african american baseball players

Looks at the life and career of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American baseball player to play for the major leagues.

"On October 2nd, 1977, Glenn Burke, outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, made history without even swinging a bat. When his teammate Dusty Baker hit a historic home run, Glenn enthusiastically congratulated him with the first ever high five. But Glenn also made history in another way--he was the first openly gay MLB player. While he did not come out publicly until after his playing days were over, Glenn's sexuality was known to his teammates, family, and friends. His MLB career would be cut short after only three years, but his legacy and impact on the athletic and LGBTQIA+ community would resonate for years to come. New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss tells the story of Glenn Burke: from his childhood growing up in Oakland, his journey to the MLB and the World Series, the joy in discovering who he really was, to more difficult times: facing injury, addiction, and the AIDS epidemic"--From the publisher's web site.

Introduces the Negro Leagues of baseball, highlighting the players, coaches, owners, and teams that dominated the leagues during the 1930s and 1940s.

"In an era of discrimination, Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball's race barrier. Facing harassment, he stayed focused on the game, becoming the MLB Rookie of the Year in 1947 and later a baseball legend"--Provided by publisher.

Satchel Paige was an enormously popular pitcher whose career spanned nearly thirty seasons across numerous teams. When he joined the Cleveland Indians in 1948, he became the oldest major league rookie on a major league team, and he was the first Negro league player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Paige is often considered one of the most talented and entertaining pitchers of any race to have ever played baseball. This engaging narrative of both his successes and struggles introduces young readers to America's complicated racial and political landscape in the early twentieth century.

Leonard's story illuminates the unique challenges Negro League players faced in a time of segregation and racism.

"Mamie 'Peanut' Johnson had one dream: to play professional baseball. She was a talented player, but she wasn't welcome on the all-white Girls Pro Baseball League team due to the color of her skin. However, a greater opportunity came her way in 1953 when Johnson signed to play ball with the Negro Leagues' Indianapolis Clowns, becoming the only professional female pitcher to play on a men's team. During the three years she played with the team, her record was an impressive 33-8. But more importantly, she broke ground for female pitchers like Mo'ne Davis and women everywhere"--Provided by publisher.

"Born in 1919--learn how civil rights activist Fred Korematsu stood up against injustices to Japanese Americans and how professional baseball player Jackie Robinson challenged segregation. Aligned with curriculum standards, this book also highlights . . . 21st Century content: Global Awareness, Civic Literacy, and Economic Literacy. Thought-provoking content and a hands-on activity encourage critical thinking and civic engagement. Book includes table of contents, glossary of key words, index, author biography, sidebars, and timeline"--Provided by publisher.

"In the early 1900s, African Americans faced widespread discrimination. Professional baseball leagues banned Black ballplayers. So African Americans formed their own professional baseball leagues. 'The Negro Leagues' explores the history of these leagues and their legacy today"--Provided by publisher.

Explores the way the iconic and groundbreaking baseball player brought Americans together in a time of social unrest.