Opera tells story of Negro Leagues baseball star Josh Gibson

An opera about Negro Leagues baseball star Josh Gibson, whose power hitting rivaled Babe Ruth's, will have its world premiere in Pittsburgh in April.

[...] opera is the perfect medium for telling Gibson's story because opera allows people "to sing about emotions and aspirations and fears."

Gibson was one of the first three Negro Leagues players to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, which lists his career batting average as .350.

[...] baseball's integration led to the Negro Leagues' shutdown, ending careers for dozens of black athletes who were not among the few chosen for white teams.

Troy Maxson, the fictional character played by Washington, is a former Negro Leagues star.

"Most people know the story of Josh Gibson as a baseball player, a home run hitter compared to Babe Ruth with outstanding statistics, in the Hall of Fame," Sean Gibson said.

[...] behind the uniform was a great man who lived through tragedy outside of dealing with racism and playing baseball: