For Black History Month, Theater for the New City decided to remount a production of Josh: The Black Babe Ruth. Written by Michael A. Jones, the play is based on the life of Josh Gibson, the second Negro Leagues player to be elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was known as the “Black Babe Ruth” due to his home run proficiency. He tragically died at the age of 35 from complications related to a brain tumor which may have been linked to drug usage. In this play, we chart the course from the family migration from Georgia to Pittsburgh through his career to his death.
This play comes across as a series of vignettes rather than a traditional story arc. Satchel Paige, who preceded Josh Gibson into the Hall of Fame, looms large as both men try to break into the all-white major leagues. In addition to the career storyline, there is domestic drama about his wife, whom he never sees while traveling, and a mistress. The temptress is portrayed as a bar hopping, drug taking, bad influence party girl. Connecting all of this is the Guitar Man who strums and sings songs of the period such as Louis Jordan’s “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby.” Images of the players, the baseball league and the Jim Crow south are projected on the wall during transitions. One is a sign announcing an upcoming Klan meeting to discuss opposition to “communism and integration.” Pictures of lynchings are also featured.
This is a small off-off Broadway house and this production can be commended for very good performances by all of the actors. David Roberts takes us through the mindset of Josh from brash bravado to the self-destructive breakdown. As Satchel, Daniel Danielson is appropriately larger than life with the charisma of the famously entertaining pitcher. The smaller role of Josh’s wife Hattie is played by Daphne Danielle. Her scene trying to find her husband at the bar through questioning the audience members elicited deserved end of scene applause.
Josh: The Black Babe Ruth is not a great play and the production is paced a little slowly between scenes. The projected images are very powerful but their intensity competes with rather than enhances the words. However, for an inexpensive $18 ticket price, this is a live, well-acted biography and rewarding addition to the mirrors we must face on historical American race discrimination.