Celebrating black America's contribution to the country's national pastime, this historical piece combines vivid narrative, visual impact and a unique statistical component to recreate the excitement and passion of the Negro Leagues.

Packed with stories, biographical essays, scores of archival photographs and other evocative artefacts, it is an important contribution to sports history and a wonderful tribute to the players and teams who wrote a unique character in the annals of baseball and American culture.

Drawing on years of research, Shades of Glory traces the history of black baseball from the 19th century to the first great teams, such as the Cuban Giants and on to the era of the vibrant barnstorming teams from the East Coast, Chicago and Cuba.

The unparalleled Rube Foster started the first Negro League in 1920 with such dominant teams as the Chicago American Giants and the Kansas City Monarchs. Pittsburgh soon produced two of the greatest teams of all timer, the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords, featuring such stars as Satchel page, John Gibson, Cool Papa Bell and many more.

Their superb brand of baseball rivalled the best of the major leagues until the historic signing of jackie Robinson by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Shades of Glory chronicles a bygone era of black baseball and the stars who were shadowed by racial prejudice, but now shine forth in all their sparkling brilliance.

ISBN: 9781426200335

Price: £ 9.99

Published: Summer 2007