Baseball and the Color Line

by Thomas W. Gilbert

Traces the history of segregation in major league baseball, looks at the Negro Leagues, and recounts how Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1946

Genres: Baseball

Library Binding

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Brett Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baseball and the Color Line written by Thomas W. Gilbert is based on a true story about the baseball legend that made history named Jackie Robinson. This non-fictional book recounts the development of segregation in professional baseball and the various attempts to break the color barrier, starting in Jackie Robinson's joining the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie Robinson was a great baseball player. He worked hard and grinded his way to the top, eventually making it to the major leagues of baseball. Discrimination of black people and segregation were still going strong back when Jackie Robinson was playing baseball. He had to deal with being discriminated against all the time because of the color of his skin, making it difficult for him to be able to go anywhere safe. It definitely interfered with his baseball passion because he was only allowed to play in the Negro Leagues. Major League Baseball did not allow colored people to play in it at the time, so when Jackie Robinson fought his way into the league breaking the color barrier for the first time in history, he was beyond excited and grateful for his opportunity to be able to play the greatest sport in the world. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys baseball and history. It is definitely a good read that will get you hooked the moment you begin reading this incredibly written out story. Tom Gilbert did an awesome job portraying the struggles Jackie Robinson had to endure to make his dream come true.

[Ken Heard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baseball's integration didn't start with Jackie Robinson, but instead decades ago when baseball teams recognized that many African Americans could play the game as well, and probably better, than their white counterparts.

Tom Gilbert does a masterful job of researching baseball from its beginning and during the beginning of the 20th century. Black were 'allowed' to play on professional teams in the late 1800s, but were subjected to the vicious prejudice seen later during Robinson's career. Gilbert adds newspaper accounts to show the mentality of those days, along with letters and comments from owners and team coaches that help convey the tale.

He also incorporates the political mien of the time to give the reader a more comprehensive look at baseball in the society.

The only problem I had was at times the writing seemed toned down as if it were a report high school students with blocky, vague sentences seemed to be added to increase word count. Then, it'd pick up again. With its 176 pages, it's a quick read, but an important one that gives insight into what the country erroneously called "America's pastime" and its integration history.

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book "Baseball" and the Color Line was written by Thomas W. Gilbert. This usually details baseball and segregation at that time. It also details the impact of African-Americans in baseball. Legends like Jackie Robinson and Bud Fowler are heavily mentioned in this book. Satchel Paige, the first negro pitcher, has his biography in this book as well. He plays a major part in this story so look out for that.


I will keep this 100% straight with you. I strongly recommend for you to read this book. What made this compelling was its story and I've learned a lot from it. I even knew more about the game and its negro legends than I even knew in my whole life. If you want to read about how segregation and baseball collide, This would be the one.


My thoughts on this book are very attention grabbing. Tom Gilbert has a lot of talent in terms of his writing and perspective. This my first time reading a baseball book, Crazy right? Jackie Robinson was breaking a lot of records at his career in Brooklyn. All I can tell you is this book is really awesmome.