"Black Baseball was played on a segregated basis from the 19th century through the mid-20th century. In 2020, Major League Baseball recognized seven Negro Leagues (1920-1948) as major leagues. The book explores the events and eras that shaped Black Baseball from the 19th century through the 21st century illustrated with nearly 240 color portraits painted by renowned sports artist Graig Kreindler. The importance of five players - James "Cool Papa" Bell, Andrew "Rube" Foster, Josh Gibson, Leroy "Satchel" Paige, and Jackie Robinson - is highlighted by focusing on their contributions to the sport and American society in five chapters written by different Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) authors. The portraits of the remaining players are grouped by the seven eras in which they played along with biographical data and a brief story about their career and contributions. Each of these seven chapters is highlighted by two colorized photos of teams from the era provided by MancavePictures.com. The SABR authors explore the intersection of these seven eras with the profound impact world events had on baseball including the Transatlantic slave trade, the legal basis for segregation after the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, and World War II. And how, in spite of a world seemingly set against them. the Black ball players persevered and stood out as rays of hope and triumph as early civil rights leaders from Octavious Catto to Doc Sykes to Jackie Robinson".-- publisher's description.