A Complete History of the Negro Leagues, 1884 to 1955A Complete History of the Negro Leagues, 1884 to 1955 relates how black fans came to cherish their own heroes, why a trip to see a Negro league game was in itself a statement of racial pride, and why much of black culture was centered on the game of "blackball". For over fifty years - or up until that bright April day in 1947 when Jackie Robinson smashed the major leagues' color barrier - the only ball fields where an African-American could play organized baseball were the tarnished diamonds of the Negro baseball leagues. On these fields, men such as Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, and John Henry Lloyd played for teams such as the Kansas City Monarchs, the Homestead Grays, the Chicago American Giants, and the Pittsburgh Crawfords. And for millions of black fans, these now-legendary names were what baseball was all about. |
Contents
Just Another Ballplayer | 3 |
Will Be Heard | 10 |
Jump Jim Crow | 30 |
Copyright | |
18 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
American Giants ball base baseball became become began big league black game black players blackball blackball's Bolden booking Brooklyn called Chicago Cleveland club colored Crawfords Cuban Dodgers early Eastern Effa face fact fans field Frank Grays Greenlee Gus Greenlee hand Hilldale integration issue Jackie John Kansas City knew later league teams league's Leland looking Louis major league manager Manley minor Monarchs month move needed Negro league Negro National League never numbers offered once outfielder owners Paige's Park Philadelphia pitch pitcher Pittsburgh play players Posey promoter race racial Rickey Robinson Rube Foster Satch Satchel Paige season second baseman seemed signed stands Stars thousand took turned Walker wanted Wilkinson Wilson World wrote Yankees York