Josh Gibson eclipses Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth

Negro Leagues statistics will become part of MLB history today, with more than 2,300 players from the seven iterations of the Negro Leagues (1920-1948) being officially added to the record books.

What this means: Negro League legends, unfamiliar to many modern fans, will now be listed among all-time leaders, while Negro League players who played in MLB — including Willie Mays, Minnie Miñoso and Larry Doby — will have their stats integrated and updated. 

The man, the myth, the legend: Negro Leagues icon and Baseball Hall of Famer Josh Gibson is now the all-time leader in batting average (.372, eclipsing Ty Cobb), slugging percentage (.718, eclipsing Babe Ruth) and OPS (1.177, eclipsing Ruth). Gibson, who played 17 years with the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords, also holds the single-season record in all three categories: .466 BA, .974 SLG and 1.474 OPS.

"He was referred to as the black Babe Ruth, but some believe it might be just as accurate to call the Bambino the white Josh Gibson," wrote Bill Johnson of the Society for American Baseball Research.

Linsanity

5/29/24 - Kobe didn't talk to Jeremy Lin for four months

9/15/23 - Jeremy Lin to join brother on New Taipei Kings

12/29/22 - Jeremy Lin returning to the U.S. to rest and reset

12/2/22 - Jeremy Lin fined by China over COVID comments

10/13/22 - Jeremy Lin wasn't always comfortable with Linsanity / but now is

10/9/22 - Linsanity was close to never happening

10/7/22 - GQ interview with Jeremy Lin

10/6/22 - Jeremy Lin with Dan Patrick

10/4/22 - Jeremy Lin remembers Steph Curry

10/3/22 - Jeremy Lin never looked the part / Lin questions the end of his NBA career

9/22/22 - HBO picked the right time to take a look back at Jeremy Lin’s 15 minutes of fame

9/21/22 - Mike D’Antoni was desperate

9/21/22 - 38 at the Garden will be released on October 11 on HBO (trailer)

9/5/22 - Lin signs with Guangzhou Loong Lions

8/12/22 - Jeremy Lin tried to run away

8/12/22- 38 at the Garden will hit HBO in October

6/29/22 - Jeremy Lin wants to redefine love

4/20/22 - A new documentary: 38 at the Garden

4/14/22 - D'Antoni didn't see it coming

4/14/22 - Lin punted on talking back to Kobe

4/12/22 - Mike D'Antoni calls Linsanity the greatest time ever

2/4/22 - The legacy of Linsanity, 10 years later

6/12/21 - Jeremy Lin to return to Beijing Ducks next season

5/26/21 - Jeremy Lin speaks at Harvard

5/18/21 - Jeremy Lin apparently says farewell to the NBA

5/12/21 - Jeremy Lin says he proved himself in the G League

4/14/21 - Jeremy Lin still waiting for an opportunity

2/23/21 - Jeremy Lin speaks out on hate crimes

2/17/21 - Jeremy Lin on finding peace

2/13/21 - Lin hits seven threes for 29 points

2/10/21 - Lin gets 18 points in G League opener

2/10/21 - Eli Pemberton has a guide

2/8/21 - Lin says people think he's crazy for choosing the G League

2/6/21 - Linsanity remembered nine years later

2/4/21 - Jeremy Lin excited to play in the G League

2/3/21 - Jeremy Lin encouraged by Steph Curry after day 1 of G League training camp

2/3/21 - Jeremy Lin Makes History as the First Asian American to Get Signature Basketball Shoes

1/11/21 - Jeremy Lin officially signs with Santa Cruz

1/8/21 - Jeremy Lin writes to Chinese fans

1/7/21 - Jeremy Lin to sign with G League after all

1/5/21 - Jeremy Lin reportedly willing to return to Beijing

12/30/20 - NBA proposes Jeremy Lin rule

12/20/20 - Jeremy Lin unable to get clearance from Chinese Basketball Association in time to join Golden State Warriors 

12/18/20 - Jeremy Lin reportedly signing with Golden State

12/17/20 - Jeremy Lin leaves Ignite team

12/14/20 - Jeremy Lin practicing with G League Ignite

11/11/20 - Jeremy Lin spotted working out with Steph Curry; Durant, Kyrie Irving

9/14/20 - Jeremy Lin leaving Beijing to seek return to NBA

8/13/20 - Jeremy Lin post-season interview (video)
8/10/20 - Jeremy Lin hospitalized after semi-final defeat
8/3/20 - Jeremy Lin has answered critics in China

4/25/20 - Linsanity returning to MSG (network)

3/20/20 - Jeremy Lin returns to China to resume league play

3/19/20 - Jeremy Lin objects to the term "Chinese virus"
1/13/20 - Jeremy Lin scores 41 in All-Star game

1/6/20 - Jeremy Lin saddened at the passing of Kobe
11/9/19 - Blood, sweat, and tears in Jeremy Lin's first week
11/8/19 - Jeremy Lin vs. Shanghai (26 points, 4 assists)
11/6/19 - Jeremy Lin vs. Shandong (24 points, 6 assists, 8 rebounds)
11/4/19 - Jeremy Lin CBA debut vs. Tianjin (25 points, 9 assists)
10/13/19 - Lin scores 40 in Beijing debut

9/27/19 - Jeremy Lin addresses Chinese media

8/30/19 - An ode to Jeremy Lin

8/27/19 - Jeremy Lin signs to play in China
8/21/19 - Jeremy Lin's route could be to China and back
8/20/19 - Beijing Ducks reportedly offer Jeremy Lin $3 million
8/19/19 - Nothing is official until I say something
8/18/19 - Jeremy Lin reportedly negotiating with Beijing
8/13/19 - Five actors we'd like to see playing Jeremy Lin in a movie
8/10/19 - What went wrong for Jeremy Lin?
8/10/19 - Jeremy Lin open to moving to China
8/6/19 - The next Stephon Marbury?
8/6/19 - Jeremy Lin defends getting emotional
8/6/19  - Carmelo and Jeremy Lin back in the news
8/4/19 - Nick Young tells Jeremy Lin to bring back the dreads
8/4/19 - Could Jeremy Lin be Stephen Curry's backup?
8/4/19 - Jeremy Lin getting support from VanVleet
8/4/19 - Could the Clippers pick up Jeremy Lin?
8/3/19 - Five potential landing spots for Jeremy Lin
8/2/19 - Jeremy Lin turned down Moscow
8/1/19 - Jeremy Lin is not a failure

7/30/19 - Jeremy Lin was The Great White Hope
7/29/19 - Jeremy Lin now tops the list (of remaining free agents)
7/28/19 - Jeremy Lin feels like the league has given up on him
7/12/19 - Jeremy Lin back to the Hornets?
7/6/19 - Jeremy Lin makes it to the top 10 (of free agents)
7/6/19 - Jeremy Lin's season with the Raptors

[6/15/19] Jeremy Lin predicted his championship fate in 2013
[2/27/19] Jeremy Lin: bittersweet
[2/22/19] Jeremy Lin: Miracle from God

[11/24/18] Jeremy Lin trade ideas
[10/24/18] Jeremy Lin on Freakonomics podcast
[7/31/18] What to expect from Jeremy Lin

[6/19/17] Podcast with David Nurse

[12/15/16] D'Antoni remembers Linsanity

[10/27/16] Second act for Jeremy Lin and Kenny Atkinson

[4/29/16] Jeremy Lin's impact in Charlotte on NBA GameTime

[4/21/16] Jeremy Lin, solid NBA player

[3/22/16] Jeremy Lin, role player

[10/31/15] Lin finds ideal locale in low-key Charlotte

[9/26/15] Five answers from Jeremy Lin

[7/13/15] Jeremy Lin in search of stability

[6/9/15] Jeremy Lin working out with Steve Nash

[3/29/15] Missed it by 8 weeks (from Isolation Play, an ESPN the Magazine story)

[2/17/15] Jeremy Lin's time in Los Angeles hasn't been smooth

[10/3/14] Anything but Linsanity

[10/9/13] Linsanity hits the Phillipines

[8/26/13] Coming in October

[4/16/13] NBA sensation Jeremy Lin chats with Shira Lazar at SXSW about his brand new documentary, "Linsanity" the movie, appearing in various YouTube videos and the overall message he wants fans to take away from his new film.

Linsanity on 60 Minutes

From Zero to Linsanity

[4/5/13] The movie

[12/17/12] Jeremy Lin is playing terrible this season

[6/9/12] Training with Jeremy Lin (pre-Lin-Sanity)

[4/22/12] Jeremy Lin tops the Time 100

[3/31/12] NEW YORK >> Linsanity won't be around for a playoff push.

Jeremy Lin is instead heading for left knee surgery that is expected to sideline him six weeks, possibly ending his amazing breakthrough season and leaving the New York Knicks without their starting point guard as they fight for a postseason spot.

Lin had an MRI exam this week that revealed a small, chronic meniscus tear and he has elected to have surgery next week in New York.

With the regular season ending April 26, the biggest story in basketball this season is probably done unless the Knicks make a deep playoff run.

[3/22/12] One-on-One with Ahmad Rashad

[3/22/12] Coca-Cola wants a piece of "Linsanity." Knicks fans will soon see Coke ads in Chinese on the rotating courtside signs at Madison Square Garden. Coca-Cola spokeswoman Susan Stribling said Coke has a long-standing partnership with the NBA and already displays ads at The Garden, but wants to take advantage of the enthusiasm surrounding NBA sensation Jeremy Lin and the Knicks.

[3/20/12] Jeremy Lin signs with Volvo

[3/14/12] Fact or Fiction? Are the Knicks better without D'Antoni?

[3/14/12] Mike D'Antoni resigns

[3/14/12] Trouble in New York

[2/22/12] Two straight SI covers (article, article) (new links: 2/20/12, 2/27/12)

[2/19/12] Linsanity is too good to be true

[2/17/12] Lin-Sanity responsible for return of MSG to Time Warner Cable?

[2/16/12] Jeremy Lin added to Rising Stars lineup

[2/16/12] Today's Jeremy Lin story

[2/16/12] Jeremy Lin finds an apartment

[2/13/12] The latest tribute video

[2/12/12] Somehow, the most improbable story in NBA history found himself in the most improbable place on Friday night: The ball in his hands, Madison Square Garden on its feet, and the fourth quarter genius of Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant determined to obliterate this burgeoning mythology. Out of Bryant, had come a barrage: twisted, contorted fades, a self-pass off the backboard, the A-list arsenal out of the world’s most gifted scorer.

Somehow, Jeremy Lin never flinched. Somehow, Jeremy Lin never let himself become a spectator, never stopped to wonder what in the world he was doing out here. The ball was so safe, so snug, in his hands. There was such an easy effortlessness to the downright diabolical manner with which he dismantled the Lakers and Bryant. Sheer hysteria had thundered down on the Garden floor, a phenomenon called Linsanity, and the most polished, most poised, presence happened to be Lin.

This kid out of nowhere – out of Harvard University, out of the Reno Bighorns and Erie Bayhawks – had done it again, done it with a devastating 38 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals in the Knicks’ 92-85 victory over the Lakers.

*** [2/5/12 - the beginning of Lin-Sanity]

Jeremy Lin cut through the Nets' defense all night before he was finally surrounded.

As teammates hugged him at center court while Pearl Jam's ''Jeremy'' blasted through the arena, it was clear the New York Knicks had finally found a spark.

Lin scored a career-high 25 points and the Knicks salvaged the finale of a back-to-back-to-back set by the New Jersey Nets 99-92 on Saturday night.
 
[video highlights]

***

Landry Fields couch

Top Ten Jeremy Lin puns of the week

Jeremy Lin: most added player of the week

Jeremy Lin: True Hollywood story

Jeremy Lin: American story

Jeremy Lin fever begins

top 50 basketball players of all time

[7/28/13] this is a subjective list (meaning your list is just as valid as his) created by Riley Schmitt in February.

Let's see how it matches up with mine.  Here's my top 10 (off the top of my head):

1 - Wilt Chamberlain [8/22/23] (though I know Michael Jordan tops everybody else's list and many/most have him below Bill Russell) [7]
2 - Michael Jordan [1]
3 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar [2]
4 - LeBron James (maybe not now, but will be looking back) [15]
5 - Oscar Robertson [10]
6 - Bill Russell (since he's number 6) [6]
7 - Magic Johnson [3]
8 - Larry Bird [4]
9 - Kobe Bryant [8]
10 - Bob Pettit [19]
11 - Jerry West [9]
12 - George Mikan [38]
13 - Shaquille O'Neal [12]
14 - Julius Erving [17]
15 - Kevin Durant (maybe not now, but...)

16 - Hakeem Olajuwon [11]

17 - Moses Malone [14]
18 - Isiah Thomas [23]

19 - Charles Barkley [20]

20 - Karl Malone [21]
21 - Kevin Garnett (he was a beast in his first 8 or so years) [18]
22 - Tim Duncan [5]
23 - George Gervin [37]
24 - Elgin Baylor (used to be my favorite player) [16]
25 - John Stockton [25]
26 - Allen Iverson [30]
27 - Dominique Wilkens
28 - David Robinson [29]
29 - John Havlicek [13]
30 - Chris Paul (maybe not yet though)
31 - Dwight Howard (ditto)
32 - Walt Frazier [33]
33 - Elvin Hayes
34 - Earl Monroe
35 - Wes Unseld [42]
36 - Scottie Pippen [24]

I'm probably missing somebody.  Yeah, I missed West and Shaq on the first pass.  Elgin Baylor and Dominique too. Probably missing a lot.  OK, make it top 36.   Have seven current players in there (LeBron, Kobe, Garnett, Duncan, Durant, Paul, Howard). Still probably forget two or three.

Now let's put the numbers of this guy in parentheses.

Who did I leave off?

50. Dennis Johnson
49. James Worthy
48. Paul Pierce
47. Billy Cunningham
46. Dave DeBusschere
45. Nate Thurmond
44. Clyde Drexler
43. Dwyane Wade
42. Wes Unseld
41. Patrick Ewing
40. Jason Kidd (?)
39. Gary Payton
36. Sam Jones (?)
35. Steve Nash (forgot about him)
34. Kevin McHale (him too)
32. Dave Cowens (I wouldn't put him above McHale)
31. Will Reed (ditto)
28. Bill Walton (I wouldn't put him this high, due to his injuries)
27. Dirk Nowitzki (forgot Dirk too)
26. Rick Barry (forgot him too, he would probably rank somewhere in the 20s for me too)
22. Bob Cousy (wouldn't rate him close to this high, then again I rated Mikan way up there)

OK, a lot of the current players I chose aren't on the list: Durant, Paul, Howard.  But I'm surprised Dominique didn't make the guy's top 50 (shafted again / here's a cool picture).  Also from my list not making it were Elvin Hayes and Earl Monroe.

Here's Jesse Dorsey's list (at least he had Dominique at 50).  And this guy has him #28.  And Elvin Hayes #17.  And this guy has them 39 and 37.

*** [2/22/18]

And here is Harris Ahmadzai's list of the top 32 (with my ranking from 4-1/2 years ago)

32. Chris Paul  (30)
31. Scottie Pippen (36)
30. Rick Barry (see above)
29.  Jason Kidd (unranked)
28.  Bob Pettit (10)
27.  Kevin Garnett (21)
26.  Kevin McHale (forgot)
25.  David Robinson (28)
24.  John Stockton (25)
23.  Elgin Baylor (24)
22.  Jerry West (11)
21.  Charles Barkley (19)
20.  Isiah Thomas (18)
19.  Stephen Curry (unlisted 4-1/2 years ago)
18.  Kevin Durant (15)
17.  Dirk Nowitzki (forgot)
16.  Karl Malone (20)
15.  Dwyane Wade (didn't make my list, he ain't better than Jerry West)
14.  Moses Malone (17)
13.  Julius Erving (14)
12.  Hakeem Olajuwon (16)
11.  Oscar Robertson (5)
10.  Larry Bird (8)
9.  Bill Russell (6)
8.  Tim Duncan (22 - not better than Russell, Bird, Robertson)
7.  Shaquille O'Neal (13)
6.  Kobe Bryant (9 - see Duncan)
5.  Wilt Chamberlain (1)
4.  Magic Johnson (7)
3.  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (3)
2.  LeBron James (4)
1.  Michael Jordan (2)

I still like my list better.

***

5/2/24 - 11-20

5/2/24 - where does Steph Curry rank now?

The Athletic Top 75 list (2022)

40.  Allen Iverson

39.  Bob Cousy

38.  Steve Nash

37.  Patrick Ewing

36.  Jason Kidd

35.  George Mikan

34.  Kawhi Leonard

33.  James Harden

32.  Scottie Pippen

31.  Bob Pettit

30.  Chris Paul

29.  John Havlicek

28.  Dwyane Wade

27.  Rick Barry

26.  Isiah Thomas

25.  John Stockton

24.  Giannis Antenteokounmpo

23.  Elgin Baylor

22.  Charles Barkley

21.  Dirk Nowitzki

20.  David Robinson

19.  Julius Erving

18.  Moses Malone

17.  Kevin Garnett

16.  Karl Malone

15.  Stephen Curry

14.  Jerry West

13.  Kevin Durant

12.  Oscar Robertson

11.  Harkeem Olajuwon

10.  Kobe Bryant

 9.  Tim Duncan

 8.  Shaquille O'Neal

 7.  Larry Bird

 6.  Wilt Chamberlain  

 5.  Magic Johnson

 4.  Bill Russell

 3.  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

 2.  LeBron James

 1.  Michael Jordan

I'd rate Cousy, Mikan, Pettit, Barry, Oscar, Wilt higher.  And where do you rank Jokic now?

***

[5/10/24] R.W. Jonasson (quora)

[7/30/24 ] Mike Burch has Jordan third behind Wilt and Oscar