Live Like Gibson

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  ––Galatians 6:9

Success is not measured by what you accomplish but by the opposition you have encountered and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.  ––Orison Swett Marden (1848–1924)

If you’ve heard of Josh Gibson, you are a more devoted baseball fan than I am. I hadn’t heard of him until I was researching an earlier reading, but was blown away by his story. Born in 1911, Gibson didn’t play organized baseball until he was 16. But soon after, scouts from the Negro League saw him play, and he was soon offered a spot on the Homestead Greys, the top team in the Pittsburgh area. By 1933 he’d established himself as one of the great power hitters in the Negro League, hitting .467 and 55 homeruns. In fact, his single-season average has never been eclipsed by any other pro player.

Known as the “the black Babe Ruth,” many fans claimed he was better, with many referring to Ruth as “the white Josh Gibson.” His success, however, was marred by the loss of his wife, Helen, who died giving birth to their twins, Josh Jr. and Eve. Then, at the age of 35, he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Despite being diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1943, Gibson refused treatment so he could continue to play baseball.

Upon his death in 1947, Gibson had cemented his legacy as one of the great power hitters of all time, hitting almost 800 home runs with a lifetime batting average of .359. in 1972, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Imagine losing your wife, leaving you the single parent of twins, and then shortly thereafter being diagnosed with a brain tumor. But instead of giving up, Gibson continued to play the game he loved. When I think about my own issues, it kind of puts a new spin on the term “first world problems.”

Larry Doby, who broke the American League color barrier in July 1947, felt that Gibson was the best black player in 1945 and 1946; over even Jackie Robinson, who in April 1947 became the first black player in modern Major League history, playing in the National League. Doby said in an interview later, “One of the things that was disappointing and disheartening to a lot of the black players at the time was that Jack was not the best player. The best was Josh Gibson. I think that’s one of the reasons why Josh died so early—he was heartbroken.” (Moore, Joseph Thomas, 1988. Pride and Prejudice: The Biography of Larry Doby. New York: Praeger Publishers. p. 30.)

All of us need a Josh Gibson to emulate—someone who has fought hard to beat the odds. We all need that kind of hero. If you are struggling, and feel like you want to give up, think of Josh Gibson—arguably the greatest black power hitter of all time, and one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game.

Father, help me leave nothing on the playing field for you. Give me the strength and commitment to run my race well.

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