Out of the Shadows
Reviewed by Sanjeev A. Rao, Jr., Monmouth University and Brookdale Community College
JANUARY 16, 2006 archive
The early history of African Americans in baseball has received much more attention by scholars in the past twenty five years. Out of the Shadows is an outstanding compilation of twelve of the best articles that appeared in the journal NINE. NINE was founded by Bill Kirwin in 1992. One of its missions is "to offer an opportunity to explore the historical social implications of black baseball and its impact on the game and greater society in general." (p. ix). This collection of articles provides an excellent history of African American baseball from its origins to Jackie Robinson. Lest one believe that the issue of racism and the acceptance of African Americans in baseball ended with Jackie Robinson, an article entitled "Dick Allen, the Phillies, and Racism" by William Kashatus is included to show that some of the reprehensible attitudes that plagued African Americans since the founding of the American colonies persists.
Besides the well-known and well-documented story of Jackie Robinson, one can find interesting pieces of perhaps lesser known figures of African American baseball, such as Sol White, Mamie "Peanuts," and Effa Manley. This leads to my only complaint, albeit trivial: it would have been nice, but not necessary, to have photos of some of the individuals and teams that are discussed in this volume.
Beginning with the origin of the Cuban Giants in 1885 ("The Birth of the Cuban Giants: The Origins of Black Professional Baseball" by Jerry Malloy), the articles include baseball on the Northern Plains ("'Another Chink in Jim Crow?' Race and Baseball on the Northern Plains, 1900-1935" by Scott Roper). Several articles are devoted to Jackie Robinson and rightly so. These include an excellent piece, "When All Heaven Rejoiced: Branch Rickey and the Origins of the Breaking of the Color Line," by Lee Lowenfish, which chronicles Rickey's motivation for signing Robinson as going beyond economic reasons:
In breaking the color line, Rickey wouldn't deny the economic intent in the ditty about Robinson that circulated in the Negro press: "Jackie's nimble/Jackie's quick/Jackie makes the turnstiles click." But there is no doubt that Branch Rickey was genuinely happy to have opened up baseball for deserving, previously neglected Negro players.
Besides the early history of African American baseball, Jackie Robinson, and the role and importance of women in African American baseball, this anthology looks at social aspects and ramifications of baseball on the African American community. An excellent piece, "Baseball and Community: From Pittsburgh's Hill to San Pedro's Canefields" by Bob Ruck, outlines and compares the importance and the creation of a sense of community in two different worlds: the United States and the Dominican Republic.
Fittingly, this collection ends with a paean to Jackie Robinson in "Nine Principles of Successful Affirmative Action: Mr. Branch Rickey, Mr. Jackie Robinson, and the Integration of Baseball." I found this book to be far more interesting and insightful than Neil Lanctot's Negro League Baseball, a highly praised account of the same terrain. Iwould highly recommend this book just for learning more about our national pastime, even if it reminds us of a stained past. Note that it would work well in a sport and society academic course.
Kirwin, Bill, Editor. Out of the Shadows: African American Baseball from the
Cuban Giants to Jackie Robinson. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
2005. 216 pages. Paperback. $17.95.
Copyright © 2006 by Sanjeev A. Rao.