Stars in the Shadows: The Negro League All-Star Game of 1934

By Charles R. Smith Jr. and Frank Morrison

Meet Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and other baseball heroes in this unique radio broadcast reenactment of a legendary All-Star Game, marking a pivotal time in sports history.

1934, Chicago. Come step back in time to witness the best of the best Negro League players take each other on in one of the most fascinating All-Star ballgames in American history.

Using a unique radio broadcast transcript, Coretta Scott King Award Winner Charles R. Smith, Jr. has recreated this momentous event with a lively play-by-play retelling of the second annual Negro League East-West Game. Meet legendary players like Satchel Paige, Turkey Stearness, and Cool Pappa Bell, hang in the stands with the fans, and experience this exhilarating untold, true story—with a lyrical twist.

Stars in the Shadows is a must-have for any baseball aficionado or anyone interested in forgotten history. Beautifully packaged and with incredible black-and-white illustrations by Frank Morrison, this is a rare and extraordinary book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Release date: Jan 3, 2012
• ISBN: 9781442450769

Charles R. Smith Jr.

Charles R. Smith Jr. is an acclaimed poet and the Coretta Scott King Award–winning illustrator of My People, a picture book based on the poem by Langston Hughes. He is also the illustrator of If, the author and photographer of I Am the World, and he won the Coretta Scott King Author Honor for his book Twelve Rounds To Glory. He grew up in California and attended the Brooks Institute of Photography. A magazine and book cover photographer in addition to a picture book creator, Charles lives with his wife and kids in Poughkeepsie, New York. Visit him at CharlesRSmithJr.com.

Book preview

THE NEGRO LEAGUES were home to some of the best, fastest, and most charismatic ball players in history—even though they played in the shadow of the white leagues. And in 1934, Chicago was the setting for one of the most fascinating games ever played: the second annual East-West Game, where greats like Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, Satchel Paige, and Turkey Stearnes all came together for one legendary all-star competition. You’ll meet the celebrated players, step into the stands with the fans, and even hear the radio commercials!

This exhilarating play-by-play is a tour de force and a rare gem for the baseball fan.

CHARLES R. SMITH JR. is an acclaimed poet and the Coretta Scott King Award-winning illustrator of My People, a picture book based on the poem by Langston Hughes. He is also the illustrator of If, based on the poem by Rudyard Kipling, and he won the Coretta Scott King Author Honor for his book Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali. He grew up in California and attended the Brooks Institute of Photography. A magazine and book-cover photographer in addition to a picture-book creator, Charles now lives with his family in Poughkeepsie, New York. Visit him at charlesrsmithjr.com.

FRANK MORRISON is the award-winning illustrator of many books for children, including Jazzy Miz Mozetta by Brenda C. Roberts, for which he received the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent; Out of the Ballpark by Alex Rodriguez; and Long Shot by Chris Paul. He lives with his family in Georgia.

Jacket design by Lauren Rille

Jacket illustrations copyright

© 2012 by Frank Morrison

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Simon & Schuster • New York

ATHENEUM BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020

www.Simonschuster.com

Text copyright © 2012 by Charles R. Smith Jr.

Illustrations copyright © 2012 by Frank Morrison

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or

in part in any form.

Atheneum Books for Young Readers is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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Book design by Lauren Rille

The text for this book is set in Candida.

The illustrations for this book are rendered in graphite.

1211 FFG

First Edition

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

CIP data for this book is available from the Library of Congress.

ISBN 978-0-689-86638-8

ISBN 978-1-4424-5076-9 (eBook)

To Adrian and Sebastian,

who will never have to play in the shadows,

thanks to all those who did

—C. R. S. Jr.

To my new shortstop, Tiffani

—F. M.

Contents

Chapter 1: August 26, 1934

Top of the 1st Inning

Bottom of the 1st Inning

Top of the 2nd Inning

Bottom of-the-2nd Inning

Top of the 3rd Inning

Bottom of the 3rd Inning

Top of the 4th Inning

Bottom of the 4th Inning

Top of the 5th