The Early Image of Black Baseball : Race and Representation in the Popular Press, 1871-1890

This volume examines early black baseball as it was represented in the artwork and written accounts of the popular press. From contemporary postbellum articles, illustrations, photographs and woodcuts, a unique image of the black athlete emerges, one that was not always positive but was nonetheless central in understanding the evolving black image in American culture. Chapters cover press depictions of championship games, specific teams and athletes, and the fans and culture surrounding black baseball. Examines Early Black Baseball As Represented In Artwork And Accounts Of The Popular Press. From Contemporary Postbellum Articles, Illustrations, Photographs And Woodcuts, Image Of The Black Athlete Emerges, Not Always Positive But Nonetheless Central In Understanding The Evolving Black Image In American Culture. Covers Championship Games, Specific Teams And Athletes, Fans And Culture Surrounding Black Baseball--provided By Publisher. Dust From Many Diamonds : Trauma, Memory, And The Colored Championship -- Fifteenth-amendment Club-slingers : Colored Base Ball And The St. Louis Sporting Fraternity, 1875-1877 -- Dudes, Macks, Land Ladies, Waiters, Tonsorialists, And Aesthetes : The Colored Sporting Fraternity -- Men Of Mark And Marked Men : Black Baseball Representation -- A Mirthful Spectacle: Representing Negro Comedy Or Black Aesthetic Style -- Genuine Colored Artists : Black Legs, Black Stockings, And Colored Baseball, 1877-1888 -- Coda: A Glance Over The Diamond Fields Of The Continent. James E. Brunson Iii. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Dust from many diamonds : trauma, memory, and the colored championship "Fifteenth-amendment club-slingers" : colored base ball and the St. Louis Sporting Fraternity, 1875-1877 Dudes, macks, land ladies, waiters, tonsorialists, and aesthetes : the Colored Sporting Fraternity Men of mark and marked men : black baseball representation "A mirthful spectacle": representing negro comedy or black aesthetic style Genuine colored artists : black legs, black stockings, and colored baseball, 1877-1888 Coda: A glance over the diamond fields of the continent : Henry Bridgewater's "now famous" black stockings. Cover......Page 1 Acknowledgments......Page 7 Table of Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 One. Dust from Many Diamonds......Page 22 Two. “Fifteenth-Amendment Club-Slingers”......Page 55 Three. Dudes, Macks, Land Ladies, Waiters, Tonsorialists, and Aesthetes......Page 77 Four. Men of Mark and Marked Men......Page 114 Five. “A Mirthful Spectacle”......Page 137 Six. Genuine Colored Artists......Page 166 Coda......Page 190 Chapter Notes......Page 208 Bibliography......Page 224 Index......Page 228 From contemporary postbellum articles, illustrations, photographs and woodcuts, a unique image of the black athlete emerges, one that was not always positive but was nonetheless central in understanding the evolving black image in American culture. This work examines early black baseball as it was represented in the artwork and the popular press.