They played for the love of the game : untold stories of Black baseball in Minnesota
(Book)

Includes index.

"Minnesota has been home to countless talented African American ballplayers. Yet, during baseballs many decades of segregation, these athletes were relegated to a haphazard array of semipro leagues, barnstorming clubs, and loose organizations of all-black teams -- many of which are lost to history. Driven by a personal passion and years of research, Frank White recovers that history by sharing stories of black ballplayers in Minnesota, from the 1870s to the 1960s. Although the stories tell of denial, hardship, and segregation, they are highlighted by athletes who persevered and were united by their love of the sport. White's own father, Lou 'Pud' White, was one of the top catchers in the Twin Cities in his day, a fact that his son did not learn until late in life. Through photos, artifacts, and spoken histories passed through the generations, White presents the stories of the earliest black baseball players in Minnesota and those who played the game proudly in the decades that followed." -- Page [4] of cover.