DOCSLIB.ORG

Scott Foresman Reading Street

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Suggested levels for Guided Reading, DRA,™ Lexile,® and Reading Recovery™ are provided Biography in the Pearson Scott Foresman Leveling Guide. by Greg Rogers Comprehension Genre Text Features Skills and Strategy Biography • Compare and • Headings Contrast • Captions • Fact and Opinion • Visualize Scott Foresman Reading Street 2.6.1 ì<(sk$m)=bddahj<ISBN 0-328-13307-8 +^-Ä-U-Ä-U 113307_CVR.indd3307_CVR.indd AA-B-B 111/19/051/19/05 110:51:240:51:24 AAMM ThreeReader Response of the 1. How is baseball today different from baseball in the past? Use a chart like the oneGreats below to organize your ideas. Baseball Today Baseball in the Past by Greg Rogers 2. Read page 8. Try to picture in your mind what the words are describing to you. What do you see? 3. Draw a picture to explain the meaning of the words plate on page 5, bases on page 7, and field on page 8. 4. Based on what you have read in this book, why do you think these players are in the Baseball Hall of Fame? Editorial Offices: Glenview, Illinois • Parsippany, New Jersey • New York, New York Sales Offices: Needham, Massachusetts • Duluth, Georgia • Glenview, Illinois Coppell, Texas • Ontario, California • Mesa, Arizona 113307_CVR.indd3307_CVR.indd CC-D-D 113307_001-012.indd3307_001-012.indd 1 111/19/051/19/05 110:52:0910:47:170:5427:0197 AAMM Every effort has been made to secure permission and provide appropriate credit for photographic material. The publisher deeply regrets any omission and pledges to correct errors called to its attention in subsequent editions. Unless otherwise acknowledged, all photographs are the property of Scott Foresman, a division of Pearson Education. Baseball is very different today Photo locators denoted as follows: Top (T), Center (C), Bottom (B), Left (L), Right (R), Background (Bkgd) than it was in the past. For many Opener: Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY; 1 Getty Images; 3 (T) Bettmann/Corbis, (BR) Getty Images; 4 (Bkgd) Getty Images, (CL) Brand X years, African Americans were not Pictures, (BC) Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY; 5 Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY; 6 Getty Images; 7 (CR) Getty Images, (BC) Baseball Hall of allowed to play in the Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY; 8 (Bkgd) Getty Images, (BC) Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY; 9 (CR) © Comstock Inc., (B) Baseball Hall of Fame Library, major leagues. Instead, Cooperstown, NY; 10 (Bkgd) Getty Images, (B) © Bettmann/Corbis; 11 (CR) Brand X Pictures, (B) Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY; 12 (Bkgd) Getty Images, African American (B) George Strock/Getty Images players played in ISBN: 0-328-13307-8 separate baseball Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc. leagues. They were All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This publication is protected by Copyright, and permission should be obtained from the publisher called the Negro prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or leagues. likewise. For information regarding permission(s), write to: Permissions Department, Scott Foresman, 1900 East Lake Avenue, Glenview, Illinois 60025. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 V010 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 3 113307_001-012.indd3307_001-012.indd 2 111/19/051/19/05 110:47:220:47:22 AAMM 113307_001-012.indd3307_001-012.indd 3 111/19/051/19/05 110:47:220:47:22 AAMM People would not let great Amazing Pitcher Satchel Paige African American players join Satchel Paige played in the major league baseball until the Negro leagues. He threw a baseball mid-1940s. They were not allowed with great control. He could trick to play because of their skin color. any hitter at the plate. Satchel Paige pitched and enjoyed the cheers of fans for more than twenty years. Satchel Paige 4 5 113307_001-012.indd3307_001-012.indd 4 111/19/051/19/05 110:47:290:47:29 AAMM 113307_001-012.indd3307_001-012.indd 5 111/19/051/19/05 110:47:460:47:46 AAMM In the 1940s some African Flyball Chaser Cool Papa Bell American players were finally asked James “Cool Papa” Bell was to join the major leagues. Paige known for his speed in running joined the Cleveland Indians. His around the bases. For thirty years pitching helped the Indians win the Cool Papa Bell was called 1948 World Series. the fastest man in baseball. Satchel Paige James Bell 6 7 113307_001-012.indd3307_001-012.indd 6 111/19/051/19/05 110:48:000:48:00 AAMM 113307_001-012.indd3307_001-012.indd 7 111/19/051/19/05 110:48:130:48:13 AAMM Cool Papa Bell sailed across the Power Hitter Josh Gibson field. People joked that he ran so Josh Gibson was best known fast he could turn off the lights and for his batting skill. Some think he be in bed before they went out! may be the greatest home run hitter Cool Papa Bell entered the Baseball in history. Some of Josh Gibson’s Hall of Fame in 1974. home runs are still famous today. James Bell Josh Gibson 8 9 113307_001-012.indd3307_001-012.indd 8 111/19/051/19/05 110:48:230:48:23 AAMM 113307_001-012.indd3307_001-012.indd 9 111/19/051/19/05 110:48:370:48:37 AAMM Josh Gibson once hit a home run Josh Gibson played in the Negro in Pittsburgh. The next day a ball leagues for seventeen years. He hit landed in a ballpark in Philadelphia. almost eight hundred home runs. It was more than two hundred miles Josh Gibson joined the Baseball away. People joked and said it must Hall of Fame in 1972. have been Gibson’s hit from the day before! Josh Gibson Josh Gibson 10 11 113307_001-012.indd3307_001-012.indd 1100 111/19/051/19/05 110:48:520:48:52 AAMM 113307_001-012.indd3307_001-012.indd 1111 111/19/051/19/05 110:49:060:49:06 AAMM These three great ballplayers Reader Response were kept out of the major leagues for many years. They were left out 1. How is baseball today different from because of the color of their skin. baseball in the past? Use a chart like the one below to organize your ideas. This was not fair. Their amazing skill showed that they belonged Baseball Today Baseball in the Past with the best. Today they are all in the Baseball Hall of Fame. 2. Read page 8. Try to picture in your mind what the words are describing to you. What do you see? Satchel Paige 3. Draw a picture to explain the meaning of the words plate on page 5, bases on page 7, and field on page 8. 4. Based on what you have read in this book, why do you think these players are in the Baseball Hall of Fame? 12 113307_001-012.indd13307_CVR.indd3307_0C0V1R-0.i1n2d.idn d CC-Dd - D 1122 111/19/051/19/05 110:49:150:49:15 AAMM 111/19/051/19/05 110:52:090:52:09 AAMM.
Recommended publications
  • Numbered Panel 1

    Numbered Panel 1

    PRIDE 1A 1B 1C 1D 1E The African-American Baseball Experience Cuban Giants season ticket, 1887 A f r i c a n -American History Baseball History Courtesy of Larry Hogan Collection National Baseball Hall of Fame Library 1 8 4 5 KNICKERBOCKER RULES The Knickerbocker Base Ball Club establishes modern baseball’s rules. Black Teams Become Professional & 1 8 5 0 s PLANTATION BASEBALL The first African-American professional teams formed in As revealed by former slaves in testimony given to the Works Progress FINDING A WAY IN HARD TIMES 1860 – 1887 the 1880s. Among the earliest was the Cuban Giants, who Administration 80 years later, many slaves play baseball on plantations in the pre-Civil War South. played baseball by day for the wealthy white patrons of the Argyle Hotel on Long Island, New York. By night, they 1 8 5 7 1 8 5 7 Following the Civil War (1861-1865), were waiters in the hotel’s restaurant. Such teams became Integrated Ball in the 1800s DRED SCOTT V. SANDFORD DECISION NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BA S E BA L L PL AY E R S FO U N D E D lmost as soon as the game’s rules were codified, Americans attractions for a number of resort hotels, especially in The Supreme Court allows slave owners to reclaim slaves who An association of amateur clubs, primarily from the New York City area, organizes. R e c o n s t ruction was meant to establish Florida and Arkansas. This team, formed in 1885 by escaped to free states, stating slaves were property and not citizens.
  • Black Diamond 1

    Black Diamond 1

    Black Diamond 1 Black Diamond “The Greatest Stories Never Told” Series Recommended for Ages 6-11 Grades 1-6 A Reproducible Learning Guide for Educators This guide is designed to help educators prepare for, enjoy, and discuss Black Diamond It contains background, discussion questions and activities appropriate for ages 6-11. Programs Are Made Possible, In Part, By Generous Gifts From: D.C. Commission on the Arts & Humanities DC Public Schools The Nora Roberts Foundation Philip L. Graham Fund PNC Foundation Smithsonian Women's Committee Smithsonian Youth Access Grants Program Sommer Endowment Discovery Theater ● P.O. Box 23293, Washington, DC ● www.discoverytheater.org Like us on Facebook ● Instagram: SmithsonianDiscoveryTheater ● Twitter: Smithsonian Kids Black Diamond 2 MEET SATCHEL PAIGE! Leroy “Satchel” Paige was born in Mobile, Alabama in 1906, the sixth of twelve children. His father was a gardener and his mother was a domestic worker. Some say Paige got his nickname while working as a baggage porter. He could carry so many suitcases (or satchels) at one time he looked like a “satchel tree.” At age 12, a truant officer caught Paige skipping school and stealing. As punishment, he was sent to industrial school. “It got me away from the bums.” He said later. “It gave me a chance to polish up my game. It gave me some schooling I’d of never taken if I wasn’t made to go to class.” PITCHING AND BARNSTORMING! Satchel Paige pitched his first Negro League game in 1924 with the semi-pro Mobile Tigers ball club. After a stretch with the Pittsburgh Crawfords, he went to the Kansas City Monarchs, helping them to win half a dozen pennants between the years 1939-1948.
  • MLB Curt Schilling Red Sox Jersey MLB Pete Rose Reds Jersey MLB

    MLB Curt Schilling Red Sox Jersey MLB Pete Rose Reds Jersey MLB

    MLB Curt Schilling Red Sox jersey MLB Pete Rose Reds jersey MLB Wade Boggs Red Sox jersey MLB Johnny Damon Red Sox jersey MLB Goose Gossage Yankees jersey MLB Dwight Goodin Mets jersey MLB Adam LaRoche Pirates jersey MLB Jose Conseco jersey MLB Jeff Montgomery Royals jersey MLB Ned Yost Royals jersey MLB Don Larson Yankees jersey MLB Bruce Sutter Cardinals jersey MLB Salvador Perez All Star Royals jersey MLB Bubba Starling Royals baseball bat MLB Salvador Perez Royals 8x10 framed photo MLB Rolly Fingers 8x10 framed photo MLB Joe Garagiola Cardinals 8x10 framed photo MLB George Kell framed plaque MLB Salvador Perez bobblehead MLB Bob Horner helmet MLB Salvador Perez Royals sports drink bucket MLB Salvador Perez Royals sports drink bucket MLB Frank White and Willie Wilson framed photo MLB Salvador Perez 2015 Royals World Series poster MLB Bobby Richardson baseball MLB Amos Otis baseball MLB Mel Stottlemyre baseball MLB Rod Gardenhire baseball MLB Steve Garvey baseball MLB Mike Moustakas baseball MLB Heath Bell baseball MLB Danny Duffy baseball MLB Frank White baseball MLB Jack Morris baseball MLB Pete Rose baseball MLB Steve Busby baseball MLB Billy Shantz baseball MLB Carl Erskine baseball MLB Johnny Bench baseball MLB Ned Yost baseball MLB Adam LaRoche baseball MLB Jeff Montgomery baseball MLB Tony Kubek baseball MLB Ralph Terry baseball MLB Cookie Rojas baseball MLB Whitey Ford baseball MLB Andy Pettitte baseball MLB Jorge Posada baseball MLB Garrett Cole baseball MLB Kyle McRae baseball MLB Carlton Fisk baseball MLB Bret Saberhagen baseball
  • The Timeless Collaboration of Artwork and Sports Cards

    The Timeless Collaboration of Artwork and Sports Cards

    op Ink& PAPER The timeless collaboration of artwork and sports cards BY DAVID LEE ports cards, like paintings, have no intrinsic value. Both are simply ink on paper. But as novelist Jerzy Kosiński wrote, “The prin- ciples of true art is not to portray, but to evoke.” SThe same can be said about sports cards. Like art, the value is not in what they’re made of. It’s in what they evoke. It’s how they make you feel. Art and cards are timeless. Both are creative expressions. They mark history and conjure memories. They tell stories and mold culture. To appreciate them requires imagination. Maybe that’s why they have collaborated so naturally for more than a century. From the colorized images on the early 1900s tobacco cards to the widely popular Topps Project 2020 today, sometimes art and sports cards are one in the same. op — 32 ART OF THE GAME — — ART OF THE GAME 33 — Ink& PAPER Launching the Modern Baseball Card op The evolution of baseball cards took a huge leap forward in the early 1950s as Topps and Bowman battled for dominance in the industry. Led by visionary executive Sy Berger, who is referred to as “the father of the modern baseball card,” Topps brought unique size, designs, player stats, and overall beautiful eye appeal to post-World War II baseball cards. Following the groundbreaking 1952 Topps set, the 1953 release derived its images from miniature oil paintings. The result is the most iconic uniting of artwork and sports cards ever produced. “I designed that 1953 card and was instrumental in getting the painting done,” Berger once told Sports Collectors Digest.
  • Kansas City Monarchs Is Baseball Jim-Crow

    Kansas City Monarchs Is Baseball Jim-Crow

    WHITE OWNER OF KANSAS CITY MONARCHS IS EAGER TO ELIMINATE BASEBALL JIM-CROW Honorable John Dobbs Wesley Opines Win Plaudits Of White Baseball Fans That Negroes, Given Chance On Diamond, Varied Views On Efforts To Have Will Duplicate Fame In Other Sports Discrimination Tradition Ended Guest Column By John Wesley Dobbs KANSAS CITY, Mo.—(ANP) — ing out of season for club in Mexi- would consider Negro players J. L. Wilkinson, co-owner of the co. In pinch-hitting for Lucius Jones Cuba, and South American today (Melancholy) Kansas City Monarchs, champions countries. UNUSUAL POSITION I first want to highly commend him for the splendid and in- of* the Negro Americans league, Clark Griffith, head of the Wash- telligent manner in which he has been putting up the fight gave approbation this week to the THINKS GIBSON WOULD CLICK Wilkinson said he believed ington American league club, ex- through the columns of the Atlanta World to plan of William E Daily get Benswanger, Josh pressed the opinion that ‘‘Negro of the Gibson, catcher for the Wash- Negro players in baseball. Pittsburgh Pirates, to give to major league ington Homestead Grays, would at- leagues ought build themselves Negro baseball players a out to where try tract next to Gib- up their topnotch clubs Yes, we are Americans as attention Paige. too, and such, we must con- with his team. Officials of major play the ma,or league top clubs for son is known as “the Babe Ruth of tend for equal opportunities in all legitimate and honorable league teams expressed themselves the world championship.” Negro baseball,” with a lifetime avenues of development in free America.
  • Biographical Description for the Historymakers® Video Oral History with Ernie Banks

    Biographical Description for the Historymakers® Video Oral History with Ernie Banks

    Biographical Description for The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History with Ernie Banks PERSON Banks, Ernie, 1931- Alternative Names: Ernie Banks; Ernest Banks Life Dates: January 31, 1931-January 23, 2015 Place of Birth: Dallas, Texas, USA Residence: Marina Del Rey, CA Occupations: Baseball Player Biographical Note Baseball player Ernie Banks was born in Dallas, Texas, on January 31, 1931. As legend has it, his father had to bribe young Ernie with nickels and dimes in order to get his son to play catch. An all-around athlete, Banks was a high school star in football, basketball and track. At age seventeen, he signed to play baseball with a Negro barnstorming team. Manager Cool Papa Bell recognized Banks’ talent and signed him to a contract with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Baseball League. City Monarchs of the Negro Baseball League. In 1953, Banks was recruited directly from the Negro League into the majors with the Chicago Cubs. He hit his first home run on September 20, 1953, beginning a long career as one of the Cubs’ most beloved players. From 1955 to 1960, Ernie Banks hit more homers than anyone in the majors, including Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, and he finished his career with five seasons of forty or more home runs. In 1959 he became the first player in National League history to win consecutive Most Valuable Player trophies, a year removed from setting an NL record for homers by a shortstop with forty-seven. After retiring from the major leagues as a career Cub in 1971, Banks became the first Cub to have his uniform number retired.
  • Printer-Friendly Version (PDF)

    Printer-Friendly Version (PDF)

    NAME STATISTIC NAME STATISTIC Jim Abbott No-Hitter 9/4/93 Ralph Branca 3x All-Star Bobby Abreu 2005 HR Derby Champion; 2x All-Star George Brett Hall of Fame - 1999 Tommie Agee 1966 AL Rookie of the Year Lou Brock Hall of Fame - 1985 Boston #1 Overall Prospect-Named 2008 Boston Minor Lars Anderson Tom Browning Perfect Game 9/16/88 League Off. P.O.Y. Sparky Anderson Hall of Fame - 2000 Jay Bruce 2007 Minor League Player of the Year Elvis Andrus Texas #1 Overall Prospect -shortstop Tom Brunansky 1985 All-Star; 1987 WS Champion Luis Aparicio Hall of Fame - 1984 Bill Buckner 1980 NL Batting Champion Luke Appling Hall of Fame - 1964 Al Bumbry 1973 AL Rookie of the Year Richie Ashburn Hall of Fame - 1995 Lew Burdette 1957 WS MVP; b. 11/22/26 d. 2/6/07 Earl Averill Hall of Fame - 1975 Ken Caminiti 1996 NL MVP; b. 4/21/63 d. 10/10/04 Jonathan Bachanov Los Angeles AL Pitching prospect Bert Campaneris 6x All-Star; 1st to Player all 9 Positions in a Game Ernie Banks Hall of Fame - 1977 Jose Canseco 1986 AL Rookie of the Year; 1988 AL MVP Boston #4 Overall Prospect-Named 2008 Boston MiLB Daniel Bard Steve Carlton Hall of Fame - 1994 P.O.Y. Philadelphia #1 Overall Prospect-Winning Pitcher '08 Jesse Barfield 1986 All-Star and Home Run Leader Carlos Carrasco Futures Game Len Barker Perfect Game 5/15/81 Joe Carter 5x All-Star; Walk-off HR to win the 1993 WS Marty Barrett 1986 ALCS MVP Gary Carter Hall of Fame - 2003 Tim Battle New York AL Outfield prospect Rico Carty 1970 Batting Champion and All-Star 8x WS Champion; 2 Bronze Stars & 2 Purple Hearts Hank
  • Achieve Gr. 6-A League of Their

    Achieve Gr. 6-A League of Their

    5/17/2021 Achieve3000: Lesson Printed by: Thomas Dietz Printed on: May 17, 2021 A League of Their Own Article RED BANK, New Jersey (Achieve3000, May 5, 2021). From 1920 into the 1950s, summer Sundays in parts of Kansas City revolved around Black baseball games. Families dressed in their best. Crowds by the thousands gravitated to the stadium. Fans watched their Kansas City Monarchs play the Chicago American Giants, the Homestead Grays, or the Newark Eagles. It was more than a joyful day out at the ballgame. It was a celebration. That scene captures the excitement of the "Negro Leagues," as they were known at the time. In that era, segregation policies blocked Black citizens from enjoying many aspects of American life. This included Major League Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matty Baseball. Black baseball teams were a source of fun and community pride. Zimmerman, File In this photo from 1942, Kansas City Chicago-based Andrew "Rube" Foster had the grand vision to launch the Monarchs pitcher Leroy Satchel Negro National League. It started in 1920 with eight teams. In 1933, the Paige warms up before a Negro League game. New Negro National League was founded, followed by the Negro American League. The financial fortunes of the Negro Leagues would ebb and flow over the next three decades. But their popularity and high-level of play stayed strong. Between World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945), baseball's place as America's national pastime was indisputable. The segregated Major Leagues fielded Hall of Fame legends like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Dazzy Vance.
  • Sports Figures Price Guide

    Sports Figures Price Guide

    SPORTS FIGURES PRICE GUIDE All values listed are for Mint (white jersey) .......... 16.00- David Ortiz (white jersey). 22.00- Ching-Ming Wang ........ 15 Tracy McGrady (white jrsy) 12.00- Lamar Odom (purple jersey) 16.00 Patrick Ewing .......... $12 (blue jersey) .......... 110.00 figures still in the packaging. The Jim Thome (Phillies jersey) 12.00 (gray jersey). 40.00+ Kevin Youkilis (white jersey) 22 (blue jersey) ........... 22.00- (yellow jersey) ......... 25.00 (Blue Uniform) ......... $25 (blue jersey, snow). 350.00 package must have four perfect (Indians jersey) ........ 25.00 Scott Rolen (white jersey) .. 12.00 (grey jersey) ............ 20 Dirk Nowitzki (blue jersey) 15.00- Shaquille O’Neal (red jersey) 12.00 Spud Webb ............ $12 Stephen Davis (white jersey) 20.00 corners and the blister bubble 2003 SERIES 7 (gray jersey). 18.00 Barry Zito (white jersey) ..... .10 (white jersey) .......... 25.00- (black jersey) .......... 22.00 Larry Bird ............. $15 (70th Anniversary jersey) 75.00 cannot be creased, dented, or Jim Edmonds (Angels jersey) 20.00 2005 SERIES 13 (grey jersey ............... .12 Shaquille O’Neal (yellow jrsy) 15.00 2005 SERIES 9 Julius Erving ........... $15 Jeff Garcia damaged in any way. Troy Glaus (white sleeves) . 10.00 Moises Alou (Giants jersey) 15.00 MCFARLANE MLB 21 (purple jersey) ......... 25.00 Kobe Bryant (yellow jersey) 14.00 Elgin Baylor ............ $15 (white jsy/no stripe shoes) 15.00 (red sleeves) .......... 80.00+ Randy Johnson (Yankees jsy) 17.00 Jorge Posada NY Yankees $15.00 John Stockton (white jersey) 12.00 (purple jersey) ......... 30.00 George Gervin .......... $15 (whte jsy/ed stripe shoes) 22.00 Randy Johnson (white jersey) 10.00 Pedro Martinez (Mets jersey) 12.00 Daisuke Matsuzaka ....
  • Satchel Paige and the Kansas City Swing

    Satchel Paige and the Kansas City Swing

    2015 – 2016 SEASON SATCHEL PAIGE AND THE KANSAS CITY SWING CONTENTS 2 The 411 3 A/S/L & HTH by Trey Ellis and Ricardo Khan 4 FYI Directed by Ricardo Khan 6 F2F 7 RBTL 8 B4U 9 RMAI 10 IRL 11 RBTL 12 SWDYT MAJOR SPONSOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BY STUDENT MATINEE SPONSOR WELCOME! At The Rep, we know The desire to learn, insatiable when awakened, can that life moves sometimes lie dormant until touched by the right teacher or fast—okay, really the right experience. We at The Rep are grateful to have the fast. But we also opportunity to play a role supporting you as you awaken the know that some desire for learning in your students. things are worth Baseball has been used as a backdrop for stories about slowing down for. We believe that live theatre is dreams, choices and life. We have seen characters rise and one of those pit stops worth making and are excited that you fall based on fate’s pitches, hit or missed. This play gives are going to stop by for a show. To help you get the most bang your students a character built on one of baseball’s greats. for your buck, we have put together WU? @ THE REP—an His story gives us a picture of changing times, life's choices, IM guide that will give you everything you need to know to consequences and dreams lost and realized. get at the top of your theatergoing game—fast. You’ll find character descriptions (A/S/L), a plot summary (FYI), It would be a good idea to take a minute to give your biographical information (F2F), historical context (B4U), students these quick theatre etiquette reminders: and other bits and pieces (HTH).
  • Book Review “The Making of Heroes”

    Book Review “The Making of Heroes”

    Book Review “The Making of Heroes” ©DiamondsintheDusk.com How the 1943 Black Phillies Broke Baseball’s Color Line by Wilt Browning Alywn Featherston is a nationally recognized expert on mili- tary battles, particularly those of the Civil War and World War II. Now Featherston, a sports writer for more than 40 years, must also be considered an authority on major league baseball history, thanks to his newest book, a novel entitled The Makings of Heroes: How the 1943 Black Phillies Broke Baseball’s Color Line (Out- skirtspress, 300 pages, $17.95). What makes The Makings of Heroes important is simply be- cause the tale that Featherston skillfully spins is so believable. In an intriguing way, the old sports writer weaves his team of fantasy, the major leagues’ first integrated big league club that includes some of the greatest stars ever of the old Negro Leagues, with the National League teams and the national and world events of the day. Perhaps more importantly, his work gives voice to the racial prejudices of the day that doomed heroic baseball players such as Buck Leonard, Cool Papa Bell and Josh Gibson to a lifetime of exile from baseball’s greatest stage, the big leagues. All of it takes place four years before Jackie Robinson broke the color line as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers. In that way, the contrast between what actually happened (Robinson) and what Featherston imagines in his work is starkly different and, if anything, even more interesting. It begs the question of whether baseball and American sports would have been bettered served in this social transformation by one man (again Robinson), or by a team made up in large part by stars from the Negro Leagues such as the Black Phil- lies.
  • Civil Rights & Baseball

    Civil Rights & Baseball

    1942: Satchel Paige strikes out Josh Gibson on three pitches with bases loaded CIVIL RIGHTS & BASEBALL A COMPARATIVE TIMELINE 1900’s: Jim Crow Laws 1920: Negro National 1931: Josh Gibson hits over April 15, 1947: Jackie Robinson breaks 1953: Toni Stone becomes 1960s: Fold of the last Negro force black players League formed at the 70 HR and leads Homestead the color barrier making his debut with the first woman in black Leagues teams. As baseball (Moses Fleetwood Kansas City YMCA by Grays to 138-6 record the Brooklyn Dodgers becoming the baseball, 2nd base for integrated, the connection Walker, Bud Fowler) from Andrew ‘Rube’ Foster first African American player in modern Indianapolis Clowns can be made to the economic professional teams with baseball history impact and the decline of white players black businesses 1924: Kansas City 1932: Pittsburgh Crawfords Monarchs win the were created and housed 1947: Larry Doby, 1948: Satchel Paige makes first Negro League in their own ballpark with becomes the first Major League debut 1962: Former Kansas City Monarch manager World Series their own permanent lights African American Buck O’Neil becomes the majors’ first black player in the 1949: Jackie Robinson wins manager with the Chicago Cubs American League the NL batting title and MVP 1860 1900 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 2020 1861: 1910-1920: Great 1921: Tulsa Race 1942: The Tuskegee Airmen 1955: Rosa Parks refuses August 6, 1965: Voting Rights Act June 1980: June 19, 2020: Civil War Migration begins of Massacre were the first black military aviators to give up her seat on a overcame state and local legal barriers Texas declares 155th anniversary Starts blacks to the North in the U.S.