The MLB record books are going to look drastically different soon. That is because the league will soon be integrating the accomplishments and statistics from the Negro Leagues after years of omission.
Records for more than 2,300 players have been incorporated on Tuesday after a lengthy research project. Some of the Major League Baseball records people have recognized for years are now being changed.
Josh Gibson is now the leader in several categories. His batting average of .372 is now recognized as the highest, surpassing that of Ty Cobb, which was .367. The single-season record, which was held by Hugh Duffy for the National League’s Boston team in 1894 is no more either.
That record now also belongs to Gibson, who hit .466 for the Homestead Grays in 1943. Second on the list is Charlie “Chino” Smith, who hit .451 for the 1929 New York Lincoln Giants.
In addition to the batting average, Gibson is now the leader in slugging percentage and OPS with .718 and 1.177. Those both surpass the numbers of the great Babe Ruth, who held the records with .690 and 1.164.
“This initiative is focused on ensuring that future generations of fans have access to the statistics and milestones of all those who made the Negro Leagues possible,” baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “Their accomplishments on the field will be a gateway to broader learning about this triumph in American history and the path that led to Jackie Robinson‘s 1947 Dodger debut.”
This has been a long time coming. In 1969, a special committee decided to have six major leagues, going all the way back to 1876, be recognized; the National (which launched in 1876), the American (1901), the American Association (1882-1891), Union Association (1884), Players’ League (1890) and Federal League (1914-1915). It excluded the National Association (1871-75), citing an “erratic schedule and procedures.” per ESPN.
An updated version of MLB’s statistical database will go live on June 20th before the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants play a tribute game to the Negro Leagues. This is a great initiative by MLB to celebrate some of the greatest baseball players that some people may not know.
Some of the single-season records for Barry Bonds are no more as well. Gibson’s .974 slugging percentage is now the record along with his 1.474 OPS. Bonds is now fifth on the single-season slugging percentage list and third in OPS.
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