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Black Diamond: The Story of the Negro Baseball Leagues
Black Diamond The Story of the Negro Baseball Leagues Author:Pat McKissack, Fredrick McKissack, Patricia C. McKissack Until Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, African Americans were shut out of the all-American pastime - major league baseball. Thousands of talented athletes were excluded, simply because of the color of their skin. — And so they formed their own leagues. — The history of the Negro Leagues is the story of legendary her... more »oes such as Cool Papa Bell, who some say was the fastest runner ever to steal a base, and Satchel Paige, whose fastball was a Bee Ball because all the batter heard was a buzz as it zinged past him over the plate.
The players were forced to endure segregated, second-rate living and playing condidtions, but their talent, courage, and determination were always first-rate.« less
Actually, this is a great history for adults, it's a good, concise history of the Negro Leagues from the beginning to the end (they kept going into the 1950s)
Jenny M. - , reviewed Black Diamond: The Story of the Negro Baseball Leagues on
This is an excellent historical account that covers the period from the late 1800s through Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. The book has many photographs and newspaper articles to illustrate the players. Both of my boys (one a baseball player, one not) enjoyed reading this book, which is a Coretta Scott King Honor Book.