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.

James Thomas "Cool Papa" Bell was a National Negro League all-star who was best known for his legendary speed. A center fielder, Bell's batting average was regularly over .4, and in one season he was said to have stolen 175 bases in just 200 games. Because of segregation, Bell was never able to play for a major league team, but he was considered by many to have been the fastest man in baseball's history. His story illuminates the financial and social struggles black players faced during a time of racial and political upheaval in America.

James Thomas "Cool Papa" Bell was a National Negro League all-star who was best known for his legendary speed. A center fielder, Bell's batting average was regularly over .4, and in one season he was said to have stolen 175 bases in just 200 games. Because of segregation, Bell was never able to play for a major league team, but he was considered by many to have been the fastest man in baseball's history. His story illuminates the financial and social struggles black players faced during a time of racial and political upheaval in America.

Josh Gibson, sometimes known as the "black Babe Ruth" for his skill at bat, was a power hitter and catcher in the Negro Leagues. He played on the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords between 1930 and 1946. Gibson died tragically from a brain tumor in 1947, just months before Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color barrier. Though he was never able to join an MLB team due to discrimination, Gibson is often considered to have been one of the best catchers and sluggers in baseball's history.

Josh Gibson, sometimes known as the "black Babe Ruth" for his skill at bat, was a power hitter and catcher in the Negro Leagues. He played on the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords between 1930 and 1946. Gibson died tragically from a brain tumor in 1947, just months before Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color barrier. Though he was never able to join an MLB team due to discrimination, Gibson is often considered to have been one of the best catchers and sluggers in baseball's history.

Buck Leonard was a famous first baseman who played for one of the top teams in Negro league history, the Homestead Grays, for sixteen seasons, beginning in 1934. Leonard's skill led him to be known as the "black Lou Gehrig," but he was not offered a Major League Baseball contract until 1952. He declined because he felt he was too old and might damage the image of black players in general if he were injured. Leonard's story illuminates the unique challenges Negro League players faced in a time of segregation and racism.

Known as one of the best pinch-hitting third baseman to ever play the game, Judy Johnson played seventeen seasons of Negro league baseball before retiring in 1937. Johnson was known for his calm and professional demeanor on the field, and he also managed many of the teams he played for. After his retirement, he went on to become one of the first black men hired to a coaching position for a Major League Baseball team. This book chronicles the life of the sports hero while introducing readers to the difficulties of living in a time of segregation and political upheaval.

Known as one of the best pinch-hitting third baseman to ever play the game, Judy Johnson played seventeen seasons of Negro league baseball before retiring in 1937. Johnson was known for his calm and professional demeanor on the field, and he also managed many of the teams he played for. After his retirement, he went on to become one of the first black men hired to a coaching position for a Major League Baseball team. This book chronicles the life of the sports hero while introducing readers to the difficulties of living in a time of segregation and political upheaval.

Inspire your readers with this biography. The exceptionally athletic Monte Irvin was an outfielder who started in the Negro leagues and eventually became one of the earliest black Major League Baseball players after joining the New York Giants in 1949. He played in two World Series with the Giants and after retiring worked as a baseball scout and served in an administrative role in the MLB commissioner's office. Readers will learn that as a mentor to Willie Mays, Irvin helped pave the way for other black players in the major leagues despite encountering racism on and off the field, and he was honored greatly later in life for his achievements.

Inspire your readers with this biography. The exceptionally athletic Monte Irvin was an outfielder who started in the Negro leagues and eventually became one of the earliest black Major League Baseball players after joining the New York Giants in 1949. He played in two World Series with the Giants and after retiring worked as a baseball scout and served in an administrative role in the MLB commissioner's office. Readers will learn that as a mentor to Willie Mays, Irvin helped pave the way for other black players in the major leagues despite encountering racism on and off the field, and he was honored greatly later in life for his achievements.

Buck Leonard was a famous first baseman who played for one of the top teams in Negro league history, the Homestead Grays, for sixteen seasons, beginning in 1934. Leonard's skill led him to be known as the "black Lou Gehrig," but he was not offered a Major League Baseball contract until 1952. He declined because he felt he was too old and might damage the image of black players in general if he were injured. Leonard's story illuminates the unique challenges Negro League players faced in a time of segregation and racism.