Lew Freedman is a sportswriter with the Chicago Tribune. He has worked as an award-winning journalist with the Anchorage Daily News and is the author of over 21 books.

"The careers of 20 athletes, inlcuding Ray Campanella, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron, are highlighted with reference to their contributions to the Negro Leagues and/or major league baseball mid-century, when their impact on the sport was most dramatic. The author's anecdotal style is especially affecting in describing his subjects, their struggles with racism, and their travails." - Curriculum Connections

• Preface viiIntroduction xiTimeline xviiBuck O'Neil (November 13, 1911–October 6, 2006) 1Judy Johnson (October 26, 1899–June 15, 1989) 17Buck Leonard (September 8, 1907–November 27, 1997) 27Cool Papa Bell (May 17, 1903–March 7, 1991) 41Josh Gibson (December 21, 1911–January 20, 1947) 53Jackie Robinson (January 31, 1919–October 24, 1972) 67Roy Campanella (November 19, 1921–June 26, 1993) 83Don Newcombe (June 14, 1926– ) 99Larry Doby (December 13, 1923–June 18, 2003) 109Satchel Paige (July 7, 1906–June 8, 1982) 119Monte Irvin (February 25, 1919– ) 135Willie Mays (May 6, 1931– ) 151Willie McCovey (January 10, 1938– ) 169Ernie Banks (January 31, 1931– ) 183Elston Howard (February 23, 1929–December 14, 1980) 195Minnie Minoso (November 29, 1922– ) 209Frank Robinson (August 31, 1935– ) 223Bob Gibson (November 9, 1935– ) 237Curt Flood (January 18, 1938–January 20, 1997) 249Hank Aaron (February 5, 1934– ) 263Bibliography 281Index 289

Lew Freedman is a sportswriter with the Chicago Tribune. He has worked as an award-winning journalist with the Anchorage Daily News and is the author of over 21 books.

"The careers of 20 athletes, inlcuding Ray Campanella, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron, are highlighted with reference to their contributions to the Negro Leagues and/or major league baseball mid-century, when their impact on the sport was most dramatic. The author's anecdotal style is especially affecting in describing his subjects, their struggles with racism, and their travails." - Curriculum Connections

• Preface viiIntroduction xiTimeline xviiBuck O'Neil (November 13, 1911–October 6, 2006) 1Judy Johnson (October 26, 1899–June 15, 1989) 17Buck Leonard (September 8, 1907–November 27, 1997) 27Cool Papa Bell (May 17, 1903–March 7, 1991) 41Josh Gibson (December 21, 1911–January 20, 1947) 53Jackie Robinson (January 31, 1919–October 24, 1972) 67Roy Campanella (November 19, 1921–June 26, 1993) 83Don Newcombe (June 14, 1926– ) 99Larry Doby (December 13, 1923–June 18, 2003) 109Satchel Paige (July 7, 1906–June 8, 1982) 119Monte Irvin (February 25, 1919– ) 135Willie Mays (May 6, 1931– ) 151Willie McCovey (January 10, 1938– ) 169Ernie Banks (January 31, 1931– ) 183Elston Howard (February 23, 1929–December 14, 1980) 195Minnie Minoso (November 29, 1922– ) 209Frank Robinson (August 31, 1935– ) 223Bob Gibson (November 9, 1935– ) 237Curt Flood (January 18, 1938–January 20, 1997) 249Hank Aaron (February 5, 1934– ) 263Bibliography 281Index 289