Josh Gibson Jr.

Joshua Gibson Jr.

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 170 lb.
• High School Schenley High School

• Born August 11, 1930 in Pittsburgh, PA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

One of the first black players to get a try in the minor leagues after integration was the son of one of the greatest Negro League stars. Josh Gibson Jr. was only 17 years when he was signed by the Youngstown Colts and he had never played a professional baseball game. He had worked as a batboy for the Pittsburgh Crawfords. An infielder, he struggled with the Colts and suffered from racism. He also was an orphan as his father had just passed away and his mother had died in childbirth.

Let go, Gibson joined the Homestead Grays, which were managed by his father's friend, Sammy Bankhead, who moved Josh from second to third base. He spent two years with the Grays, then joined the Farnham Pirates, hitting .230 with 2 homers, 20 RBI and 20 steals in 68 games. He broke his ankle while sliding into second and his baseball career ended at the age of 21.

After retirement, he worked for Pittsburgh's sanitation department and then retired when his health declined with kidney problems. He served as an advocate for his father's legacy.

Sources: The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley, Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database