#Spotlight – This week we welcome our newest partner - The Josh Gibson Foundation!
Today we highlight where the legend began. Josh Gibson was born in Buena Vista, Georgia in 1911, before moving to Pittsburgh in 1923 because his father went to work at the Carnegie-Illinois Steel Company.
Despite his size and athletic ability Gibson did not immediately take to Baseball, instead preferring swimming.
Gibson played for an amateur team sponsored by Gimbels (department store) while working as an elevator operator. He would then join the then amatuer Pittsburgh Crawfords under owner Gus Greenlee.
In 1928, Josh would meet Helen Mason and they would marry in 1929.
In 1930, a then 18 year old Josh was recruited by Cumberland Posey of the Homestead Grays, and Gibson would join them to become a professional baseball player, debuting July 31, 1930.
A few weeks later, Gibson's wife Helen, who was pregnant with twins, went into premature labor and died while giving birth to twins Josh Jr. and Helen.
LEGEND IS BORN
In one of the first games that would shape Gibson's legend; September 27 , 1930, Josh would blast a homerun into the left field bleachers at Yankee Stadium. The homerun was estimated to be between 430 and 460 feet. Some claim it traveled over 500 feet.
JOSH GIBSON FOUNDATION
Read about the Foundation here
JOSH GIBSON HALL OF FAME SHIRT
As part of our celebration, we have created a new design that recognizes the 1972 Hall of Fame induction of the greatest hitter in the history of the Negro Leagues.
Each letter has an image of Josh's illustrious career for the:
- Homestead Grays (1929-1931, 1937-1940, 1942-1946)
- Pittsburgh Crawfords (1932-1936)
- Santurce Cangrejeros (1932)
- Dragones de Ciudad Trujillo (1937)
- Azules de Veracruz (1940-1941)
Proceeds from the Sales of these products benefit The Josh Gibson Foundation
#HistoryInYourSize
