- burgh at an early age, played sandlot ball, and in 1927 joined the Pittsburgh Crawfords. In 1930 he joined the Grays, but returned to the Crawords in 1932. He rejoined the Grays in 1937 and had been with them since. Due to incomplete records, it is not possible to compile GIBSON'S lifetime batting average. However, he was a power hitter and his smashing home runs won many a game for the Grays. In 1938, he slammed out four home runs in a game against the Memphis Red Sox at Zanesville, Ohio. His longest hit was 513 feet at Monessen, Pa. GIBSON appeared numerous times in Harrisburg, playing on Island Field here in games promoted by BUD MARSHALL. He was a big favorite with lo- cal fans and more than lived up to his reputation as a slugger with his extra-base hits. GIBSON'S slugging aided the Homestead Grays in winning eight straight Negro National League pennants. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Wednesday, January 22, 1947 GIBSON-JOSH, suddenly on Monday, January 20. Friends received at J. N. Crunkleton Funeral Home, 1108 Liverpool St., N. S., until Wednes- day, January 22, at 6 p.m., and afterwards at 2712 Bedford Ave., Pittsburgh, until the day of funeral, which will be held Friday, January 26, at 1 p.m., from the Macedonia Baptist Church, Pittsburgh. Interment Allegheny Cemetery. Body will lie in state from 10 to 1 p.m. Friday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph Tuesday, 21 January, 1947 JOSH GIBSON Funeral Friday Funeral services for JOSH GIBSON, one of Negro baseball's greatest hitters, who died yesterday morning, will be held under the direction of Rev. James Robinson at the Mace- donia Baptist Church, 2225 Bedford Ave., at 1 o'clock Friday afternoon. Friends are being received at the Crunkle- ton Funeral Home, 1108 Liverpool St., North Side. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Pittsburgh Courier Saturday, 25 January, 1947 Gray's Home-Run King Dies at 36 JOSH GIBSON, One of Baseball Greats, Earned $6,000 a Year; Had Been Ill Two Days. Pittsburgh, Pa. - The Great Umpire has silenced the mighty bat of one of baseball's greatest sluggers of all time, JOSHUA (JOSH) GIBSON, the peer of Negro catchers, and the man whose prodigious feats at the plate have thrilled baseball fans across the Nation and on the sultry soil of Latin America for the past nineteen years. The king of sluggers is dead ... long live the king! The final "Out" for the spectacular and brilliant homerun monarch came at approximately one o'clock Monday morning here at the home of his mother who followed his titanic blasts with the willow, with the maternal pride and enthusiasm that only a mother can exhibit. Born in Buena Vista, Ga., Dec. 21, 1911, JOSH GIBSON was a veteran ball player at the age of 36, but otherwise a comparatively young man when he died. His mighty clouts on the Nation's diamonds are legendary, and he will go down in history as the greatest slugger in the annals of Negro base- ball. BRONZE BABE RUTH JOSH GIBSON was a replica of a bronze BABE RUTH, big and powerful. He hit towering home runs in practically every big league park in the country and along with LEROY (SATCHEL) PAIGE, famous pitcher, owned the biggest name in Negro baseball. After a brief illness of approximately two days, death came suddenly Monday morning. The exact na- ture of his illness is still shrouded in mystery, but it is generally believed to have been the re- sult of a "rundown condition." With the exception of SATCHEL PAIGE, who is paid on a percentage basis, GIBSON was the highest salaried player in Negro baseball. He has received $6,000 yearly since 1940 and added at least another $3,000 to his income playing winter baseball in Cuba and other Latin countries. The past three win- ters, however, he remained at home with his family. Although his death came suddenly and unexpectedly, he had been ailing for the past two years. His failure to observe training rules was an important factor in his decline in health. POWERFUL MAN Power . . . tremendous power . . was the word for JOSH GIBSON. He was six feet, four inches in height and weighed 220 pounds. At the time of his death, however, he was a mere shadow of his former self, weighing approximately 180 pounds. A righthand hit- ter, GIBSON started playing on the sandlots of Pitts- burgh, with the North Side Red Sox, at the age of 15. In 1927 he joined the Pittsburgh Crawfords, then a strong semi-pro outfit, and three years later joined the Homestead Grays, then the greatest team in Negro baseball. He played with the Grays for two years un- der the shrewd eye of the late CUM POSEY, manager and owner of the team, and then in 1932 returned to the Crawfords, who were then in "big time" Negro baseball and owned by GUS GREENLEE. In 1937 he returned to the Grays and it was in that year that he hit his stride and sent opposing pitchers berserk as he powered homeruns with a monotonous con- sistency in parks all across the country. During the next four years he was a terror at the plate, hitting as many as four homeruns in one ball game time and again. In 1941 he "jumped" the Grays and took his big boom- ing bat with him to Mexico. He was just as great there and at the end of the season was voted the "most valu- able" player award. MAJOR LEAGUE GIBSON was definitely of major league caliber. There is no doubt that he would have been in the big leagues had it not been for the long and unjust ban against Negroes in organized baseball. In April of 1939 the Washington Senators were training in Orlando, Fla., and the Homestead Grays were down there on a spring tour through the South. The Senators went to see the famous Negro team play an exhibition game against the Newark Eagles. Among the Washington players was the late WALTER JOHNSON, one of baseball's all-time pitching greats. He was impressed by the feat of GIBSON, and his remarks were recorded by Shirley Povich, a sports writer for the Washington Post, who also saw the game. According to Povich, JOHNSON said of GIBSON: "There is a catcher any big league club could use. He is worth $200,000 to any team. He hits the ball a mile and he catches so easy he might just as well be in a rocking chair." "Too bad he's colored," JOHNSON moaned, "he's great!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Tuesday, 21 January, 1947 JOSH GIBSON, Great Negro Slugger, Dies Led League Many Years in Homers While With Grays. JOSH GIBSON, one of the greatest distance hitters in the history of baseball, died at the home of his mother yesterday. The great Negro slugger was the victim of a stroke. For many years GIBSON, as a member of the Homestead Grays, was called the "Babe Ruth" of Negro baseball. He hit some of the longest balls ever to clear the fences at Forbes Field, during his tenure as the top slugger of the Negro National League. Was Outstanding Catcher. The 35-year-old GIBSON was a product of the North- side sandlots, where he played with the Pleasant Valley Grays and the Gimbel Brothers Browns. He was picked up by the Pittsburgh Crawfords in 1930, and immediately blossomed into one of the outstanding Negro catchers and sluggers. He didn't spend much time with the Craws, moving to the Grays late in the same season. He replaced BUCK EWING, when the latter was injured, and became the regular backstop. He went back with the Crawfords in 1931, remaining with them for five seasons. Returning to the Grays in 1936, his slugging aided them in winning eight straight National loop pennants. He was the top home run pro- ducer during that time. Hit 513-Foot Homer. His best day with the bat was in 1938, against the Memphis Redsox, when he connected for four circuit drives. The game was played in Zanesville, O. He is credited with a 513-foot homer at Monessen the same year, against the same club. In his last season with the Grays, 1946, he led the league in batting, with a mark of .354 for 33 games. His 40 hits were good for 101 bases, driving in 42 runs. Friends may call at the Crunkleton Funeral Home on the North Side until Wednesday, and then at 2712 Beford avenue until Friday when burial will take place from the Macedonia Baptist Church on Beford avenue, at 1 p.m. Besides his mother, he is survived by his wife, two children, JOSH, JR., and HELEN, a brother and sister. ===============================================================================