Negro league baseball

:Part of the History of baseball in the United States series.

World War II

With the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States was thrust into World War II, and unlike World War I, black society in general vowed it would not be shut out of American war effort and its unifying effects at home. Just like the major leagues, the Negro leagues saw its share of stars miss one or more seasons fighting overseas, but, whereas the white major leagues was barely recognizable due to the absence of its stars, the Negro leagues reached its plateau. Things were going so well for the Negro leagues that Abe Saperstein, of the Harlem Globetrotters fame, started a new Negro circuit, the Negro Midwest League, a minor league similar to the Negro Southern League.

Related Topics:
Japanese - Attack on Pearl Harbor - December 7 - 1941 - World War II - World War I - Abe Saperstein - Harlem Globetrotters - Negro Midwest League

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In 1942, the Negro League World Series was revived, this time pitting the winners of the Negro National League against the winners of the Negro American League. Matching the two most famous teams in black game?s history, the Kansas City Monarchs and the Homestead Grays, blackball would reach its pinnacle on September 8. Paige came in during the seventh inning with a 2-0 lead. He gave up a base hit to Jerry Benjamin. With one man on and two out, Paige intentionally walked the next two batters so he could face the most feared hitter in all of baseball, Gibson, with the bases loaded. Paige threw two fastballs that Gibson fouled off, and then a third that Gibson completely missed.

Related Topics:
1942 - September 8 - Jerry Benjamin

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