Joe Black

November 1, 2014

Daughter Martha tells the story of Joe Black, a pitcher in the Negro Leagues and for the Brooklyn Dodgers (joining five years after Jackie Robinson's historic start), National League Rookie of the Year, and the first black president of a transportation corporation when he rose to the top of Greyhound.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2015
After pitching for years in the Negro Leagues and in Cuba, Joe Black finally joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1952 as a 28-year-old rookie and went on to become the National League rookie of the year and win the first game of the World Series, ensuring his place in baseball history as the first African American to win a World Series game. This biography was written by his daughter with an able assist from 33-year AP and UPI journalist Schoffner. Though Black's baseball star burned brieflyhe won only 15 games after his rookie seasonhe went on to a successful career in business and teaching. The author also delves into her father's personal and family life in a well-rounded, affectionate, and reasonably objective look into a baseball and business pioneer. An overlooked slice of baseball and African American history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

December 1, 2014

This biography of baseball player Joe Black, the first African American pitcher to win a game in Major League Baseball's World Series, recounts all facets of his personal life starting with his journey from a small town in New Jersey to the big show with the Brooklyn Dodgers. While Joe Black does not have the illustrious career of Jackie Robinson, as an African American player in a time when only six major league clubs accepted men of color, he endured the same struggles. Author Black, the player's daughter, teamed with veteran sportswriter Schoffner to create this intriguing work. Although the lack of a chronological order makes the chapters feel clumsy at times, that does not get in the way of enjoying the book. VERDICT Because the work describes the speech and attitudes of American society before racial integration, strong language is used, a consideration for YA audiences. However, fans of baseball history will enjoy this glimpse of a lesser-known figure who holds a special place in the sport's record books.--Matt Schirano, Magnus Wahlstrom Lib., Bridgeport, CT

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.