Richard Bogovich

Widely considered the best black player of the 19th century, Hall-of-Famer Frank Grant challenged baseball's color barrier in the 1880s to play for all-white professional teams--two of which fought a legal battle for his services. This first full-length biography documents Grant's career highlights, including successful games against Major League teams and at-bats against Hall-of-Fame pitchers. Stories overlooked for more than a century are examined, including a falsified anecdote that obscured one of Grant's best games from history. New light is shed on the early years of the Cuban Giants, the first black pro ball club.

The 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords team, one of the dominant teams in Negro League history, is often compared to the legendary 1927 "Murderer's Row" New York Yankees. The squad from "Smoketown"-a nickname that the Pittsburgh Courier often applied to the metropolis better-known as "Steel City"-boasted four Hall-of-Fame players in outfielder James "Cool Papa" Bell, first baseman/manager Oscar Charleston, catcher Josh Gibson, and third baseman William "Judy" Johnson. The team also included such stalwarts as Sam Bankhead, William Bell, Jimmie Crutchfield, Andrew "Pat" Patterson, Leroy Matlock, and Sam Streeter. With a roster full of such illustrious stars, it is easy to see why the Crawfords were dominant. Nonethless, the team unexpectedly had to scratch and claw its way to the Negro National League pennant by defeating the New York Cubans in a thrilling seven-game championship series.This book includes articles on the players from the 1935 squad, as well as one who was absent. The Crawfords might have dispatched the Cubans more easily had they retained the services of pitcher Satchel Paige, a fifth Hall of Famer who had been a member of their 1934 squad. However, Paige and Crawfords owner Gus Greenlee were at odds and Paige shunned the Crawfords in 1935, although his shadow still loomed large over the Pittsburgh franchise. In light of Paige's prominence and the fact that he had been expected to pitch for the Crawfords, a feature article about his accomplishments in 1935 and a game article about his failure to appear for game at Yankee Stadium in September of that year also are included here.This volume contains exhaustively-researched articles about the players, front office personnel, Greenlee Field, and the exciting games and history of the team that were written and edited by 25 SABR members. The inclusion of historical photos about every subject in the book helps to shine a spotlight on the 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords, who truly were the Pride of Smoketown. Biographies: SAM BANKHEAD by Dave WilkieJAMES (COOL PAPA) BELL by Dave WilkieWILLIAM BELL by Kevin Larkin and Frederick C. BushTED BOND by Richard BogovichERNEST "SPOON" CARTER by Frederick C. BushOSCAR CHARLESTON, PLAYER-MANAGER by Tim OdzerJIMMIE CRUTCHFIELD by William H. JohnsonROOSEVELT DAVIS by Jay HurdJOSH GIBSON by William H. JohnsonCURTIS "POPEYE" HARRIS by Wes SingletaryDAVID WILLIAM "BILL" HARVEY by Matthew CleverCARL HOWARD by Richard BogovichHOW WE HAPPENED UPON HOWARD: UNEXPECTED COLLABORATION LEADS TO INFORMATION ABOUT LITTLE-KNOWN NEGRO LEAGUE PITCHER by F.B., R.B., B.N.BERTRUM HUNTER by Paul HofmannWILLIAM "JUDY" JOHNSON by Thomas KernHARRY KINCANNON by Margaret M. GripshoverLEROY MATLOCK by Richard BogovichCLARENCE "SPOONY" PALM by Jon HensonANDREW "PAT" PATTERSON by William H. JohnsonBILL PERKINS by Bob LeMoineSAM STREETER by Alan CohenCHESTER WILLIAMS by David WilkieGUS GREENLEE, OWNER by Brian McKennaROY SPARROW, PUBLICITY MAN by Margaret M. GripshoverGREENLEE FIELD by Jeb StewartA NOTE ON ADDITIONAL PLAYERS WHO SOMETIMES APPEAR ON PITTSBURGH'S 1935 ROSTER by Frederick C. BushSPRING TRAINING FOR THE 1935 PITTSBURGH CRAWFORDS by Mark Blaeuer1935 PITTSBURGH CRAWFORDS SEASON TIMELINE by Bill NowlinAUGUST 11, 1935: THE EAST-WEST ALL-STAR GAME, COMISKEY PARK by Frederick C. BushSEPTEMBER 22, 1935: PAIGE TAKES THE MONEY BUT NOT THE MOUND IN 12-2 WIN OVER PHILADELPHIA STARS, YANKEE STADIUM by Mark S. SternmanTHE 1935 NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: PITTSBURGH CRAWFORDS V. NEW YORK CUBANS by Rich PuerzerGUS GREENLEE AND THE CRAWFORD GRILLS by Leslie HeaphyGUS GREENLEE AND THE EAST-WEST ALL-STAR GAME: ORIGINS AND CONFLICT (1932-1944) by Duke GoldmanWHERE WAS SATCHEL IN 1935? PAIGE AND GREENLEE FEUDED AS CRAWFORDS RULED THE NNL by Frederick C. BushKINGS OF THE HILL: THE STORY OF THE PITTSBURGH CRAWFORDS by Jeremy Be

This is the first full-length biography of Kid Nichols (1869-1953), who won 30 or more games a record seven times and was the youngest pitcher to reach 300 career victories. Much new light is shed on Nichols' early life in Madison, Wisconsin, along with important influences and experiences as a teenager living in Kansas City. Nichols' professional career is documented by drawing heavily from publications of the era and his own words. The high regard in which he was held by fans, teammates and even opponents is contrasted with his contentious relationship with team owners. Nichols' period of restlessness, ambition and risk-taking following his long stint with Boston's National League team is detailed, as is the campaign to get him into the Hall of Fame. The book includes previously unpublished photos from his descendants' archives, many more than a century old.

The British rock band The Who has been hailed as the world's greatest live rock and roll act, if not the greatest rock band, period. In the band's prime, its members--Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Keith Moon and Peter Townshend--frequently clashed, but their conflicts also resulted in ten years of remarkable music. In 1990, The Who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Profiled here are the people who influenced, were influenced by, or were in some other way connected with one or more members of The Who. Readers will find a vast array of entries, ranging from musicians such as Billy Idol, who took part in live performances of Tommy and Quadrophenia, and AC/DC guitarist Angus Young, who said Pete Townshend was the only guitarist ever to influence him, to behind-the-scenes people such as Glyn Johns, the English recording engineer and producer who helped create the acclaimed "Who's Next" (1971) and "Quadrophenia" (1973), and Nicky Hopkins, the much in-demand pianist who was among The Who's earliest studio collaborators. Seemingly unrelated personalities such as Muppets creator Jim Henson are in--he is believed to have modeled The Muppet Show's maniacal drummer Animal after The Who drummer Keith Moon.