When reading this book, I visualize a grandfather telling a story to his grandchildren. The narration is simple, but does not use language like an "I can read" book for small children. The author uses phrases like "I think that is what hurt Jackie the most", using his own opinion rather than just factual information like an average history book would. The tone is reminiscent of both the good and the bad, with a sense of pride as well. This nostalgia gives a more personal account of the leagues and makes it seem realistic in a way that a history textbook could not.
The player that stood out to me the most was Jackie Robinson. In addition to his achievements such as being named rookie of the year and hitting 12 home runs, he had to deal with an incredible about of pressure. People threatened to kill him and kidnap his son, fans threw things at him and he was faced with all kinds of aggression on the field from opposing teams. He did not retaliate (though he had always been the kind of person who stood up for himself in the past) because he wanted other black players to be able to participate in the major leagues. Jackie Robinson had to feel like the weight of the world was on his shoulders, and he had to keep that to himself. I cant even imagine that kind of responsibility and pressure.
1. I think the tone is nostalgic. The details the speaker includes, from how Norman Stearnes earned the nickname “Turkey” to the descriptions of their careers in Latin America, show a lot of knowledge about the Negro Leagues, and a lot of love for that knowledge. The happy, informal way in which he describes his experiences—“We had a good thing going” (60), “He always kept us laughing” (47)—suggest that the speaker really enjoyed himself during those times, and transitively that he doesn’t want to let them go. However, there’s also a certain amount of sadness and regret in his writing, such as on page 51, when he discusses all the “many Josh Gibons…many Satchel Paiges” who no one really knows about. Even though players like Jackie Robinson may have achieved much and paved the way for other players to follow, there were many who had to be left by the wayside for such triumph to occur. These feelings combined, joy and bittersweetness, suggest nostalgia to me.
2. In all honesty, a lot of the players stood out, but Satchel Paige stood out particularly. I loved the descriptions of how fast he threw the ball, how it would look “like a little white pill by the time it got the plate.” What I really liked about him, though, was how he wasn’t just a legend, but rather a legend with a sharp wit and a sense of humor. His gumption with the parking tickets impressed me, and the story about his night “pitch” made me laugh out loud. He really did sound like “something else” (47), and I loved how much of a character he was. To me, he defines the true ballplayer: an athlete with intelligence as well as physical prowess.
The tone of the book seems extremely passionate to me. I picture an old man telling a everyday man about the negro leagues. The narrator loves the game so much and tries to get the reader to love the game just as much as he does. He also tells from the point of view of a someone who played in the Negro Leagues. The narrator says "our league" and "we" many times implying that he played in the league himself. The overall tone seems more appreciative that Blacks had the Negro Leagues, rather than frustrated they were not allowed in the majors. I used to think the creation of the Negro Leagues was terrible, because it prohibited Blacks from being in the majors. But after reading this I realize that Blacks are actually proud of the Negro Leagues, and the players it produced. It allowed them to play the game they love.
The story of Jackie Robinson stood out to me the most. I never knew how much will power it took for him not to retaliate. The book says he had a horrible temper with a history of getting in many fights in the Negro leagues. On the other hand, whenever I hear of Jackie Robinson it is always about how calm he was while the fans were screaming and calling him names. Jackie knew that his situation was bigger than him. He had to change his behavior in order for other Black players like him to play in the major leagues. If Jackie had not performed or caused commotion with the fans, who knows when the leagues would finally be integrated.
1) I think the overall tone of the book is proud and optimistic. As we saw in the BBC interview with the author, the book was not intended to complain and focus on the mistreatment of blacks and the players in the Negro Leagues, but rather highlight the significant achievements that these players made for the sport of baseball. There is a definite sense of nostalgia in the authors writing as he reminisces on the rich culture and rituals of the negro leagues; however, I feel that the main tone of the book is one of proud nature.
2) The player that caught my attention was Josh Gibson. Gibson was portrayed as an electric player and the author gave a great depth of description about Gibson physically and emotionally. What especially stood out to me was the comparison that Gibson shouldn't be called the white Babe Ruth, but Ruth, the white Gibson. This comparison really showed me the strength of the players in the Negro Leagues and left me frustrated with not knowing how such amazingly talented players would have done in the majors. I feel it is a shame that players such as Gibson and Paige don't have solid records of their statistics as they were some of the best players and innovators in the history of the game.
I found the tone to be reminiscent. The way Kadir wrote the book makes it seem as though a player is remembering everything from their time playing baseball. Instead of using they, or he, Kadir uses we to make the book much more personal and like a player wrote it. This is evident when Kadir writes about the All-Star games, “we had some great games.” Since he italicized the “great” it obviously makes it stand out more, and that is the more personal opinion part of the sentence. Reading the book you can imagine a baseball player remembering SO fondly of his time playing baseball.
All the players stood out to be, but especially the quick stories on page 41. Kadir goes from one player to another quickly yet with so much detail. I really felt as though I almost knew some of them because of the stories that he chose to use. The way he tells stories about the players’ backs up the reminiscent tone of the book. My favorite of those stories is the one about Normal “Turkey” Stearnes. I found it kind of funny, especially about how he got his nickname and that he talks to his bat. I also really liked the Satchel Paige story.
I would describe the tone as casual and sentimental. I say casual because the author uses incomplete sentences and purposeful mispellings to make the text read as if someone is talking in conversation. And I say sentimental because, as he recounts the story from an "everyman" perspective, he makes it seem like he really misses playing in the negro leagues and spending time with all the black baseball greats.
Satchel Paige definitely stood out to me. I think he really embodied the energy and thrill that defined the negro leagues. And the way the fans idolized him really was amazing. He also happened to be the most illustrated player in the book I believe, and getting to see him in so many images made him stick in my mind.
1. I would describe the tone of the book as joyful and satisfied. Kadir writes without regret that blacks could not play in the Major Leagues, yet is proud of the amazing players, teams, and moments the Negro Leagues produced. More importantly he demonstrates how blacks were never angered by their oppression. They “were just ballplayers…and first class citizens”. This way of reminiscence is important as it values the culture and pride of Negro League baseball instead of focusing on the discrimination surrounding it. Kadir allows the Negro Leagues to be thought of as an important part of baseball history instead of something to be looked down upon.
2. Oscar Charleston’s story really stood out to me. When one thinks of the Negro Leagues they think about the longevity of Satchel Paige or the prowess of Josh Gibson. What is missing however, is a player like Oscar Charleston who represents grit and zeal to win. Charleston was a great competitor who also had the rare skill set that allowed him wow the crowd with a swing of the bat, a steal of home, or even a diving catch in the outfield.
I would describe the tone of this book as nostalgic and at times proud and majestic. The author seems to be reminiscing about some of the great times that a player could have had in the negro leagues and some of the amazing things that they could have witnessed. It feels like in some parts he is looking back to what he might call "the good old days." He seems satisfied with himself and the way things turned out for baseball. I think this is shown quite well in the last couple of sentences of the book. "If there had been no such thing as a Negro League, there wold have been no Jackie Robinson or Willie Mays or Hank Aaron. These guys stand on our shoulders. We cleared the way for them and changed the course of history. And knowing that satisfies the soul." He sees the impact that the leagues have made and seems happy with himself.
There was one player that stood out to me, and I think it was maybe just because of the story that went with him. The player who I am thinking about is Chappy Gray. I loved the story about how Chappy, the catcher, told Satchel that he was throwing too hard and his hand was hurting, so why not just pretend to throw the ball. He said that if he hit a white player with a ball, they would have to run out of there. He seemed to just want to avoid injury and conflict. Satchel agreed without contest and it was interesting to me how the catcher had that much reign over him. Satchel knew he was the best pitcher in baseball, yet he still went with the idea of this catcher.
1. I would describe the tone of the book as pure joy and amazement. It is evident that Kadir has a true love for baseball, very much like Mr. Fine's. Kadir's joy and satisfaction is evident when he talks about the emergence of Jackie Robinson or the detail of Sacthel Paige, and how proud he was of those two men and all that they accomplished for the Negro leagues and the entirety of baseball. I think honestly that he was more proud and amazed than anything when writing this, just as i was. It was amazing to hear about the pioneers of the Negro leagues and how much of an impact they had on the history of baseball. 2. My favorite player was absolutely Satchel Paige. The way that Kadir described his effect and need to win was inspiring to here. I think he is really what the Negro leagues embodied, pure talent that has not been recognized by the White people of the day. He was a crowd pleaser, a fierce competitor, and potentially the best pitcher to ever live, what's not to love?
1.The tone of this book is sentimental reminiscence. It is almost as if you are having a conversation with your everyday player back in that time period, and he is telling you stories about his experiences in baseball. There is a casual happiness that accompanies the stories about his fellow players, and I can almost imagine this story as a retired ballplayer telling his grandchildren about baseball. Kadir Nelson captures the happiness and excitement most people felt about watching and playing baseball, and describes its early years with very personal accounts and stories. 2. The one baseball player that really stood out to me was Satchel Paige. Kadir Nelson makes him out to be a supernatural player, and any time he is described it is with a sense of wonder and awe. It is amazing to me how good of a player he was, like the stories of him throwing over a gum wrapper or pretending to throw so the catcher doesn't break his hand. Satchel Paige was an icon of baseball, and probably one of the greatest players and showmen to ever partake in the game, and it is this superhuman figure that stood out to me as the most noteworthy player.
I would describe the tone as appreciative and grateful. Kadir Nelson really seems to give off a sense as the narrator that he appreciates the game of Baseball and the Negro Leagues. When he looked back at the Negro Leagues, he discusses both the suffering and hardships the players suffered, but focuses more on the great players that it produced and the amazing love that all those players had for the game of baseball. Nelson closes by saying "we cleared the way for them and changed the course of history. And knowing that satisfies the soul. How can you be bitter about something like that"? The last thing that Nelson wants the reader to think about are the great triumphs that the Negro League players accomplished.
Satchel Paige really stood out to me because so much of the book was dedicated to discussing his talent. He dominated the pitching aspect of baseball and was deemed by many as unhittable. Baseball at its best is most exciting when there is a good pitcher who knows what to do. So much of the outcome of a game depends on the pitching. Thats what makes Satchel Paige so important in baseball.
I loved how the tone of this book made it easier for the reader to see the struggles of the African American players. The author, although not a player in the Negro leagues, was able to make the stories and their day-to-day life seem so accurate and understandable. The tone made it very easy to sympathize with the players.
The one player that stood out above all others was Satchel Paige. The author made him out as one of the immortals of the game. even though he was never able to play in the Major Leagues, his legacy is so well known. Nelson makes him out one of the most influential players of the time because of the amount of money he was paid, and his superhuman abilities.
This book has a very nostalgic tone. I think nostalgia can go both ways, sometimes it can come across the wrong way, if the tone is sad. Other times however, and I think this book captures this pretty well, nostalgia can be a positive thing. Nelson does a great job of putting himself in the shoes of an everyman in the Negro Leagues, and this creates the illusion to the reader of seeing these black player's experiences through their own eyes. The best example of this, in my opinion is when Nelson is describing the great Negro League players in Inning 5. He describes the players as if he knew them personally, with a great sense of fondness.
One player that is not talked about much but was one of the best players of the Negro Leagues was Oscar Charleston. He was a fantastic player who played just a bit too early to make it to the majors, but was perhaps the best Negro League player of the 1920s. He hit around .350 lifetime, which is amazing, to say the least. One of the most amazing things about him is that he was the player-manager of the Crawfords, leading the team to a record of 99-36, and batting .363.
I would describe the tone of this book as authentic. From the tone of this book one can really get a sense of what life was like for African American ball players. He tells this tale with great enthusiasm and displays the excitement of the Negro leagues (and also the hardships). Nelson says "people who didn't know anything about baseball came to the ballpark in their Sunday best just to be seen at the East-West Game, you hear?". The tone he uses seems very real and brings the reader back to the World War II era.
Jackie Robinson stood out for me as an incredible ball player and person. He endured extreme hardships because of discrimination when he was the first African American to play in the Major Leagues. Somehow through all of this pressure Jackie was able to play magnificently and pave the way for integration in baseball. I can't even imagine how much strength it took for Jackie to do the things he accomplished.
1. The tone of this book is quite mixed - it portrays a lot of good, but a lot of bad as well, and this contrast in emotions is quite evident in the narrator's speech. What I like about the narrator's attitude is that he manages to maintain a very casual and level headed tone while discussing the misfortunes of the segregation and discrimination that the Negro League players had to endure. Although "the Ku Klux Klan was [found] marching" at a baseball field one night, the narrator, rather than getting riled up about this event, goes on to describe the players' actions almost comically, likening them to cartoon characters as they ran back to their bus "and blew out of there" (Nelson, 26). In discussing the ball fields, he makes the firm statement of, "We played on some of the worst fields you could imagine," yet goes on to describe them casually and with nonchalance as, "Some ol' pasture" (Nelson, 26). His good-natured attitude can be explained on page 29 when he says, "We were ballplayers. There was nothing that we would have rather spent our time doing." Here, his tone is actually quite romantic and nostalgic as it epitomises that 'for the love of the game' feeling that the narrator characterises as something that has been lost in the modern baseball game.
2. The book described a lot of really interesting players, all of which together formed the most interesting group of characters that I could ever imagine, but I think that I was most impressed by Satchel Paige. The way that the narrator described him, he almost seemed to have too much talent, confidence, and personality to be just one person. Although the narrator described him as "tall and [so] skinny... [that] if he turned sideways, he'd disappear," the gangly guy apparently had the best throwing arm in baseball (Nelson 47). He had such incredible natural ability, but he seemed very grounded and aware of not taking it for granted. Another of Paige's qualities that I liked was his affinity for theatricality, as demonstrated by the example of his showing up to a game "with a police escort, sirens blazing and all" (Nelson 47). I also really enjoyed the story of his driving "like a demon," and the way in which he responded to the judge who ticketed him (Nelson, 51). From the earlier reading, I learned that he was very sharp and shrewd, as well as naturally talented, and managed to bargain his way into earning a higher salary than most other black players. (However, I was still surprised at how casually he handled money, considering the conditions that black baseball players were victims of.) I believe that it was his combination of intellect and natural ability afforded him his position in the world of baseball - he could do no wrong (except drive too fast) and he epitomised the perfect baseball player.
The tone of the book was very reflective as if a past Negro League player was narrating the story. Kadir Nelson's constant use of saying "we" or "us" made it seem as if he was there when all these happened and remember them from his own personal experience. Nelson also had a very praising and proud tone during parts of the book. When talking about some of the Negro League greats he would talk of them with a great amount of pride and admiration. For example Kadir Nelson would use straight forward and praising sentences like "Rube was a master."
Satchel Paige really stood out to me because he reminded me of myself when i used to pitch as a little kid. Like Satchel I was tall as a kid and my arms were super skinny, but i was somehow able to throw the ball faster than anyone else on the team and with accuracy too. He also stood out above the rest because of how he was able to dominate the game while still being a comedian and cracking jokes.
Cara
ReplyDeleteWhen reading this book, I visualize a grandfather telling a story to his grandchildren. The narration is simple, but does not use language like an "I can read" book for small children. The author uses phrases like "I think that is what hurt Jackie the most", using his own opinion rather than just factual information like an average history book would. The tone is reminiscent of both the good and the bad, with a sense of pride as well. This nostalgia gives a more personal account of the leagues and makes it seem realistic in a way that a history textbook could not.
The player that stood out to me the most was Jackie Robinson. In addition to his achievements such as being named rookie of the year and hitting 12 home runs, he had to deal with an incredible about of pressure. People threatened to kill him and kidnap his son, fans threw things at him and he was faced with all kinds of aggression on the field from opposing teams. He did not retaliate (though he had always been the kind of person who stood up for himself in the past) because he wanted other black players to be able to participate in the major leagues.
Jackie Robinson had to feel like the weight of the world was on his shoulders, and he had to keep that to himself. I cant even imagine that kind of responsibility and pressure.
1. I think the tone is nostalgic. The details the speaker includes, from how Norman Stearnes earned the nickname “Turkey” to the descriptions of their careers in Latin America, show a lot of knowledge about the Negro Leagues, and a lot of love for that knowledge. The happy, informal way in which he describes his experiences—“We had a good thing going” (60), “He always kept us laughing” (47)—suggest that the speaker really enjoyed himself during those times, and transitively that he doesn’t want to let them go. However, there’s also a certain amount of sadness and regret in his writing, such as on page 51, when he discusses all the “many Josh Gibons…many Satchel Paiges” who no one really knows about. Even though players like Jackie Robinson may have achieved much and paved the way for other players to follow, there were many who had to be left by the wayside for such triumph to occur. These feelings combined, joy and bittersweetness, suggest nostalgia to me.
ReplyDelete2. In all honesty, a lot of the players stood out, but Satchel Paige stood out particularly. I loved the descriptions of how fast he threw the ball, how it would look “like a little white pill by the time it got the plate.” What I really liked about him, though, was how he wasn’t just a legend, but rather a legend with a sharp wit and a sense of humor. His gumption with the parking tickets impressed me, and the story about his night “pitch” made me laugh out loud. He really did sound like “something else” (47), and I loved how much of a character he was. To me, he defines the true ballplayer: an athlete with intelligence as well as physical prowess.
The tone of the book seems extremely passionate to me. I picture an old man telling a everyday man about the negro leagues. The narrator loves the game so much and tries to get the reader to love the game just as much as he does. He also tells from the point of view of a someone who played in the Negro Leagues. The narrator says "our league" and "we" many times implying that he played in the league himself. The overall tone seems more appreciative that Blacks had the Negro Leagues, rather than frustrated they were not allowed in the majors. I used to think the creation of the Negro Leagues was terrible, because it prohibited Blacks from being in the majors. But after reading this I realize that Blacks are actually proud of the Negro Leagues, and the players it produced. It allowed them to play the game they love.
ReplyDeleteThe story of Jackie Robinson stood out to me the most. I never knew how much will power it took for him not to retaliate. The book says he had a horrible temper with a history of getting in many fights in the Negro leagues. On the other hand, whenever I hear of Jackie Robinson it is always about how calm he was while the fans were screaming and calling him names. Jackie knew that his situation was bigger than him. He had to change his behavior in order for other Black players like him to play in the major leagues. If Jackie had not performed or caused commotion with the fans, who knows when the leagues would finally be integrated.
1) I think the overall tone of the book is proud and optimistic. As we saw in the BBC interview with the author, the book was not intended to complain and focus on the mistreatment of blacks and the players in the Negro Leagues, but rather highlight the significant achievements that these players made for the sport of baseball. There is a definite sense of nostalgia in the authors writing as he reminisces on the rich culture and rituals of the negro leagues; however, I feel that the main tone of the book is one of proud nature.
ReplyDelete2) The player that caught my attention was Josh Gibson. Gibson was portrayed as an electric player and the author gave a great depth of description about Gibson physically and emotionally. What especially stood out to me was the comparison that Gibson shouldn't be called the white Babe Ruth, but Ruth, the white Gibson. This comparison really showed me the strength of the players in the Negro Leagues and left me frustrated with not knowing how such amazingly talented players would have done in the majors. I feel it is a shame that players such as Gibson and Paige don't have solid records of their statistics as they were some of the best players and innovators in the history of the game.
I found the tone to be reminiscent. The way Kadir wrote the book makes it seem as though a player is remembering everything from their time playing baseball. Instead of using they, or he, Kadir uses we to make the book much more personal and like a player wrote it. This is evident when Kadir writes about the All-Star games, “we had some great games.” Since he italicized the “great” it obviously makes it stand out more, and that is the more personal opinion part of the sentence. Reading the book you can imagine a baseball player remembering SO fondly of his time playing baseball.
ReplyDeleteAll the players stood out to be, but especially the quick stories on page 41. Kadir goes from one player to another quickly yet with so much detail. I really felt as though I almost knew some of them because of the stories that he chose to use. The way he tells stories about the players’ backs up the reminiscent tone of the book. My favorite of those stories is the one about Normal “Turkey” Stearnes. I found it kind of funny, especially about how he got his nickname and that he talks to his bat. I also really liked the Satchel Paige story.
I would describe the tone as casual and sentimental. I say casual because the author uses incomplete sentences and purposeful mispellings to make the text read as if someone is talking in conversation. And I say sentimental because, as he recounts the story from an "everyman" perspective, he makes it seem like he really misses playing in the negro leagues and spending time with all the black baseball greats.
ReplyDeleteSatchel Paige definitely stood out to me. I think he really embodied the energy and thrill that defined the negro leagues. And the way the fans idolized him really was amazing. He also happened to be the most illustrated player in the book I believe, and getting to see him in so many images made him stick in my mind.
1. I would describe the tone of the book as joyful and satisfied. Kadir writes without regret that blacks could not play in the Major Leagues, yet is proud of the amazing players, teams, and moments the Negro Leagues produced. More importantly he demonstrates how blacks were never angered by their oppression. They “were just ballplayers…and first class citizens”. This way of reminiscence is important as it values the culture and pride of Negro League baseball instead of focusing on the discrimination surrounding it. Kadir allows the Negro Leagues to be thought of as an important part of baseball history instead of something to be looked down upon.
ReplyDelete2. Oscar Charleston’s story really stood out to me. When one thinks of the Negro Leagues they think about the longevity of Satchel Paige or the prowess of Josh Gibson. What is missing however, is a player like Oscar Charleston who represents grit and zeal to win. Charleston was a great competitor who also had the rare skill set that allowed him wow the crowd with a swing of the bat, a steal of home, or even a diving catch in the outfield.
I would describe the tone of this book as nostalgic and at times proud and majestic. The author seems to be reminiscing about some of the great times that a player could have had in the negro leagues and some of the amazing things that they could have witnessed. It feels like in some parts he is looking back to what he might call "the good old days." He seems satisfied with himself and the way things turned out for baseball. I think this is shown quite well in the last couple of sentences of the book. "If there had been no such thing as a Negro League, there wold have been no Jackie Robinson or Willie Mays or Hank Aaron. These guys stand on our shoulders. We cleared the way for them and changed the course of history. And knowing that satisfies the soul." He sees the impact that the leagues have made and seems happy with himself.
ReplyDeleteThere was one player that stood out to me, and I think it was maybe just because of the story that went with him. The player who I am thinking about is Chappy Gray. I loved the story about how Chappy, the catcher, told Satchel that he was throwing too hard and his hand was hurting, so why not just pretend to throw the ball. He said that if he hit a white player with a ball, they would have to run out of there. He seemed to just want to avoid injury and conflict. Satchel agreed without contest and it was interesting to me how the catcher had that much reign over him. Satchel knew he was the best pitcher in baseball, yet he still went with the idea of this catcher.
1. I would describe the tone of the book as pure joy and amazement. It is evident that Kadir has a true love for baseball, very much like Mr. Fine's. Kadir's joy and satisfaction is evident when he talks about the emergence of Jackie Robinson or the detail of Sacthel Paige, and how proud he was of those two men and all that they accomplished for the Negro leagues and the entirety of baseball. I think honestly that he was more proud and amazed than anything when writing this, just as i was. It was amazing to hear about the pioneers of the Negro leagues and how much of an impact they had on the history of baseball.
ReplyDelete2. My favorite player was absolutely Satchel Paige. The way that Kadir described his effect and need to win was inspiring to here. I think he is really what the Negro leagues embodied, pure talent that has not been recognized by the White people of the day. He was a crowd pleaser, a fierce competitor, and potentially the best pitcher to ever live, what's not to love?
1.The tone of this book is sentimental reminiscence. It is almost as if you are having a conversation with your everyday player back in that time period, and he is telling you stories about his experiences in baseball. There is a casual happiness that accompanies the stories about his fellow players, and I can almost imagine this story as a retired ballplayer telling his grandchildren about baseball. Kadir Nelson captures the happiness and excitement most people felt about watching and playing baseball, and describes its early years with very personal accounts and stories.
ReplyDelete2. The one baseball player that really stood out to me was Satchel Paige. Kadir Nelson makes him out to be a supernatural player, and any time he is described it is with a sense of wonder and awe. It is amazing to me how good of a player he was, like the stories of him throwing over a gum wrapper or pretending to throw so the catcher doesn't break his hand. Satchel Paige was an icon of baseball, and probably one of the greatest players and showmen to ever partake in the game, and it is this superhuman figure that stood out to me as the most noteworthy player.
I would describe the tone as appreciative and grateful. Kadir Nelson really seems to give off a sense as the narrator that he appreciates the game of Baseball and the Negro Leagues. When he looked back at the Negro Leagues, he discusses both the suffering and hardships the players suffered, but focuses more on the great players that it produced and the amazing love that all those players had for the game of baseball. Nelson closes by saying "we cleared the way for them and changed the course of history. And knowing that satisfies the soul. How can you be bitter about something like that"? The last thing that Nelson wants the reader to think about are the great triumphs that the Negro League players accomplished.
ReplyDeleteSatchel Paige really stood out to me because so much of the book was dedicated to discussing his talent. He dominated the pitching aspect of baseball and was deemed by many as unhittable. Baseball at its best is most exciting when there is a good pitcher who knows what to do. So much of the outcome of a game depends on the pitching. Thats what makes Satchel Paige so important in baseball.
I loved how the tone of this book made it easier for the reader to see the struggles of the African American players. The author, although not a player in the Negro leagues, was able to make the stories and their day-to-day life seem so accurate and understandable. The tone made it very easy to sympathize with the players.
ReplyDeleteThe one player that stood out above all others was Satchel Paige. The author made him out as one of the immortals of the game. even though he was never able to play in the Major Leagues, his legacy is so well known. Nelson makes him out one of the most influential players of the time because of the amount of money he was paid, and his superhuman abilities.
This book has a very nostalgic tone. I think nostalgia can go both ways, sometimes it can come across the wrong way, if the tone is sad. Other times however, and I think this book captures this pretty well, nostalgia can be a positive thing. Nelson does a great job of putting himself in the shoes of an everyman in the Negro Leagues, and this creates the illusion to the reader of seeing these black player's experiences through their own eyes. The best example of this, in my opinion is when Nelson is describing the great Negro League players in Inning 5. He describes the players as if he knew them personally, with a great sense of fondness.
ReplyDeleteOne player that is not talked about much but was one of the best players of the Negro Leagues was Oscar Charleston. He was a fantastic player who played just a bit too early to make it to the majors, but was perhaps the best Negro League player of the 1920s. He hit around .350 lifetime, which is amazing, to say the least. One of the most amazing things about him is that he was the player-manager of the Crawfords, leading the team to a record of 99-36, and batting .363.
I would describe the tone of this book as authentic. From the tone of this book one can really get a sense of what life was like for African American ball players. He tells this tale with great enthusiasm and displays the excitement of the Negro leagues (and also the hardships). Nelson says "people who didn't know anything about baseball came to the ballpark in their Sunday best just to be seen at the East-West Game, you hear?". The tone he uses seems very real and brings the reader back to the World War II era.
ReplyDeleteJackie Robinson stood out for me as an incredible ball player and person. He endured extreme hardships because of discrimination when he was the first African American to play in the Major Leagues. Somehow through all of this pressure Jackie was able to play magnificently and pave the way for integration in baseball. I can't even imagine how much strength it took for Jackie to do the things he accomplished.
1. The tone of this book is quite mixed - it portrays a lot of good, but a lot of bad as well, and this contrast in emotions is quite evident in the narrator's speech. What I like about the narrator's attitude is that he manages to maintain a very casual and level headed tone while discussing the misfortunes of the segregation and discrimination that the Negro League players had to endure. Although "the Ku Klux Klan was [found] marching" at a baseball field one night, the narrator, rather than getting riled up about this event, goes on to describe the players' actions almost comically, likening them to cartoon characters as they ran back to their bus "and blew out of there" (Nelson, 26). In discussing the ball fields, he makes the firm statement of, "We played on some of the worst fields you could imagine," yet goes on to describe them casually and with nonchalance as, "Some ol' pasture" (Nelson, 26). His good-natured attitude can be explained on page 29 when he says, "We were ballplayers. There was nothing that we would have rather spent our time doing." Here, his tone is actually quite romantic and nostalgic as it epitomises that 'for the love of the game' feeling that the narrator characterises as something that has been lost in the modern baseball game.
ReplyDelete2. The book described a lot of really interesting players, all of which together formed the most interesting group of characters that I could ever imagine, but I think that I was most impressed by Satchel Paige. The way that the narrator described him, he almost seemed to have too much talent, confidence, and personality to be just one person. Although the narrator described him as "tall and [so] skinny... [that] if he turned sideways, he'd disappear," the gangly guy apparently had the best throwing arm in baseball (Nelson 47). He had such incredible natural ability, but he seemed very grounded and aware of not taking it for granted. Another of Paige's qualities that I liked was his affinity for theatricality, as demonstrated by the example of his showing up to a game "with a police escort, sirens blazing and all" (Nelson 47). I also really enjoyed the story of his driving "like a demon," and the way in which he responded to the judge who ticketed him (Nelson, 51). From the earlier reading, I learned that he was very sharp and shrewd, as well as naturally talented, and managed to bargain his way into earning a higher salary than most other black players. (However, I was still surprised at how casually he handled money, considering the conditions that black baseball players were victims of.) I believe that it was his combination of intellect and natural ability afforded him his position in the world of baseball - he could do no wrong (except drive too fast) and he epitomised the perfect baseball player.
The tone of the book was very reflective as if a past Negro League player was narrating the story. Kadir Nelson's constant use of saying "we" or "us" made it seem as if he was there when all these happened and remember them from his own personal experience. Nelson also had a very praising and proud tone during parts of the book. When talking about some of the Negro League greats he would talk of them with a great amount of pride and admiration. For example Kadir Nelson would use straight forward and praising sentences like "Rube was a master."
ReplyDeleteSatchel Paige really stood out to me because he reminded me of myself when i used to pitch as a little kid. Like Satchel I was tall as a kid and my arms were super skinny, but i was somehow able to throw the ball faster than anyone else on the team and with accuracy too. He also stood out above the rest because of how he was able to dominate the game while still being a comedian and cracking jokes.