This book was inspired by the last Negro League World Series ever played and presents biographies of the players on the two contending teams in 1948 — the Birmingham Black Barons and the Homestead Grays — as well as the managers, the owners, and articles on the ballparks the teams called home. Also included are articles that recap the season’s two East-West All-Star Games, the Negro National League and Negro American League playoff series, and the World Series itself. Additional context is provided in essays about the effects of Organized Baseball’s integration on the Negro Leagues, the exodus of Negro League players to Canada, and the signing away of top Negro League players, specifically Willie Mays. The lack of detailed press coverage of the Negro Leagues, the fact that not every player was a star with a lengthy career, and gaps in public records of the era (especially in regard to African Americans) present a situation in which it is not possible to detail the life of every single player as fully as in other SABR publications. In the face of such challenges, the SABR researchers who have contributed player biographies and feature articles to this book have done utmost diligence to uncover every possible nugget of information that is currently available and, in many instances, new discoveries have been made. Many of the players’ lives and careers have been presented to a much greater extent than previously. This book represents the collaborative efforts of 49 authors and editors from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). Contents: Willie Mays Letter to Jim Zapp THE BIRMINGHAM BLACK BARONS Lloyd Pepper Bassett, Frederick C. Bush Herman Bell, Margaret M. Gripshover John Britton, Bill Nowlin Lorenzo "Piper" Davis (player/manager) Jeb Stewart Bill Greason, Frederick C. Bush Wiley Griggs, William Dahlberg Jay (Jehosie) Heard, J. W. Stewart Willie Mays, John Saccoman Jimmie Newberry, Jeb Stewart Alonzo Perry, Dennis D. Degenhardt Nat Pollard, Jay Hurd Bill Powell, Mark Panuthos &amp; Frederick C. Bush Norman (Bobby) Robinson, Bob LeMoine Joe Scot,t Charles F. Faber Ed Steele, Will Osgood Bob Veale, Joseph Gerard Samuel Williams, Bob LeMoine Artie Wilson, Rob Neyer Jim Zapp, Bill Nowlin Tom Hayes (Owner) James Forr Abe Saperstein (Co-Owner, 1939-45) Norm King Rickwood Field, Clarence Watkins THE HOMESTEAD GRAYS Ted Alexander, Rob Neyer Sam Bankhead, Dave Wilkie Lefty Bell, Frederick C. Bush Garnett Blair, Bill Nowlin Bob Boston, Bill Johnson Clarence Bruce, Frederick C. Bush Luther Clifford, Richard Bogovich Luke Easter, Justin Murphy Clarence Evans, Dennis D. Degenhardt Wilmer Fields, Frederick C. Bush Ervin Fowlkes, Dave Forrester Charles Gary, Chris Rainey Robert Gaston, Chris Rainey Cecil Kaiser, Brian Baughan Larry Kimbrough, Chris Rainey Buck Leonard, Ralph Berger Luis Márquez, Amy Essington Eudie Napier, Tom Hawthorn Tom Parker, Bill Johnson Willie (Bill) Pope, Skip Nipper Willie D. Smith, Alan Cohen Frank Thompson, Michael Mattsey Bob Thurman, Rick Swaine Bob Trice, Jack Morris R. T. Walker, Irv Goldfarb John Wright, Niall Adler Vic Harris (manager) Charlie Fouche Cum Posey (Owner to 1946 d.) Brian McKenna Ethel Posey (Co-Owner) Leslie Heaphy Rufus "Sonny Man" Jackson (Co-Owner) Ralph Carhart Forbes Field, Curt Smith Griffith Stadium, John Schleppi FEATURES Players Omitted, Frederick C. Bush The 1948 East-West All-Star Games, Thomas E. Kern The 1948 Negro American League Playoff Series (Birmingham v. Kansas City Monarchs) Japheth Knopp

Bittersweet Goodbye: The Black Barons, the Grays, and the 1948 Negro League World Series (Champions of Black Baseball)

Biographies & Memoirs

Bush, Frederick C.

Community & Culture

Society for American Baseball Research

The 1972 Texas Rangers were a culmination of decades of trying to get a major-league team in Dallas-Fort Worth. The area has a long history with baseball, going back to the 1800s, and minor-league teams played in both cities right up until the Rangers arrived with Ted Williams at the helm.High expectations were quickly dashed. Just how bad were those early Rangers teams? When reporter Mike Shropshire wrote a book about covering the Rangers from 1973 to ’75, he titled it Seasons In Hell. Twenty years later, the Rangers still hadn’t made the playoffs. Counting the decade when the franchise was known as the Washington Senators, the team did not go to the playoffs for the first 35 years of its existence. So why write a book about the 1972 Texas Rangers, perhaps the worst team in club history? Because they’re the start of that history. Articles in this book cover the effort to bring a team to North Texas and the story of Tom Vandergriff, the man now known as “the father of the Rangers.” Biographies of every man to play--or coach--for the 1972 team are presented, including Frank Howard, Larry Bittner, Horacio Pina and Tom Grieve, and broadcasters Don Drysdale and Bill Mercer. Owner Bob Short and Arlington Stadium itself are given full write-ups as well. This book is the collaborative work of 46 members of SABR—the Society for American Baseball Research. CONTENTS Prologue: The Washington Senators: 1961-71 by Joseph Wancho Major-League Baseball Comes to Arlington by Greg Chandler PLAYERS Larry Biittner by David E. Skelton Rich Billings by Steve West Dick Bosman by Dale Voiss Pete Broberg by Gregory H. Wolf Jeff Burroughs by by David E. Skelton Casey Cox by Alan Cohen Jim Driscoll by Charlie Grassl Jan Dukes by Clayton Trutor Bill Fahey by Steve West Ted Ford by Chris Holaday Bill Gogolewski by Gregory H. Wolf Tom Grieve by Steve West Rich Hand by Raymond Rossi Toby Harrah by Frederick C. Bush Vic Harris by Paul Hofmann Rich Hinton by Mark Sternman Frank Howard by Mark Armour Gerry Janeski by David E. Skelton Dalton Jones by Maurice Bouchard Hal King by Chris Holaday Ted Kubiak by Rory Costello Steve Lawson by Chris Holaday Paul Lindblad by Paul Hofmann Joe Lovitto by Charlie Grassl Elliott Maddox by Gordon Janis Marty Martinez by Joseph Gerard Jim Mason by Steve West Don Mincher by Marc Z. Aaron Dave Nelson by Rick Schabowski Jim Panther by Chad Moody Mike Paul by Wayne Strumpfer Horacio Pina by Rory Costello &amp; Francisco Rodriguez Lozano Tom Ragland by Bob LeMoine Lenny Randle by Charlie Grassl Jim Roland by Gregory H. Wolf Jim Shellenback by Paul Geisler Don Stanhouse by Maxwell Kates Ken Suarez by Bo Carter MANAGER Ted Williams by Bill Nowlin COACHES Joe Camacho by Charlie Grassl Nellie Fox by Robert W. Bigelow &amp; Don Zminda Sid Hudson by John Bennett George Susce by David E. Skelton Wayne Terwilliger by C. Paul Rogers III OWNER Bob Short by Bob Whelan BALLPARK Arlington Stadium by Will Osgood Players who Homered at Arlington Stadium as Both Minor and Major Leaguers by Alan Cohen MEDIA Dallas-Fort Worth Baseball Media in 1972 by Steve West Bill Mercer by Bo Carter Don Drysdale by Joseph Wancho Randy Galloway by Norm King OTHERS Tom Vandergriff (“father of Rangers”) by Greg Chandler Joe Burke (general manager) by Steve West Hal Keller (dir. player development) by Chip Greene Bill Zeigler (trainer) by Charlie Grassl along with recaps of ten significant games from the 1972 season

The Team That Couldn't Hit: The 1972 Texas Rangers (The SABR Baseball Library)

Sports & Outdoors

Wolf, Gregory H.

COHEN, ALAN

Holaday, Chris

Armour, Mark

Trutor, Clayton

West, Steve

Baseball

Willie Mays thrilled baseball fans for more than two decades. He could do it all—in the outfield, at bat, and on the bases. Five Tools tells the story of arguably the greatest baseball player in the game’s history, through more than 20 insightful essays and recaps of over 30 of the most significant games in his career. Some essays explore Mays’ time in the Negro Leagues and minor leagues, while others examine the the relationship of Mays to his managers, the press, and his mentoring of Bobby and Barry Bonds. 
The National League Rookie of the Year in 1951 with the New York Giants, Mays made his big-league debut just four years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s shameful color line. He brought with him a dynamic blend of power and speed. Just a few years into his amazing career, he left with his teammates for San Francisco. 
Mays batted .301 lifetime and belted 660 home runs. He hit more than 50 homers in two seasons and led the National League in stolen bases four times. Mays also won 12 Gold Gloves for his fielding excellence in center field. The “Say Hey Kid” earned a spot on a record 24 All-Star teams. Incredibly, he won just two MVP awards. 
A collaborative effort of 51 members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), this book celebrates a player who was known by some as “Wondrous Willie.”

Willie Mays Five Tools (SABR All Stars)

THORNLEY, STEW

Neyer, Rob

Nowlin, Bill

Goldman, Duke

Biographies and a season summary of the Negro League champion Philadelphia Stars\nIn 1934, Ed Bolden’s Philadelphia Stars joined the new Negro National League II (NNL2), which had been founded one year earlier. After fending off their intrastate-rivals, the Pittsburgh Crawfords, the Stars claimed the NNL2’s second-half championship and faced the first-half champions for the title. They defeated the Chicago American Giants to claim the NNL2 crown. 
Over two dozen SABR members researched the Stars’ history for this book, which includes biographies of as many of the team’s players as possible, even those who participated in only a single game. The 1934 Stars featured future Hall of Famers Raleigh “Biz” Mackey and Jud Wilson; stalwarts like Phil Cockrell, Webster McDonald, and Chaney White; shooting star Stewart “Slim” Jones; and temporary fill-ins like Frederick Coleman and Clifford “Whip” Irons. 
Majority owner Ed Bolden, a vital figure in the history of Philadelphia baseball, and minority owner/booking agent Eddie Gottlieb—who is better known to basketball fans—are both featured, as well, along with the history of the Stars’ home ballpark in 1934, Passon Field, named after another prominent local baseball entrepreneur. Also included is a complete season timeline, articles about select games such as the epic September 9 Satchel Paige-Slim Jones pitching duel at Yankee Stadium, and a comprehensive write-up of the NNL2 championship series complete this portrait of the 1934 title-winning team.

The Stars Shone on Philadelphia: The 1934 Negro National League Champions (Champions of Black Baseball)

Heaphy, Leslie

Alpert, Rebecca T.

Bogovich, Richard

Gripshover, Margaret M.

Smith, Courtney Michelle

Hurd, Jay

The 1939 Baltimore Elite Giants (Champions of Black Baseball)

Cieradkowski, Gary

Puerzer, Richard J.

The Newark Eagles won only one Negro National League pennant during the franchise's 15-year tenure in the Garden State, but the 1946 squad that ran away with the NNL and then triumphed over the Kansas City Monarchs in a seven-game World Series was a team for the ages. World War II had ended, and numerous players who had served in the military returned to resume their playing careers with the Eagles. The returning veterans composed a veritable "Who's Who in the Negro Leagues" and included Leon Day, Larry Doby, Monte Irvin, and Max Manning, as well as numerous role players. Four of the Eagles' stars-Day, Doby, Irvin, and player/manager Raleigh "Biz" Mackey, as well as co-owner Effa Manley-have been enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. This book, which was researched and written exclusively by more than 30 members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), presents not only the famous individuals, but also tells the tales of the other stars and the lesser-known players insofar as history allows them to be revealed. In addition to biographies of the players, co-owners, and P.A. announcer, there are also articles about Newark's Ruppert Stadium, Leon Day's Opening Day no-hitter, a sensational midseason game, the season's two East-West All-Star games, and the 1946 Negro League World Series between the Eagles and the renowned Kansas City Monarchs. A season timeline and a history of the Eagles' years in Newark help to present the entire context of the team and its lone championship season. Includes over 60 historic photos. Contents: 1.James Boyd by Frederick C. Bush2.Harry Butts by Margaret M. Gripshover3.Cecil Cole by Rich Bogovich4.Johnny Davis by Dave Wilkie5.Leon Day by Tom Kern6.Larry Doby by John McMurray7.Charles England by Margaret M. Gripshover8.William "Benny" Felder by Bryan Steverson and Frederick C. Bush9.Oscar Givens by Skip Nipper10.Vernon Harrison by Margaret M. Gripshover11.Bob Harvey by Jeb Stewart12.Fred Hobgood by Rich Bogovich13.Leniel Hooker by Tim Tassler and Frederick C. Bush14.Cal Irvin by Bryan Steverson15.Monte Irvin by Larry Hogan16.Clarence "Pint" Isreal by Bill Hickman17.Rufus Lewis by Michael Mattsey18.Raleigh "Biz" Mackey by Chris Rainey19.Biz Mackey and Japan by Bill Staples Jr.20.Maxwell Manning by Frederick C. Bush21.Charles Parks by Jay Hurd22.Andrew "Pat" Patterson by Bill Johnson23.Warren Peace by Bill Nowlin24.Lennie Pearson by Dan D'Addona25.Leon Ruffin by Paul Hofmann26.Murray "Skeeter" Watkins by Niall Adler27.Jimmy "Seabiscuit" Wilkes by Bob LeMoine28.Robert "Cotton" Williams by Ralph Carhart29.Abe Manley by Amy C. Essington30.Effa Manley by Amy C. Essington31.Sherman Maxwell by Leslie Heaphy32.Ruppert Stadium by Curt Smith33.1946 Newark Eagles Season Timeline by by Bill Nowlin34.May 5, 1946: Leon Day and Baseball's Other Opening Day No-hitter by Frederick C. Bush35.August 11, 1946: Leon's Terrific, Wonderful, Magnificent, Very Good Day by Bob LeMoine36.August 15, 1946: East-West All-Star Game 1, Griffith Stadium by Mark S. Sternman and Frederick C. Bush 37.August 18, 1946: East-West All-Star Game 2, Comiskey Park by Mark S. Sternman and Frederick C. Bush38.The 1946 World Series: Newark Eagles v. Kansas City Monarchs by Rich Puerzer39.The Newark Eagles: Swinging Away During Newark's Heyday by Bob Golon

The Newark Eagles Take Flight: The Story of the 1946 Negro League Champions (Champions of Black Baseball)

Smith, Curt

Johnson, William H.

Essington, Amy

The 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords team, one of the dominant teams in Negro League history, is often compared to the legendary 1927 “Murderer’s Row” New York Yankees. The squad from “Smoketown”—a nickname that the Pittsburgh Courier often applied to the metropolis better-known as “Steel City”—boasted four Hall-of-Fame players in outfielder James “Cool Papa” Bell, first baseman/manager Oscar Charleston, catcher Josh Gibson, and third baseman William “Judy” Johnson. The team also included such stalwarts as Sam Bankhead, William Bell, Jimmie Crutchfield, Andrew “Pat” Patterson, Leroy Matlock, and Sam Streeter. With a roster full of such illustrious stars, it is easy to see why the Crawfords were dominant. Nonethless, the team unexpectedly had to scratch and claw its way to the Negro National League pennant by defeating the New York Cubans in a thrilling seven-game championship series.This book includes articles on the players from the 1935 squad, as well as one who was absent. The Crawfords might have dispatched the Cubans more easily had they retained the services of pitcher Satchel Paige, a fifth Hall of Famer who had been a member of their 1934 squad. However, Paige and Crawfords owner Gus Greenlee were at odds and Paige shunned the Crawfords in 1935, although his shadow still loomed large over the Pittsburgh franchise. In light of Paige’s prominence and the fact that he had been expected to pitch for the Crawfords, a feature article about his accomplishments in 1935 and a game article about his failure to appear for game at Yankee Stadium in September of that year also are included here.This volume contains exhaustively-researched articles about the players, front office personnel, Greenlee Field, and the exciting games and history of the team that were written and edited by 25 SABR members. The inclusion of historical photos about every subject in the book helps to shine a spotlight on the 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords, who truly were the Pride of Smoketown.Biographies:SAM BANKHEAD by Dave WilkieJAMES (COOL PAPA) BELL by Dave WilkieWILLIAM BELL by Kevin Larkin and Frederick C. BushTED BOND by Richard BogovichERNEST “SPOON” CARTER by Frederick C. BushOSCAR CHARLESTON, PLAYER-MANAGER by Tim OdzerJIMMIE CRUTCHFIELD by William H. JohnsonROOSEVELT DAVIS by Jay HurdJOSH GIBSON by William H. JohnsonCURTIS “POPEYE” HARRIS by Wes SingletaryDAVID WILLIAM “BILL” HARVEY by Matthew CleverCARL HOWARD by Richard BogovichHOW WE HAPPENED UPON HOWARD: UNEXPECTED COLLABORATION LEADS TO INFORMATION ABOUT LITTLE-KNOWN NEGRO LEAGUE PITCHER by F.B., R.B., B.N.BERTRUM HUNTER by Paul HofmannWILLIAM “JUDY” JOHNSON by Thomas KernHARRY KINCANNON by Margaret M. GripshoverLEROY MATLOCK by Richard BogovichCLARENCE “SPOONY” PALM by Jon HensonANDREW “PAT” PATTERSON by William H. JohnsonBILL PERKINS by Bob LeMoineSAM STREETER by Alan CohenCHESTER WILLIAMS by David WilkieGUS GREENLEE, OWNER by Brian McKennaROY SPARROW, PUBLICITY MAN by Margaret M. GripshoverGREENLEE FIELD by Jeb StewartA NOTE ON ADDITIONAL PLAYERS WHO SOMETIMES APPEAR ON PITTSBURGH’S 1935 ROSTER by Frederick C. BushSPRING TRAINING FOR THE 1935 PITTSBURGH CRAWFORDS by Mark Blaeuer1935 PITTSBURGH CRAWFORDS SEASON TIMELINE by Bill NowlinAUGUST 11, 1935:THE EAST-WEST ALL-STAR GAME, COMISKEY PARK by Frederick C. BushSEPTEMBER 22, 1935: PAIGE TAKES THE MONEY BUT NOT THE MOUND IN 12-2 WIN OVER PHILADELPHIA STARS, YANKEE STADIUM by Mark S. SternmanTHE 1935 NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: PITTSBURGH CRAWFORDS V. NEW YORK CUBANS by Rich PuerzerGUS GREENLEE AND THE CRAWFORD GRILLS by Leslie HeaphyGUS GREENLEE AND THE EAST-WEST ALL-STAR GAME:ORIGINS AND CONFLICT (1932-1944) by Duke GoldmanWHERE WAS SATCHEL IN 1935? PAIGE AND GREENLEE FEUDED AS CRAWFORDS RULED THE NNL by Frederick C. BushKINGS OF THE HILL:THE STORY OF THE PITTSBURGH CRAWFORDS by Jeremy Beer

Pride of Smoketown: The 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords (Champions of Black Baseball)

Beer, Jeremy

Wilkie, Dave

Puerzer, Rich

Singletary, Wes

Society for American Baseball Research (SABR)

The Kansas City Monarchs are arguably the best-known of all Negro League teams, thanks in part to the inimitable Satchel Paige's association with the team and longtime Monarch Buck O'Neil's role as an ambassador of Black baseball history. The Monarchs won the first-ever Negro League World Series against the Hilldale club in 1924. Black World Series play went on a 15-year hiatus after 1927, but when it returned, so did the Monarchs. That time, 1942, the team faced the perennial Negro National League champions, the Homestead Grays. In the clash between the two powerhouse squads, the Kansas Citians made mincemeat of the mighty Grays and turned 1942 into the year When the Monarchs Reigned. This book - the result of a collaborative effort by 32 SABR members - features biographies of Hall of Famers Satchel Paige, Hilton Smith, and Willard Brown; stalwarts such as Newt Allen and Buck O'Neil; and many other players. Also included are biographies of principal owner and Hall of Famer J.L. Wilkinson and other front-office personnel, Ruppert Stadium (which was renamed several times over the course of its existence), and groundbreaking Kansas City Call reporter Willa Bea Harmon. Feature articles focus on topics such as the Call's coverage of the Monarchs, Wilkinson's role in helping to resuscitate Paige's career, and the fate of the Monarchs during the World War II years. In addition to an extensive season timeline, game articles highlight a contest against Dizzy Dean's All-Stars, Satchel Paige Day at Wrigley Field, the two East-West All-Star Games, and the grand finale to the season - the World Series triumph over the Homestead Grays.

When the Monarchs Reigned: Kansas City’s 1942 Negro League Champions (Champions of Black Baseball)

History

Americas

On December 16, 2020, Major League Baseball announced that seven Negro Leagues, from various seasons spanning the years 1920 to 1948, were being recognized as major leagues and that all statistics from those leagues and seasons would henceforth be considered part of the major-league record books. The earliest league to be included is the first iteration of the Negro National League (NNL), founded by Rube Foster, which extended from 1920 through the end of 1931. 
The First Negro League Champion: The 1920 Chicago American Giants chronicles the team which won the title of champion in the NNL1’s inaugural season. Foster, a Hall of Famer, and his White business partner John Schorling are featured here. Biographies of every player on the team include Cristóbal Torriente, a member of both the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame, as well as early Blackball stalwarts Dave “Lefty” Brown, Bingo DeMoss, Judy Gans, Dave Malarcher, Frank Warfield, and Frank Wickware. The history of the American Giants’ home field, Schorling Park, is also examined. 
Rounding out the tale of this landmark franchise are a comprehensive timeline of the 1920 season, a history of the founding of the Negro National League in 1920, and the complete story of the American Giants, both under Foster’s ownership and beyond. A generous number of historical photographs and graphics add to the commemoration of this landmark team. 
This collaborative work of 21 members of the Society for American Baseball Research, with assists from many other individuals, constitutes the fifth volume of an ongoing SABR series on great teams from Negro Leagues history.

The First Negro League Champion: The 1920 Chicago American Giants (Champions of Black Baseball)

Johnson, BIll

Bauer, John

Ryan, Joal

Carrano, Ken

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Bush, Frederick C.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Bush, Frederick C.