Celebrating Baseball's Unsung Heroes
January 1, 2017
Gr 4-7-Doeden ties the story of the Negro Leagues to that of race in the South, noting that there were integrated teams in the years immediately after the Civil War but that segregation followed the enactment of Jim Crow laws in the late 19th century. Doeden then traces the rise of "barnstorming" teams-not tied to any city-and the entertainment spectacle that accompanied it, before outlining the professional growth of the leagues under leaders such as Chicago American Giants manager and owner Rube Foster. The narrative swells to take in the legendary rivalry between the Kansas City Monarchs and the Homestead Grays in a string of gripping World Series matchups in the early 1940s. The book is amply illustrated with period photos, most of them posed but with some action shots included. A later chapter details legendary players of the Negro Leagues, such as Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige; slugger Josh Gibson, who reportedly drove a fair ball over the third deck and out of Yankee Stadium; and Toni Stone, one of few women to have played in the Negro Leagues. Another chapter takes up Jackie Robinson's breaking of the color barrier in signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, despite often virulent racist resistance, and the eventual decline of the leagues by 1960. VERDICT A concise, highly readable, and thoughtful introduction to an oftentimes overlooked segment of sports history.-Bob Hassett, Luther Jackson Middle School, Falls Church, VA
Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 1, 2016
A broad survey of African-Americans in baseball, from the end of the Civil War to the era of Jackie Robinson and the last of the barnstormers.Though far from "unsung" considering Kadir Nelson's soaring We Are the Ship (2008) and the plethora of both general histories and individual biographies available, black players from Robinson, Satchel Paige, and Josh Gibson to less-prominent ground breakers such as Moses Fleetwood Walker, Rube Foster, and Toni Stone certainly merit another tip of the cap. Unlike Nelson, Doeden doesn't pull readers out onto the field of dreams. Instead, mixing in notable games and spotlight player profiles, plus plenty of team and individual photos, Doeden offers a fluent if standard-issue chronicle of the rises and falls of significant Negro Leagues and independent teams in the wake of professional baseball's exclusion of African-Americans. (Other minorities get no more than a few references and an intriguing group portrait of a diverse "All Nations" team from around 1915.) Also, in a closing "Legacy" chapter, he brings his account up to the present by analyzing, albeit in a superficial way, the modern decline in the percentage of African-Americans in the ranks of the modern major leagues. It's conventional fare, but it's systematic and at least a little broader in scope than older titles. (notes, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 10-13)
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November 1, 2016
Grades 5-8 After WWI, the competitive Negro leagues emerged, along with some of the greatest and most entertaining players in baseball history. This informative volume offers a thoughtful introduction to the players, teams, and leagues, which were formed in response to the segregation of professional baseball in the U.S. during the late 1800s. From the Spectacular Sports series, which includes Doeden's The World Series (2014) and The College Football Championship (2015), the book has a large, square format that offers ample space for text and sidebars as well as archival photos of teams, players, and managers. Presenting a concise and very readable history of the Negro leagues, Doeden's account is particularly strong in placing events within the broader social context of racial intolerance, segregation, and gradual integration, and his chapter on legendary players is not to be missed. The many well-chosen quotes are sourced in the back matter, which also includes a short list of books for further reading. This well-researched book will be a worthwhile addition to any baseball collection.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)
July 1, 2017
Doeden's slim volume on the history of the Negro Leagues is reasonably comprehensive. Establishing solid facts amid a "knowledge gap"--from lack of newspaper coverage, inadequately kept statistics, and unreliable oral anecdotes--is a challenge. Doeden's writing is cautious where readers might long for more enthusiasm, but this is still a worthwhile addition to baseball collections. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.
(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)