Baseball rebels : the players, people, and social movements that shook up the game and changed America

In __Baseball Rebels__ Peter Dreier and Robert Elias examine the key social challenges—racism, sexism and homophobia—that shaped society and worked their way into baseball’s culture, economics, and politics. Since baseball emerged in the mid-1800s to become America’s pastime, the nation’s battles over race, gender, and sexuality have been reflected on the playing field, in the executive suites, in the press box, and in the community. Some of baseball’s rebels are widely recognized, but most of them are either little known or known primarily for their baseball achievements—not their political views and activism. Everyone knows the story of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color line, but less known is Sam Nahem, who opposed the racial divide in the U.S. military and organized an integrated military team that won a championship in 1945. Or Toni Stone, the first of three women who played for the Indianapolis Clowns in the previously all-male Negro Leagues. Or Dave Pallone, MLB’s first gay umpire. Many players, owners, reporters, and other activists challenged both the baseball establishment and society’s status quo. __Baseball Rebels__ tells stories of baseball’s reformers and radicals who were influenced by, and in turn influenced, America’s broader political and social protest movements, making the game—and society—better along the way. Finalist for the 2023 Seymour Medal Foreword INDIES Finalist in History In Baseball Rebels Peter Dreier and Robert Elias examine the key social challenges—racism, sexism and homophobia—that shaped society and worked their way into baseball's culture, economics, and politics. Since baseball emerged in the mid-1800s to become America's pastime, the nation's battles over race, gender, and sexuality have been reflected on the playing field, in the executive suites, in the press box, and in the community. Some of baseball's rebels are widely recognized, but most of them are either little known or known primarily for their baseball achievements—not their political views and activism. Everyone knows the story of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's color line, but less known is Sam Nahem, who opposed the racial divide in the U.S. military and organized an integrated military team that won a championship in 1945. Or Toni Stone, the first of three women who played for the Indianapolis Clowns in the previously all-male Negro Leagues. Or Dave Pallone, MLB's first gay umpire. Many players, owners, reporters, and other activists challenged both the baseball establishment and society's status quo. Baseball Rebels tells stories of baseball's reformers and radicals who were influenced by, and in turn influenced, America's broader political and social protest movements, making the game—and society—better along the way. In Baseball Rebels Peter Dreier and Robert Elias examinethe key social challenges-racism, sexism and homophobia-that shapedsociety and worked their way into baseball's culture, economics,and politics. Since baseball emerged in the mid-1800s to becomeAmerica's pastime, the nation's battles over race, gender, andsexuality have been reflected on the playing field, in theexecutive suites, in the press box, and in the community. Some ofbaseball's rebels are widely recognized, but most of them areeither little known or known primarily for their baseballachievements-not their political views and activism. Everyone knowsthe story of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's color line, butless known is Sam Nahem, who opposed the racial divide in the U.S.military and organized an integrated military team that won achampionship in 1945. Or Toni Stone, the first of three women whoplayed for the Indianapolis Clowns in the previously all-male NegroLeagues. Or Dave Pallone, MLB's first gay umpire. Many players,owners, reporters, and other activists challenged both the baseballestablishment and society's status quo. Baseball Rebelstells stories of baseball's reformers and radicals who wereinfluenced by, and in turn influenced, America's broader politicaland social protest movements, making the game-and society-betteralong the way Cover 1 Title Page 6 Copyright Page 7 Contents 10 List of Illustrations 12 Foreword 14 Acknowledgments 16 Introduction 18 Part 1. Resisting Racism 22 1. Battling Jim Crow 24 2. Building Black Institutions 38 3. Before Jackie Robinson 56 4. Crossing the Color Line 86 5. Defending Civil Rights 120 Part 2. Challenging Sexism and Homophobia 194 6. Women in Baseball 196 7. Gay Men in Baseball 246 Part 3. Today’s Activists and an Agenda for Change 272 8. Modern-Day Rebels 274 9. Baseball Justice: An Unfinished Agenda 300 Notes 324 Bibliography 356 Index 386 Baseball Rebels tells stories of mavericks, reformers, and radicals who shook up the baseball establishment and helped change America. These players, managers, sportswriters, activists, and even a few owners were influenced by, and in turn influenced, America's broader political and social protest movements, including battles against racism, sexism, and homophobia. "Baseball Rebels tells stories of reformers and radicals who were influenced by, and in turn influenced, America's broader political and social protest movements, including battles against racism, corporate control, worker exploitation, sexism and homophobia, and American militarism." -- Provided by publisher