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Bill > AJR31
NJ AJR31
NJ AJR31Designates July 24 of each year as "Josh Gibson Negro Leagues Appreciation Day" in New Jersey.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
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.
AI Summary
This joint resolution designates July 24th of each year as "Josh Gibson Negro Leagues Appreciation Day" in New Jersey to honor the significant achievements of baseball legend Josh Gibson and the historical importance of the Negro Leagues. Josh Gibson, a celebrated catcher and hitter, played in the Negro Leagues, a professional baseball league for African American players that existed from 1920 to 1948, before Major League Baseball (MLB) was integrated. His exceptional skills, including a legendary 600-foot home run hit on July 24, 1936, in Belmar, New Jersey, are now recognized by MLB, which has integrated Negro Leagues statistics, placing Gibson at the top of several all-time batting records, surpassing even famous players like Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth. The resolution also acknowledges that the Negro Leagues profoundly impacted baseball and paved the way for future generations of players, like Jackie Robinson, to play in MLB, and that Gibson himself was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (4)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/AJR31 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/AJR/31_I1.HTM |
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