Negro Leagues stats officially recognized in MLB record books

Josh Gibson now holds the record for the highest career batting average in Major League Baseball at .372, beating Ty Cobb's .367. This happened after a three-year research project that included records from over 2,300 players from the Negro Leagues. The project aimed to make sure that future fans could access the stats and achievements of those who played in the Negro Leagues. Gibson's .466 batting average in 1943 for the Homestead Grays is now the season standard, surpassing Charlie "Chino" Smith's .451 in 1929 for the New York Lincoln Giants. This initiative was to recognize the importance of the Negro Leagues in baseball history. The project also included identifying players with the same name, tracking birth dates, and clarifying nicknames. The research project aimed to include about 72% of the Negro Leagues records from 1920 to 1948. This effort is ongoing, and more research may lead to further updates. The project also highlighted the challenges of documenting transactions and identifying ballparks during a time when neutral sites were common. The integration of Negro League statistics into Major League Baseball's official record book began four years ago and was completed recently. This means that players like Josh Gibson, Willie Mays, Minnie Miñoso, Larry Doby, and Jackie Robinson will now have their pre-1947 numbers included in their major league stats. This recognition is a significant step in acknowledging the talent and achievements of players from the Negro Leagues.