The Negro Baseball Leagues: Tales of Umpiring Legendary Players, Breaking Barriers, and Making American History

Details about The Negro Baseball Leagues: Tales of Umpiring Legendary Players, Breaking Barriers, and Making American History:

“Motley is . . . [a] reminder of the glory—and outrage—of segregated baseball . . . A wonderful book.” —ESPN The Kansas City Monarchs, the Chicago American Giants, the St. Louis Stars, the Birmingham Black Barons, the Homestead Grays, and the Indianapolis Clowns; for over fifty years, they were the Yankees, Cardinals, and Red Sox of black baseball in America. And for over a decade beginning in the late 1940s, umpire Bob Motley called balls and strikes for many of their games, working alongside such legends as Satchel Paige, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, and Willie Mays. Motley’s personal account of the Negro Leagues is a revealing, humorous, and unforgettable memoir celebrating a long-lost league and a remarkable group of baseball players. In this brand new 100-year anniversary edition of Ruling Over Monarchs, Giants, and Stars, Motley and his son Byron share the characters, adventures, and challenges faced by these amazing men as they enthusiastically embraced America’s pastime and made it their own. Filled with stories of talented heroes, small miracles, and downright fun, this unique memoir is a must-read for any baseball fan. “An important step in revealing what has been for most Americans a ‘hidden history.’” —Ken Burns “Motley recalls his time as an arbiter with reverence and entertains the reader with stories of life in the Negro Leagues and his views on the quality of baseball played in those leagues.” —The Guy Who Reviews Sports Books