Black Diamond: The Story of the Negro Baseball Leagues facts for kids
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| Author | Patricia McKissack, Fredrick McKissack, Jr. |
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| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Children's literature, History of baseball |
| Published | 1994 (Scholastic Press) |
| Media type | Print (hardback, paperback) |
| Pages | 184 |
| ISBN | 9780590458092 |
| OCLC | 28221299 |
Black Diamond: The Story of the Negro Baseball Leagues is a book from 1994 by Patricia McKissack and Fredrick McKissack, Jr. It tells the amazing story of how African Americans and Latin Americans played baseball in the United States. This book explores a special time in sports history when these players created their own leagues.
Contents
About the Book
This book, Black Diamond, dives into the history of baseball before the sport was fully integrated. It explains how talented African American and Latin American players were not allowed to play in the major leagues because of unfair rules. So, they formed their own teams and leagues.
The book covers many important parts of this history. It talks about the challenges these players faced. It also celebrates their incredible skill and passion for the game. The authors share stories of famous players and teams. They show how these leagues became a big part of their communities.
What Were the Negro Baseball Leagues?
The Negro Baseball Leagues were professional baseball leagues in the United States. They were formed by and for African American and Latin American players. This happened during a time when racial segregation was common. This meant Black players were not allowed to play in the main Major League Baseball teams.
These leagues started in the late 1800s. They grew very popular in the early to mid-1900s. They had many talented players who became legends. The leagues gave these athletes a chance to play at a high level. They also entertained millions of fans.
Why Were These Leagues Important?
The Negro Baseball Leagues were very important for several reasons. First, they showed the world the amazing talent of Black and Latin American baseball players. Many of these players were just as good, or even better, than those in the white major leagues.
Second, these leagues were a source of pride and entertainment for their communities. Games were often big social events. They brought people together. The teams traveled all over the country. They played in front of huge crowds.
Finally, the leagues helped pave the way for integration in baseball. When Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, he was a former Negro Leagues star. His success showed that Black players belonged in Major League Baseball. This eventually led to the end of the Negro Leagues.
Who Wrote the Book?
The book was written by Patricia McKissack and Fredrick McKissack, Jr. Patricia McKissack was a very famous American author. She wrote many books for children and young adults. Her books often focused on African American history and culture.
Fredrick McKissack, Jr. is her son. He also writes books, often with his mother. Together, they worked to bring this important part of baseball history to young readers. They wanted to make sure these stories were not forgotten.
