Did Babe Ruth know who Josh Gibson was?

[Blackout]

did Babe Ruth ever get to see Josh Gibson play?


I know he faced a young Satchell Paige and blasted a home run and Satchell had some boy go and retreive it so Babe could sign it.

[Victory Faust]

I would think Babe Ruth would've at least heard of Gibson, even if he'd never actually seen him play in person.

[jjpm74]

Either way,

This is nice to see.

[hairmetalfreek]

Either way,

This is nice to see.

I agree with you 100%! That painting is great. I wish I had kept up with my artwork that I did as a kid and developed my talents. I can barely draw a stick figure now.

[Brian McKenna]

I don't recall ever hearing Ruth attend a Negro league game. Ruth guys?

[jjpm74]

I don't recall ever hearing Ruth attend a Negro league game. Ruth guys?

About the only time I can think of where he may have was when Ruth, Gehrig and others barnstormed together on the West Coast.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

We need to remember that Ruth was 16 years older than Gibson. By the time Gibson was making a name for himself Ruth was at the end of his career.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

About the only time I can think of where he may have was when Ruth, Gehrig and others barnstormed together on the West Coast.

Proctor, CF mentioned that Ruth and Gibson may have competed in a HR Derby contest in Cuba and that this story will part of an upcoming HBO documentary.

[Proctor, CF]

Proctor, CF mentioned that Ruth and Gibson may have competed in a HR Derby contest in Cuba and that this story will part of an upcoming HBO documentary.

I'm planning to get further details on that for you, HW. I heard it was actually in Puerto Rico that Babe & Josh slugged it out. At least one apparently credible witness claims to have seen it, but it's being very carefully checked out before it's aired with any certainty.

HBO is the proposed venue for the documentary on Ruth's intercultural interactions and popularity - but it could ultimately land on another network. The African American director is a leading documentary filmmaker on sports.

[jjpm74]

Does anyone have the dates Gibson played at Yankee Stadium and were they ever cross checked against the Yankee schedule from that era? That would have been another possible time they could have met.

[Proctor, CF]

Does anyone have the dates Gibson played at Yankee Stadium and were they ever cross checked against the Yankee schedule from that era? That would have been another possible time they could have met.

Well, the famous out-of-Yankee-Stadium home run was reported to have taken place in 1934, I believe. So, there's some overlap.

How could Babe Ruth not heard of Josh Gibson? He (Ruth) was friends with Black sports heros, and other Black celebreties. He competed against Black ballplayers. And he certainly would have heard there was a "Black Babe Ruth" - one that played in New York - at Yankees Stadium!. It's inconceivable he would not have heard of the Josh Gibson.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I'm planning to get further details on that for you, HW. I heard it was actually in Puerto Rico that Babe & Josh slugged it out. At least one apparently credible witness claims to have seen it, but it's being very carefully checked out before it's aired with any certainty.

Thanks, Proctor! I would think that this happened some time in the early or mid 1930s? I don't think Gibson was well known in the baseball world before 1932. That is just three years from Ruth's retirement.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

How could Babe Ruth not heard of Josh Gibson? He (Ruth) was friends with Black sports heros, and other Black celebreties. He competed against Black ballplayers. And he certainly would have heard there was a "Black Babe Ruth" - one that played in New York - at Yankees Stadium!. It's inconceivable he would not have heard of the Josh Gibson.

I'm sure we can agree that Ruth knew who Josh Gibson was. I'm sure a player called the "Black Babe Ruth" would catch the Babe's attention. Whether he played against him or saw him play or when did Ruth first hear about Gibson is subject to conjecture.. There the matter of the 16 year (almost 17 year) age difference. From my readings Gibson probably didn't become well known in the Negro league until about 1932-33. How much time did it take for the white baseball world to learn about Gibson after this point in time? And when did Gibson acquire his moniker, the "Black Babe Ruth"?

[SHOELESSJOE3]

I'm planning to get further details on that for you, HW. I heard it was actually in Puerto Rico that Babe & Josh slugged it out. At least one apparently credible witness claims to have seen it, but it's being very carefully checked out before it's aired with any certainty.

HBO is the proposed venue for the documentary on Ruth's intercultural interactions popularity - but it could ultimately land on another network. The African American director is a leading documentary filmmakers on sports.

It's certainly possible but it seems that if they ever did face off we would have heard something about that after all these years. It could be, I would be surprised.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Well, the famous out-of-Yankee-Stadium home run was reported to have taken place in 1934, I believe. So, there's some overlap.

How could Babe Ruth not heard of Josh Gibson? He (Ruth) was friends with Black sports heros, and other Black celebreties. He competed against Black ballplayers. And he certainly would have heard there was a "Black Babe Ruth" - one that played in New York - at Yankees Stadium!. It's inconceivable he would not have heard of the Josh Gibson.

That Gibson drive was long but not an out of the park. In one interview Gibson himself tells of the ball hitting the back wall or hitting the wall on a bounce. In another interview, no mention of the wall, only that he hit one into the bullpen.