The Indianapolis ABCs: History of a Premier Team in the Negro Leagues [Hardcover]

Paul Debono (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1997

The Indianapolis ABCs were formed at the turn of the century, playing company teams around the city; they soon played other, including some white, teams in Indiana. When the Negro National League was formed in 1920, Indianapolis was a charter member. But player raids by the Eastern Colored League, formed in 1923, hurt the ABCs and by the Depression the team was fading. The team was briefly resurrected as a Negro league team in the late 1930s, but was otherwise relegated to the semiprofessional ranks until its demise in the 1940s. Through contemporary newspaper accounts, extensive research and interviews with the few former ABC players still living, this is the story of the Indianapolis team and the rise of Negro league baseball. The work includes a roster of ABC players, with short biographies of the most prominent.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"a major contribution to our literature about the Negro Leagues" -- Sports Collectors Digest

"player biographies, ABC statistics, and ABC game scores [are] valuable contributions to...the still-uncharted waters of Negro League baseball" -- Choice

About the Author

A long time resident of Indianapolis, Paul Debono is an amateur baseball historian and member of SABR. He is the author of The Chicago American Giants (2006) and lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 239 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (July 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786403675
• ISBN-13: 978-0786403677
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,237,936 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Indianapolis ABCs: ...", October 10, 2000

By 

John C. Haffner (ZIONSVILLE, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Indianapolis ABCs: History of a Premier Team in the Negro Leagues (Hardcover)

What a treasure for all fans of Negro League Baseball and history buffs who study Indianapolis history. Paul Debono has unearthed lots of valuable information from many different sources. I especially enjoyed learning that many famous Black entertainers were part of early Negro Leagues Baseball. Paul also includes information about several other early Indiana baseball teams, Negro and otherwise. A fabulous, must-read book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Work on an Important Team, September 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Indianapolis ABCs: History of a Premier Team in the Negro Leagues (Hardcover)

DeBono's book joins "Fair Dealing & Clean Playing" (history of the Hilldale club) in the realm of near-perfect Negro leagues team histories.

Anyone who decides to research Negro leagues history dons the pith hat and shovel of an archeologist. DeBono takes to the task well unearthing historical gems from the pages of previously unexplored newspaper archives. He also takes considerable care to delve into the relationship between the team and the community.

This extensively sourced and well-referenced text is indepensible for Negro leagues historians but would appeal on some level to those with a more casual interest in black baseball history.