Books in Stars of the Negro Leagues series

Satchel Paige was an enormously popular pitcher whose career spanned nearly thirty seasons across numerous teams. When he joined the Cleveland Indians in 1948, he became the oldest major league rookie on a major league team, and he was the first Negro league player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Paige is often considered one of the most talented and entertaining pitchers of any race to have ever played baseball. This engaging narrative of both his successes and struggles introduces young readers to America's complicated racial and political landscape in the early twentieth century.

In the decades before major league baseball was integrated in 1947, many of the sport's best players could be found in the Negro Leagues. This series tells the stories of some of the most talented athletes who made a name for themselves there. Readers will learn about the athletic, societal, and personal challenges that these players faced. Also covered are the records they broke and thrilling moments they had on the field. A fun baseball-themed design and lots of historical photographs make this set appealing to the eye, while sidebars, chronologies, glossaries, and further reading sections offer extra information. Features include: Shines a spotlight on talented athletes who are less famous than they deserve to be, due to the discrimination they faced. Provides the context needed to help readers understand the period in which these players lived and the challenges they faced. Prompts readers to think critically about the past and reflect on what has and hasn't changed, both important themes in the C3 Framework for Social Studies. Informative sidebars explore related topics in depth. A chronology helps readers trace the path of each book's subject, while further reading sections provide suggestions for how readers can learn more.