“DADDY, WHY COULDN’T JOSH GIBSON PLAY BASEBALL IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES?”

It was a dark and stormy night–and no matter how much it frightened the Smiths kids (and their dog and cat) they all had to go to bed.

The father had passed on his love for baseball–America’s past time–to his son and daughter. He would play baseball with them in the back yard. He would take them to major and minor league baseball games. He would buy them equipment and baseball cards. And tell them stories of the greatest players of all times.

So while their mother told them bedtime stories involving beanstalks and princesses, hobbits and orcs, their father evoked the legends of Lou Gehrig and Jolting Joe DiMaggio.

The household hated stormy weather. And on nights like this no one could stand to hear stories of dark magic and battles, of Middle Earth and even unicorns. The kids would want to hear their father’s baseball stories.

Earlier that day the little boy and girl heard snatches from the news about something called the Negro League, and how their records were now being included into the statistical records of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.

And they heard a name their father had never mentioned: Josh Gibson.

They didn’t hear all of it, and they certainly didn’t understand it. So the little girl Smith and the little boy Smith asked their father, “Who was Josh Gibson? And why couldn’t he play baseball.”

And this is what their father said to them:

Once upon a time, there was a young boy named Josh Gibson who fell in love with the game of baseball. Born in 1911 in Georgia, Josh didn't have much growing up. His family didn't have a lot of money. But what Josh did have was an amazing talent for hitting a baseball farther than anyone had ever seen!

From the time he was just a kid playing in sandlot games, Josh showed off incredible power at the plate. He could hit a baseball so far that it sometimes seemed to just keep on going and going until it disappeared into the clouds! His teammates and friends started calling him the "Black Bambino" because he could crush the ball almost as far as the legendary Babe Ruth.

You see, back in those days, Black players like Josh weren't allowed to play in the major leagues because of the unfair rules about segregation. But the Negro Leagues gave talented stars like Gibson a chance to play baseball at the highest level against other phenomenal Black players.

In 1930 when he was just 18 years old, Josh joined the Homestead Grays baseball team in the Negro Leagues. And from that point on, he spent the next seventeen seasons amazing fans with his unbelievable power at the plate. Crack! People would hear the sound of Josh's bat blasting the ball and then watch in awe as it soared incredibly high and far over the outfield wall. 

There are stories of some of Josh's home runs still being discovered in next door neighborhoods or across the street from ballparks years later! One baseball he launched went straight through the open window of a moving bus. Pitchers lived in fear of the day they had to stand on the mound while the Black Bambino dug into the batter's box.

Not only could Josh hit the baseball to places no one else could, he was also a tremendous catcher and a great all-around player. With his strong, accurate arm, he was an expert at throwing out runners trying to steal bases. Fans loved to watch him play and he became one of the most popular stars in the Negro Leagues.

Sadly, because of racism, the major leagues remained off limits to talents like Josh Gibson during his career. He never got the chance to play alongside Babe Ruth or other white stars at the highest level. But his amazing achievements and incredible hitting led him to being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

While accurate stats were not kept back then, based on estimates from people who saw him play, Josh is believed to have hit over 800 home runs in his career! That's more than Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron or Babe Ruth. 

The story of Josh Gibson shows that with passion, dedication and an unbreakable spirit, you can overcome injustice and long odds to achieve great things. Though he faced many challenges, his sheer love of baseball and determination allowed his talent to shine bright like a legendary comet streaking across the summer sky.

No matter your background or circumstances, if you work hard and nurture your abilities, you can make your own dreams come true, just like the Black Bambino of the Negro Leagues did simply by playing the game he loved more than anything in this world.

And with that Mr. Smith kissed his children and bade them good night and sweet dreams.

TO VISIT THE NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL MUSEUM IN KANSAS CITY CLICK HERE