Bill Text: NJ SJR126 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates July 24 of each year as "Josh Gibson Negro Leagues Appreciation Day" in New Jersey.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-06-26 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [SJR126 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-SJR126-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator ROBERT W. SINGER
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Designates July 24 of each year as "Josh Gibson Negro Leagues Appreciation Day" in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating July 24 of each year as "Josh Gibson Negro Leagues Appreciation Day" in New Jersey.
Whereas, Joshua Gibson, better known as Josh Gibson, was born on December 21, 1911, in Buena Vista, Georgia and moved with his family to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1923; and
Whereas, Gibson was introduced to organized baseball when he joined the Gimbels A.C. at 16 years old and later joined the Crawford Colored Giants, a semi-professional team in Pittsburgh, in 1929; and
Whereas, While in the stands of a professional game on July 25, 1930, Gibson was invited to replace Homestead Grays catcher Buck Ewing after he injured his hand, as Gibson's batting abilities were already well known; and
Whereas, Over the course of his career, Gibson's catching skills, including a powerful arm, quick release, and agility, were praised by various major league stars; and
Whereas, Earning the nickname of "the Black Babe Ruth," Gibson's hitting propelled him to be the second-highest paid player in the Negro Leagues behind Satchel Paige; and
Whereas, With the integration of Negro Leagues statistics into Major League Baseball (MLB) history in 2024, Gibson is now MLB's career leader in batting average (.372), slugging percentage (.718), and On-base Plus Slugging (1.177), and the single-season leader in batting average (.466) and slugging percentage (.974); and
Whereas, Although the exact statistics are unknown, Gibson's career statistics include at least 598 games played, 806 hits, and 165 home runs; and
Whereas, Gibson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972; and
Whereas, A plaque was placed at Memorial Field in Belmar, New Jersey to commemorate Gibson's "legendary 600-foot home run that reached the backyard of the Belmar Post Office," which took place on July 24, 1936 and is possibly the longest home run ever witnessed; and
Whereas, Josh Gibson's incredible baseball career serves as proof that, since the first game of the National Negro Baseball League on May 2, 1920, the Negro Leagues positively impacted the sport of baseball and paved the way for people like Jackie Robinson to play in MLB; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. July 24 of each year is
designated as "Josh Gibson Negro Leagues Appreciation Day" to honor the
contributions of baseball legend Josh Gibson and the Negro Leagues.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to issue an annual proclamation calling upon public officials, citizens of the State, and other interested groups to observe "Josh Gibson Negro Leagues Appreciation Day" with appropriate programs and activities.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates July 24 of each year as "Josh Gibson Negro Leagues Appreciation Day" to honor the contributions of baseball legend Josh Gibson and the Negro Leagues.
Josh Gibson was born on December 21, 1911, in Buena Vista, Georgia and moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1923. Gibson was introduced to organized baseball when he joined the Gimbels A.C. at 16 years old and later joined the Crawford Colored Giants, a semi-professional team in Pittsburgh, in 1929. While in the stands at a professional game on July 25, 1930, Gibson was invited to replace Homestead Grays catcher Buck Ewing after he injured his hand, as Gibson's batting abilities were already well known. Over the course of his career, Gibson's catching skills, including a powerful arm, quick release, and agility, were praised by various major league stars.
Gibson's hitting propelled him to be the second-highest paid player in the Negro Leagues behind Satchel Paige. With the integration of Negro Leagues statistics into Major League Baseball history in 2024, Gibson is now Major League Baseball's career leader in batting average (.372), slugging percentage (.718), and On-base Plus Slugging (1.177), and the single-season leader in batting average (.466) and slugging percentage (.974), surpassing Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth, and now holds three separate single-season all-time records.
A plaque was placed at Memorial Field in Belmar, New Jersey to commemorate Gibson's "legendary 600-foot home run that reached the backyard of the Belmar Post Office," which took place on July 24, 1936 and could be the longest home run ever witnessed. Josh Gibson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, with his incredible baseball career serving as proof that, since the first game of the National Negro Baseball League on May 2, 1920, the Negro Leagues positively impacted the sport of baseball and paved the way for people like Jackie Robinson to play in Major League Baseball.
