Negro League Books

[samosa4u]

Hello,

I would like to learn more about the Negro League. Can anyone here recommend a good book? I'm not looking for a 2000 page encyclopedia. I want something that is easy to understand, has interviews, good examples, etc.

Thanks for your time

[Northviewcats]

Two suggestions: Shades of Glory, Lawrence Hogan, The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Leagues, James Riley

[Scocs]

These are the books I have acquired that I think are indispensable:

1. The Negro Baseball Leagues: A Photographic History by Phil Dixon

2. Only The Ball Was White by Robert Peterson

3. Blackball Stars: Negro League Pioneers by John B. Holway

4. Black Ball and the Boardwalk: The Bacharach Giants Of Atlantic City, 1916-1929 by James E. Overmeyer

5. Black Baseball Entrepreneurs, 1902-1931 by Michael E. Lomax

6. Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961 by Jorge S. Figueredo

7. Negro League Baseball Collectibles Guide by forum member Philip Garry

I know there is a Negro League encyclopedia that exists, but you said you didn’t want a book like that.

Hope this list helps!
Scott

[CobbSpikedMe]

"Only the Ball was White" is a great starter book to get into the Negro Leagues. It will introduce you to many players and their stories. It's a nice easy read too.

"Negro League Baseball, The Rise and Ruin of a Black Institution" by Neil Lanctot is another great book but focuses more on the business of the Leagues, the owners and how leagues started and failed. That sort of thing.

[Jason19th]

A couple of older books that can still be found at a fairly low price
1. Great Negro Baseball Stars - Doc Young 1953
2. The Negro in Sports - Henderson 1939

A classic to buy in modern edition
1. History of colored baseball - Sol White 1908

A couple others
1. Sandlot season - Ruck
2. Black Writers/ Black baseball - Jim Reisler

[HOFautosChris]

Raceball : How the Major Leagues Colonized the Black and Latin Game
Rob Ruck

[mattsey9]

Raceball : How the Major Leagues Colonized the Black and Latin Game
Rob Ruck

Was going to post this. Ruck is an excellent historian.