Back to Search

Oscar Charleston: The Life and Legend of Baseball's Greatest Forgotten Player

AUTHOR Beer, Jeremy
PUBLISHER University of Nebraska Press (04/01/2021)
PRODUCT TYPE Paperback (Paperback)
Description
  • Winner of the SABR Seymour Medal
  • Casey Award for Best Baseball Book of the Year by Spitball Magazine
  • Winner of SABR's Larry Ritter and Robert Peterson Awards
Buck O'Neil once described him as "Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, and Tris Speaker rolled into one." Among experts he is regarded as the best player in Negro Leagues history. During his prime he became a legend in Cuba and one of Black America's most popular figures. Yet even among serious sports fans, Oscar Charleston is virtually unknown today.

In a long career spanning from 1915 to 1954, Charleston played against, managed, befriended, and occasionally fought men such as Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Jesse Owens, Roy Campanella, and Branch Rickey. He displayed tremendous power, speed, and defensive instincts along with a fierce intelligence and commitment to his craft.
While Charleston never played in the Major Leagues, he was a trailblazer who became the first Black man to work as a scout for a Major League team when Branch Rickey hired him to evaluate players for the Dodgers. Charleston's combined record as a player, manager, and scout makes him the most accomplished figure in Black baseball history. His mastery of the quintessentially American sport under the conditions of segregation revealed what was possible for Black achievement, bringing hope to millions. Oscar Charleston introduces readers to one of America's greatest and most fascinating athletes.

Show More
Product Format
Product Details
ISBN-13: 9781496224965
ISBN-10: 1496224965
Binding: Paperback or Softback (Trade Paperback (Us))
Content Language: English
More Product Details
Page Count: 456
Carton Quantity: 16
Product Dimensions: 6.00 x 1.02 x 9.00 inches
Weight: 1.40 pound(s)
Feature Codes: Bibliography, Index, Price on Product
Country of Origin: US
Subject Information
BISAC Categories
Biography & Autobiography | Sports
Biography & Autobiography | Baseball - History
Biography & Autobiography | Cultural & Ethnic Studies - American - African American & Bl
Dewey Decimal: B
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019006779
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
publisher marketing
  • Winner of the SABR Seymour Medal
  • Casey Award for Best Baseball Book of the Year by Spitball Magazine
  • Winner of SABR's Larry Ritter and Robert Peterson Awards
Buck O'Neil once described him as "Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, and Tris Speaker rolled into one." Among experts he is regarded as the best player in Negro Leagues history. During his prime he became a legend in Cuba and one of Black America's most popular figures. Yet even among serious sports fans, Oscar Charleston is virtually unknown today.

In a long career spanning from 1915 to 1954, Charleston played against, managed, befriended, and occasionally fought men such as Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Jesse Owens, Roy Campanella, and Branch Rickey. He displayed tremendous power, speed, and defensive instincts along with a fierce intelligence and commitment to his craft.
While Charleston never played in the Major Leagues, he was a trailblazer who became the first Black man to work as a scout for a Major League team when Branch Rickey hired him to evaluate players for the Dodgers. Charleston's combined record as a player, manager, and scout makes him the most accomplished figure in Black baseball history. His mastery of the quintessentially American sport under the conditions of segregation revealed what was possible for Black achievement, bringing hope to millions. Oscar Charleston introduces readers to one of America's greatest and most fascinating athletes.

Show More
List Price $21.95
Your Price  $21.73
Paperback