— Recommended —

Only the Ball Was White.
Robert Peterson

When Only the Ball Was White was first published in 1970, Satchel Paige had not yet been inducted into the Hall of Fame, and there was a general ignorance even among sports enthusiasts of the rich tradition of the Negro Leagues. In his pioneering book, Peterson tells the forgotten story of the many unknown greats of the Negro League. 53 halftones.

Complete History of the Negro Leagues.
Mark Ribowsky

A Hard Road to Glory: Baseball.
Arthur Ashe, Jr.

This informative book gives readers the whole history of blacks in baseball, from its infancy in black colleges to the present, covering the establishment of both major leagues and the Negro Leagues, Jackie Robinson's reintegration of professional sports, and Curt Flood's struggle to establish a free agency.

Fleetwood Walker's Divided Heart.
David Zang

Crossing the Line: Black Major Leaguers, 1947-59.
Larry Moffi, Jonathan Kronstadt

Profiles every African-American major league player between 1947 and 1959, when the Boston Red Sox became the last team to break baseball`s unofficial color barrier. Entries for each player include information about their careers and on- and off-field difficulties they encountered in integrating the game, career statistics, and a capsule biography. The introduction reviews the history of integrated baseball. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or
.

Fair Dealing and Clean Playing.
Neil Lanctot
'

History of Colored Baseball.
Sol White

Invisible Men.
Donn Rogosin

The Negro baseball leagues were a thriving sporting and cultural institution for African Americans from their founding in 1920 until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. Rogosin's narrative pulls the veil off these "invisible men" and gives us a glorious chapter in American history.

The Kansas City Monarchs. Janet Bruce

Maybe I'll Pitch Forever. Satchel Paige

Not only was Satchel Paige an amazing athlete, he was one of the great American humorists in the tradition of Yogi Berra. The most famous Black player of his era shines through the pages of this remarkable autobiography. Annotation by Inland Book Company

My Life in the Negro Leagues.
Wilmer Fields

Negro Baseball Leagues
Fremon, David

Turkey Stearnes and the Detroit Stars.
Richard Bak

The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
Brashler, William

William Brashler's 1973 novel is a classic of baseball fiction: the story of a black barnstorming baseball club in 1939, before Jackie Robinson broke the unofficial color barrier. James Earl Jones, Billy Dee Williams & Richard Pryor starred in the film. Annotation by Inland Book Company.

The Story of Negro League Baseball
William Brashler

From about 1890 to 1947, major-league baseball was closed to blacks. William Brasher traces the history of black baseball from prior to the ban on blacks, through the creation of the Negro Leagues, to Jackie Robinson's signing his major-league contract and the end of the Leagues. Illustrated with historical photos. Ages 8 and up. 144 pp.

Blacks in Baseball.
Leon Hardwick

Don't Look Back.
Mark Ribowsky

Get That Nigger Off the Field.
Art Rust, Jr.,

Josh Gibson.
William Brashler

A Man and His Diamonds.
Charles Whitehead

Negro Baseball Leagues.
Phil Dixon

A Pictorial Negro League Legends Album.
Robert D. Retort

Pitchin' Man.
Satchel Paige

The Pittsburgh Crawfords. James Bankes

Sandlot Seasons.
Rob Ruck

Sol White Baseball Guide. Sol White

Twenty Years Too Soon. Quincy Trouppe

Jackie Robinson: A Biography.
Arnold Rampersad

NEW! From one of the country's leading contemporary biographers-- the first writer to be given access to Jackie Robinson's private papers--comes a memorable portrait of a memorable American--one of baseball's most celebrated players and a pivotal figure in the crucial areas of race and civil rights.

The Indianapolis ABCs : History of a Premier Team in the Negro Leagues.
Paul Debono

NEW! The Indianapolis ABCs were formed at the turn of the century, playing company teams around the city; they soon played other, including some white, teams in Indiana. When the Negro National League was formed in 1920, Indianapolis was a charter member. But player raids by the Eastern Colored League, formed in 1923, hurt the ABCs and by the Depression the team was fading. The team was briefly resurrected as a Negro league team in the late 1930s, but was otherwise relegated to the semiprofessional ranks until its demise in the 1940s. Through contemporary newspaper accounts, extensive research and interviews with the few former ABC players still living, this is the story of the Indianapolis team and the rise of Negro league baseball. The work includes a roster of ABC players, with short biographies of the most prominent.

Buck Leonard: The Black Lou Gehrig.
Buck Leonard and James A. Riley

The life of Negro League star Buck Leonard, by Buck Leonard, as told to James A. Riley.

Baseball legend Buck Leonard traces his life from his humble beginnings, through 17 glorious seasons in the Negro Leagues, to his moment of triumph as an inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Leonard offers not only an eye-opening history of black baseball, but a compelling saga of the African-American experience in segregated America.

Negro Baseball Leagues: African American Achievers. James A. Riley

Tracing the history of black baseball leagues of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s that showcased such legendary talents as Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, and Buck Leonard. 50 photos. Ages Young Adult. Pub: 8/96.

I Was Right on Time: My Journey from Negro Leagues to the Majors

Buck O'Neil, Steve Wulf, David Conrads

Buck O'Neil, the man who won the admiration and the hearts of viewers of Ken Burns' PBS documentary, Baseball, tells the story of his life, from his days in the Negro League to his career as the first African-American coach in the Majors. of photos.

The Negro Leagues Book.
Dick Clark and Larry Lester

Based on the field's most prolific, imaginative, and best-known scholars, this ultimate reference work on the Negro Leagues includes a complete register of all the players--3,400 names, with positions and teams from before the turn of the century into the 1950s--annual rosters, in-depth histories, and more than 75 original photographs.

Nice Guys Finish First: The Autobiography of Monte Irvin.
Monte Irvin and James A. Riley,

Hall of Famer Monte Irvin, the original choice of the Negro League owners to be the player to break the color line, tells his inspiring story.

Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues.
James A. Riley

This landmark reference volume is recognized as the most comprehensive work chronicling this era of baseball history. A comprehensive reference book...a valuable compilation...provides illustrations, team histories, an appendix on players, plus an exhaustive bibliography.

The Power and the Darkness : The Life of Josh Gibson in the Shadows of the Game
Ribowsky, Mark

The first full biography of "the black Babe Ruth," Negro League legend Josh Gibson, this intriguiing portrait pulls no punches in showing the dark side of this great athlete, but is similarly tireless in tracking down his glories. Based on interviews with Gibson's contemporaries, the book also features eight pages of photos from Gibson's son's personal collection. 304 pp. Author publicity. 15,000
print.

When the Game was Black and White.
Bruce Chadwick

Richly illustrated with rare memorabilia and vintage photos, this volume uncovers a lost legacy of American sports history and of American cultural history. In addition to the story of black major-league baseball, this book presents the fascinating tale of barnstorming, integrated Latin American baseball, "off the record" black vs. white contests, and more. (Abbeville Press)

All-Time All-Stars of Black Baseball.
James A. Riley

A salute to what might have been the first, second and third team "all-star" teams from the Negro Leagues. Book currently out of print and unavailable

Dandy, Day, and the Devil. James A. Riley

Based on exhaustive research and personal interviews, this publication is a trilogy examining the lives and careers of Negro League stars Ray Dandridge, Leon Day and Willie Wells. Foreward by Hall of Famer/ former Negro League and Major League star Monte Irvin.

I Had a Hammer
Henry Aaron, with Lonnie Wheeler

Hank Aaron's autobiography. Many people don't realize Aaron began his career with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues.