"Until Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, African Americans were shut out of the all-American pastime -- major league baseball. Thousdands of talented athletes were excluded, simply because of the color of their skin. And so they formed their own leagues. The history of the Negro Leagues is the story of elgendary heroes such as Cool papa Bell, who some say was the fastest runner ever to steal a base, and Satchel Paige, whoe fastball was called a Bee Ball because all the batter heard was a buzz as it singed past him over the plate. The players were forced to endure segregated, second-rate living and playing conditions, but their talent, courage, and determination were always first-rate." (publisher) Over 150 pages of Black history....the history that has been omitted from many textbooks. Black and white archival photographs make this book an historical treasure. The back of the book contains a timeline from 1820 to 1962, a Hall of Fame listing of names, and a short, biographical review of many players - "Player Profiles". Teachers add this to your social studies curriculum. Ages 10 & up. Authors - Patricia and Fredrick McKissack, Jr.