He was so powerful that one year, he hit 84 home runs! Not only did hit for power, he also hit for consistency. He had a lifetime batting average of .373!!

He got his break into baseball, when the Homestead Grays noticed him, and signed him right away. He had a humongous impact on the way the Grays played. After winning a championship for the Grays in 1931, he joined the Pittsburgh Crawfords. He continued his awesome power hitting with the Crawfords, until he jumped to Santo Domingo along with Satchel Paige.

In 1938, Gibson returned to the Homestead Grays, and he teamed with Buck Leonard to form a fearful duo. He helped the Grays win two more Negro League championships in 1938 and 1939. He was then lured to Mexico to play for the Mexican League. This made Cum Posey, the Grays owner, very mad. He made Gibson come back, and the Grays continued their dominance for 4 more years.

During this time, Gibson's dark side was slowly exposing itself. By the 1942 season, it was easy to tell, that his physical and mental states were failing him. In 1943, he was sent to a hospital after having a nervous breakdown. After this incident, he was constantly drinking. However, he kept playing, and he still excited the crowds with his booming home runs. However, he suffered a fatal stroke at the young age of 35. People say that he had died from the disappointment of not being the first Negro League player to jump to the major leagues.

It was a very sad end for the great Josh Gibson. In 1972, he was finally recognized for his outstanding achievements, when he became the second Negro League player to be inducted into the Hall fo Fame.