"This exceptional work documents the early history of Black baseball in the United States.excellent essays provide context, covering the value of baseball to company employees and how Black baseball was portrayed in the (predominantly white) media.this groundbreaking reference source serves as a memoir of those who pioneered the sport, despite odds against them"-- Booklist ; "Brunson delivers an extraordinarily well researched guide to African American history in baseball.the level of detail and commitment to this research is impressive.this highly recommended set offers insight into the cultural, political, and historical aspects of African American baseball"-- Choice ; "a comprehensive collection of biographies. With many think pieces bemoaning the overwhelming 'whiteness' of the national pastime, this title on the black experience with baseball, between the years 1858 and 1900, is timely. Essays explore historical and cultural events that impacted the sport."-- Library Journal ; "A well-researched, ground-breaking guide to African American history in baseball.

"-- Reference and User Services Association ; "a monumental work"-- The Courier ; "[A] tour de force. James Brunson devoted thirty years to this project, and it shows. We finally have the identification and bringing together of the myriad of teams and many hundreds of black pioneers of baseball who contributed to the birth of the sport. [F]ills an important gap that those interested in the history of the great American pastime, the story of black baseball, cultural studies, and the African-American struggle will find of immense value."--Donald Spivey, Distinguished Professor of History, University of Miami, author of "If You Were Only White:" The Life of Leroy "Satchel" Paige ; "A monument in baseball literature."--John Thorn, official historian of Major League Baseball.