The first African American to play in baseball’s recognized major leagues, William Edward White, appeared in 1879, followed by brothers Fleetwood and Welday Walker in 1884. The fourth African American, Jackie Robinson, did not make his major league debut until 1947. This sixty-three year gap has become known as the era of
black baseball –a time when two generations of African American players were excluded from the existing major leagues. This anthology provides insights into black baseball during this extraordinary time, examining the socio-economic and political conditions that created this remarkably distinctive institution, and spotlighting players who characterized its special flavor and spirit. Based on forty years of research and hundreds of interviews with surviving participants and observers, these articles preserve a crucial time in our country’s history and provide a thoughtful, new perspective on the Negro Leagues.