This book was inspired by the last Negro League World Series ever played and presents biographies of the players on the two contending teams in 1948 -- the Birmingham Black Barons and the Homestead Grays -- as well as the managers, the owners, and articles on the ballparks the teams called home. Also included are articles that recap the season's two East-West All-Star Games, the Negro National League and Negro American League playoff series, and the World Series itself. Additional context is provided in essays about the effects of Organized Baseball's integration on the Negro Leagues, the exodus of Negro League players to Canada, and the signing away of top Negro League players, specifically Willie Mays. The lack of detailed press coverage of the Negro Leagues, the fact that not every player was a star with a lengthy career, and gaps in public records of the era (especially in regard to African Americans) present a situation in which it is not possible to detail the life of every single player as fully as in other SABR publications. In the face of such challenges, the SABR researchers who have contributed player biographies and feature articles to this book have done utmost diligence to uncover every possible nugget of information that is currently available and, in many instances, new discoveries have been made. Many of the players' lives and careers have been presented to a much greater extent than previously. This book represents the collaborative efforts of 49 authors and editors from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR).Contents: Willie Mays Letter to Jim ZappTHE BIRMINGHAM BLACK BARONSLloyd Pepper Bassett, Frederick C. BushHerman Bell, Margaret M. GripshoverJohn Britton, Bill NowlinLorenzo "Piper" Davis (player/manager) Jeb StewartBill Greason, Frederick C. BushWiley Griggs, William DahlbergJay (Jehosie) Heard, J. W. StewartWillie Mays, John SaccomanJimmie Newberry, Jeb StewartAlonzo Perry, Dennis D. DegenhardtNat Pollard, Jay HurdBill Powell, Mark Panuthos & Frederick C. BushNorman (Bobby) Robinson, Bob LeMoineJoe Scot, t Charles F. FaberEd Steele, Will OsgoodBob Veale, Joseph GerardSamuel Williams, Bob LeMoineArtie Wilson, Rob NeyerJim Zapp, Bill NowlinTom Hayes (Owner) James ForrAbe Saperstein (Co-Owner, 1939-45) Norm KingRickwood Field, Clarence WatkinsTHE HOMESTEAD GRAYS Ted Alexander, Rob NeyerSam Bankhead, Dave WilkieLefty Bell, Frederick C. BushGarnett Blair, Bill NowlinBob Boston, Bill JohnsonClarence Bruce, Frederick C. BushLuther Clifford, Richard BogovichLuke Easter, Justin MurphyClarence Evans, Dennis D. DegenhardtWilmer Fields, Frederick C. BushErvin Fowlkes, Dave ForresterCharles Gary, Chris RaineyRobert Gaston, Chris RaineyCecil Kaiser, Brian BaughanLarry Kimbrough, Chris RaineyBuck Leonard, Ralph BergerLuis M rquez, Amy EssingtonEudie Napier, Tom HawthornTom Parker, Bill JohnsonWillie (Bill) Pope, Skip NipperWillie D. Smith, Alan CohenFrank Thompson, Michael MattseyBob Thurman, Rick SwaineBob Trice, Jack MorrisR. T. Walker, Irv GoldfarbJohn Wright, Niall AdlerVic Harris (manager) Charlie FoucheCum Posey (Owner to 1946 d.) Brian McKennaEthel Posey (Co-Owner) Leslie HeaphyRufus "Sonny Man" Jackson (Co-Owner) Ralph CarhartForbes Field, Curt SmithGriffith Stadium, John SchleppiFEATURESPlayers Omitted, Frederick C. BushThe 1948 East-West All-Star Games, Thomas E. KernThe 1948 Negro American League Playoff Series (Birmingham v. Kansas City Monarchs) Japheth Knopp