Using an "Everyman" player as his narrator, Kadir Nelson tells the story of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through the decline after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947. Illustrations from oil paintings by artist Kadir Nelson.

"How good was Negro League Baseball (1920-1948)? Some experts maintain that the quality of play was equal to that of the American and National Leagues. Some believe the Negro Leagues should be part of Major League Baseball's official record and that more NL players should be in the Hall of Fame. Skeptics contend that while many players could be rated highly, NL organizations were minor league at best. Drawing on the most comprehensive data available,...

Traces the history of the Negro leagues that evolved due to segregation in professional baseball and the experiences of black players from the late nineteenth through the early twentieth century.

In the early 1900s, professional baseball was mostly segregated. The Negro Leagues provided an alternative for African American players. Discover the history of African American baseball and the people who worked to end the sport's decades of segregation.

"You wanna know who threw the fastest pitch ever? " Many baseball players claim that Satchel Paige was the fastest pitcher in the history of the game. Stosh and his coach, Flip Valentini, are on a mission to find out. With radar gun in tow, they travel back to 1942 and watch Satch pitch to power hitter Josh Gibson in the Negro League World Series. They soon learn that everything about Satch is fast-whether it's his talking, driving, or getaways. But...