Beyond Baseball’s Color Barrier
Channel: US National Archives
Date: 2023-01-18

Beyond Baseball’s Color Barrier: The Story of African Americans in Major League Baseball, Past, Present, and Future

In Beyond Baseball's Color Barrier, author Rocco Constantino chronicles the history of generations of ballplayers, showing how African Americans have influenced baseball from the 1800s to the present. He details how the color line was drawn, the efforts made to erode it, and the progress toward Jackie Robinson’s debut. Personal accounts and colorful stories trace the exponential growth of diversity in the sport since integration, from a boom in participation in the 1970s to peak participation in the early 1990s. Beyond Baseball's Color Barrier not only explores the stories of icons like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Satchel Paige but also considers contributions made by players like Vida Blue, Mudcat Grant, and Dwight Gooden. Exclusive interviews with former players and individuals involved in the game add firsthand expert insight into the history of the topic and what the future holds.

All American: The Power of Sports and programs presented in conjunction with the exhibit are made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of AT&T, AARP, and Mars, Incorporated. Additional support provided by HISTORY® and the Lawrence F. O’Brien Family.

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