Josh Gibson
- tourdeforcedc
- Apr 17
- 1 min read
Updated: Jul 1
Josh Gibson is a public artwork by sculptor Omri Amrany, located at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., United States.[1]
Background
Josh Gibson was a highly regarded catcher and hitter in the Negro League; Baseball Hall of Fame member. He is hte holder of the long distance record for a Home Run hit.
Omri Amrany is an Israeli-American sculptor.
The statue portrays Gibson just having hit a ball, about to toss down the bat and run around the bases. It may be he is shown having hit his famous long distance record hit.
Prompts for close looking:
How does the artist depict the exciting moment immediately after Gibson has made a home run (perhaps his legendary long distance hit) and is just about to leave the plate and round the bases?
Why does the artist show Gibson with the fingers of his right hand outstretched? A moment earlier, the hand had held the bat, which is now being flung aside. What kind of energies are implied in the configuration of his fingers?
Reflect on the tilt of Gibson’s head, looking up: where precisely does he seem to be looking, and what does that imply about the trajectory of the ball that just been hit?
Learning Resources
Wikipedia Entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Gibson
You make a powerful point about how certain narratives in Black history are uplifted while others—like the story of Josh Gibson—are often left out of the conversation. it is interesting how Gibson's legacy is untold to many, even as his statue symbolizes progress and pride. You're absolutely right that the way Black history is taught can feel curated or limited, as oftentimes white or mainstream athletes are celebrated. Honoring pioneers like Gibson makes us understand the history and allows us to recognize the resistance, excellence, and influence that have shaped American culture.
D'Amber, good points about the relative inattention still paid to Gibson and the great Negro League players. It is also interesting to think about how the piece works as a piece of sculpture, just at the moment that a baseball has been hit and is soaring into space, before the hitter has even rounded the bases. There is something about a homerun in baseball that evokes eternity, and the sculpture seems appropriately to seal Gibson's place in the Eternal, here at Nationals Park.
As I look at this sculptor, it makes me realize how far African Americans have come in terms of sports especially by the way he seems to look up, as if he can see that his homerun has shifted the view of baseball. But on another note, when you show people the sculptor and you say his name, many people don't know who this is. This makes me think back on how I grew and how black history isn't talked about enough. While yes, you get the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks lesson with the occasional Malcolm X. But Josh Gibson, a pioneer of African American sports isn't talked about. When it comes to Black history, in…