Leagues Apart: The Men and Times of the Negro Baseball Leagues [School & Library Binding]

Lawrence S. Ritter (Author), Richard Merkin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1999 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A celebration of the Negro Leagues and their most notable players explains the segregation laws that resulted in their formation while presenting the stories of such individuals as Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and James Bell.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the start of his concise yet conversational chronicle, Ritter (The Glory of Their Times) bluntly explains the need for the Negro Leagues, founded in 1920: "Prejudiced team owners, encouraged by bigoted players, established racist rules that prevented black athletes from playing in the major leagues, regardless of their skills." Into his story of the different Leagues' history, Ritter weaves brief biographical sketches of such key players as Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige. Helping to flesh out these athletes and offering a stylized view of the era are handsome, vibrantly hued oil pastel portraits by New Yorker artist Merkin. As Ritter's account of what he terms an "ugly and shameful chapter in American history" draws to a close, readers will cheer the decision of Branch Rickey, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, to desegregate his team in 1945. (Rickey immediately hired the now-legendary Jackie Robinson.) This respectful tribute makes a worthwhile addition to any young ballplayer's library. All ages.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4?While there are more substantive titles on the subject available, this appealingly illustrated offering presents a brief history of the Negro Leagues, basically through the introduction of some of their stellar performers. Along with the player profiles, Ritter brings to light the trauma and tribulations these men had to go through in order to play. He invites readers to draw their own conclusions on how these individuals would have fared in the Major Leagues, if the teams had been integrated at the time. He fittingly concludes: "It may be too late to compensate these fine athletes for what they lost through no fault of their own, but the least we can do is remember their names and honor their memories." Merkin makes a very successful picture-book debut. His oil pastels, many of which are full-page portraits, are rich and vibrant, helping bring to life the people and the era. Leagues Apart is a fine melding of text and illustration that makes accessible an important part of baseball history. Michael Cooper's Playing America's Game (Lodestar, 1993) and Robert Gardner and Dennis Shortelle's Forgotten Players (Walker, 1993) are quality titles about the Negro Leagues for older audiences.?Tom S. Hurlburt, La Crosse Public Library, WI
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• School & Library Binding
• Publisher: Topeka Bindery (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0613181832
• ISBN-13: 978-0613181839
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,517,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fields of Racism: Excellent Book for Children, November 9, 2000

By 

M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Leagues Apart: The Men and Times of the Negro Baseball Leagues (Paperback)

This fascinating account of pre integration baseball is a treasure. Not only does it introduce young readers (and parents not familiar with the "Negro Leagues") to great, almost legendary African-American players including Leroy "Satchel" Paige, Josh White, James "Cool Papa" Bell, Josh Gibson, and Jackie Robinson (as well as the Cuban-born Martin Dihigo, Jose Mendez, and Crisobal Torriente), but it explains segregation with facts and an appropriate tone of compassion and a sense of injustice:

"Before about 1950, if you were black and wanted to earn a living playing baseball, you were not allowed to play on the same team with white ballplayers. Prejudiced team owners, encouraged by bigoted players, established racist rules that prevented black athletes from playing in the major leagues, regardless of their skills."

The book also explains how Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier when Branch Rickey hired him to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. The book mentions the insults that Robinson endured (though not detailing them) as he paved the way for other early major league stars who came from the Negro Leagues (for example, Roy Campanella, Monte Irvin, Ernie Banks, and Elston Howard).

This initial integration spelled the eventual end of the Negro Leagues. Still, in one poignant quotation from Gene Benson, an outfielder with the Bacharach Giants and the Philadelphia Stars, famed baseball author Lawrence Ritter captures the accomplishments of these often unheralded players: "We never thought about the major leagues. We never dreamed that it would come true. But I know we were the pioneers. Without our league, where would Robinson have come from? If we weren't out there suffering and struggling, they wouldn't have any blacks in there now."

Although written primarily for kids, I would have liked to see photos (in addition to the excellent drawings) of the players, and, when known, their stats. For a more detailed look at the game, try Robert Peterson's great "Only the Ball Was White." This, however, is an excellent (if somewhat too brief) look at an era when "The National Pastime's" most prestigious (and highest paying) league excluded players on the basis of race.