William A. Young, SABR member, is an emeritus professor of religious studies at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and the author of John Tortes “Chief” Meyers: A Baseball Biography (McFarland, 2012) and several books on the world’s religions. He lives in Columbia, Missouri.

“A fantastic addition to [the Negro Leagues] segment of baseball literature...long overdue...this important story needs to be told and William A. Young has done a phenomenal job in telling it... the author has done an exceptional job of letting Wilkinson’s record as a businessman, baseball man and human speak for itself... a thorough biography of a remarkable man”—Nine

• Table of ContentsPreface and AcknowledgmentsPrologue: “A Thrilling and Fascinating Epic”1. Early Life and a Start in Baseball (1878–1911)2. Breaking New Ground—The ­All-Nations Team (1912–1919)3. Founding the Monarchs and the Negro National League (1920–1923)4. Negro National League and World Champions (1924–1929)5. The Innovator—Night Baseball and Barnstorming (1930–1936)6. Joining the Negro American League (1937–1938)7. J. L. Wilkinson and the Rebirth of Satchel Paige (1938–1939)8. The “Black Yankees”—The Monarchs Reach Their Peak (1940–1945)9. J. L. Wilkinson, Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Baseball (1945)10. Final Years for Wilkinson and the Monarchs (1946–1964)Epilogue: The Long Road to CooperstownAppendix: Kansas City Monarchs Rosters and Records During the J. L. Wilkinson Era (1920–1948)Chapter Notes BibliographyIndex

William A. Young, SABR member, is an emeritus professor of religious studies at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and the author of John Tortes “Chief” Meyers: A Baseball Biography (McFarland, 2012) and several books on the world’s religions. He lives in Columbia, Missouri.

“A fantastic addition to [the Negro Leagues] segment of baseball literature...long overdue...this important story needs to be told and William A. Young has done a phenomenal job in telling it... the author has done an exceptional job of letting Wilkinson’s record as a businessman, baseball man and human speak for itself... a thorough biography of a remarkable man”—Nine

• Table of ContentsPreface and AcknowledgmentsPrologue: “A Thrilling and Fascinating Epic”1. Early Life and a Start in Baseball (1878–1911)2. Breaking New Ground—The ­All-Nations Team (1912–1919)3. Founding the Monarchs and the Negro National League (1920–1923)4. Negro National League and World Champions (1924–1929)5. The Innovator—Night Baseball and Barnstorming (1930–1936)6. Joining the Negro American League (1937–1938)7. J. L. Wilkinson and the Rebirth of Satchel Paige (1938–1939)8. The “Black Yankees”—The Monarchs Reach Their Peak (1940–1945)9. J. L. Wilkinson, Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Baseball (1945)10. Final Years for Wilkinson and the Monarchs (1946–1964)Epilogue: The Long Road to CooperstownAppendix: Kansas City Monarchs Rosters and Records During the J. L. Wilkinson Era (1920–1948)Chapter Notes BibliographyIndex

William A. Young, SABR member, is an emeritus professor of religious studies at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and the author of John Tortes “Chief” Meyers: A Baseball Biography (McFarland, 2012) and several books on the world’s religions. He lives in Columbia, Missouri.

“A fantastic addition to [the Negro Leagues] segment of baseball literature...long overdue...this important story needs to be told and William A. Young has done a phenomenal job in telling it... the author has done an exceptional job of letting Wilkinson’s record as a businessman, baseball man and human speak for itself... a thorough biography of a remarkable man”—Nine

• Table of ContentsPreface and AcknowledgmentsPrologue: “A Thrilling and Fascinating Epic”1. Early Life and a Start in Baseball (1878–1911)2. Breaking New Ground—The ­All-Nations Team (1912–1919)3. Founding the Monarchs and the Negro National League (1920–1923)4. Negro National League and World Champions (1924–1929)5. The Innovator—Night Baseball and Barnstorming (1930–1936)6. Joining the Negro American League (1937–1938)7. J. L. Wilkinson and the Rebirth of Satchel Paige (1938–1939)8. The “Black Yankees”—The Monarchs Reach Their Peak (1940–1945)9. J. L. Wilkinson, Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Baseball (1945)10. Final Years for Wilkinson and the Monarchs (1946–1964)Epilogue: The Long Road to CooperstownAppendix: Kansas City Monarchs Rosters and Records During the J. L. Wilkinson Era (1920–1948)Chapter Notes BibliographyIndex