Crossing the Line

Personal highlights and playing statistics of lesser-known African American baseball players who crossed the color line between 1947 and 1959.

From 1947, when Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, through 1959, when the Boston Red Sox became the last Major League team to integrate, more than a hundred African American baseball players crossed the colour line and made it to the Major Leagues. This book profiles each of these players, their statistics, and their triumphs and trials.From 1947, when Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, through 1959, when the Boston Red Sox became the last Major League team to integrate, more than a hundred African American baseball players crossed the color line and made it to the Major Leagues. Each of these players is profiled in this comprehensive book, which includes their statistics and capsule biographies, their triumphs and trials.

Some of these players became superstars of the game and eventual Hall of Famers—Jackie Robinson, Ernie Banks, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Roy Campanella, and Bob Gibson; most were average players. All were pioneers, facing down the enormous difficulties of integrating organized baseball. The authors provide a new preface and appendix for this Bison Books edition.