"Will it be the Pittsburgh Courier or the Chicago Defender today?"

- What the microfilm librarian said about three seconds before I realized that I spend way too much time on my hobby...

This is a collection of original work I have done concerning the Negro Leagues and its players.

Baseball Integration Timeline - For all the kids studying Black History Month, a look at how long it took all the teams in baseball to integrate, with events of the 1940s and 1950s as a background.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Redux - A return visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City.

Apocrypha in Pittsburgh - Did Satchel really pitch a no-hitter, drive all night, and then pitch an extra-inning shutout against Trent? Read and find out!

Rookie Mistake - The game-by-game pitching lines from Satchel Paige's "rookie" 1948 season, plus an error that is nearly 50 years old.

Jackie Goes to Wrigley - Jackie Robinson drew one of the biggest crowds in Wrigley Field history the first time he came to Chicago with the Dodgers.

Josh Gibson and Yankee Stadium They say that Josh Gibson was the only man ever to hit a ball out of Yankee Stadium. But what does a search of Race Papers tell us?

A Blackeye on America - Being the best pitcher behind the color barrier didn't help Satchel when a cop objected to his driving habits. Would a cop really beat up Satchel?

Integration and the Splendid Splinter - How many games did Ted Williams play against the best talent?

The Giants and the Color Barrier - A look at the New York Giants and their relationship with the Negro Leagues.

I became interested in the Summer of 1937, and the power that took many Negro Leaguers to the Dominican Republic. This generated a short biography of Rafael Trujillo.

The All-Star Satchel Paige - This piece covers Satchel's outings at the East-West games plus his All Star Game showing.

1930 - This tells of the series between the Lincoln Giants and the Homestead Grays for the bragging rights for 1930.

The Master Goes Twelve - In 1952 Satchel Paige was earning his living as a relief pitcher for the St. Louis Browns. When Virgil "Fire" Trucks and the Detroit Tigers came to town, Satchel got the call to start. He ended up going the distance winning a 1-0 twelve-inning game.

The Traveling Man Goes to Portland - In 1961 the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League brought in Satchel Paige. He was 55 years of age at the time. This piece is a short account of Satchel's performance.

Hilton Smith - Hilton Smith was the man who recommended that Jackie Robinson be signed by the Kansas City Monarchs. He was also known for finishing all of the games that Satchel Paige started. These two facts overshadow the fact that Hilton Smith was a top player. This short biography explores his career.

Strange Brew: Smoke, Lights and Josh Gibson - The Kansas City Monarch were hosting the Homestead Grays for a night game. This was five years before Major League Baseball played under the lights, so the technology was still new. Chet Brewer and Smokey Joe Williams took advantage of the poor lighting (and some sandpaper) and pitched the games of their lives. This was one of the greatest duels of all time.

Lifting the Lid at Greenlee - Gus Greenlee put together a first-class team with his Pittsburgh Crawfords in the early 1930's. He also built a ballpark to house them. The Crawfords opened their yard with Satchel Paige facing the New York Black Yankees. The Yankees sent their ace Mounttain Jesse Hubbard to the hill. This is the story of the first game at Greenlee Field.

The Ruppert Cup - In 1939 the Negro National League played a series of games in Yankee Stadium. The first four double headers determined who would play in the final double header. In the end, the League title was determined in the House That Ruth Built.

Satchel Gets Schooled - In 1937 Satchel Paige and many other talented Negro Leaguers flocked to the Dominican Republic for good wages offered by the local politicians. When they came back they found that they were not welcome with their old teams. They found the obvious solution: they barnstormed. However, when they ran into Schoolboy Taylor, they met their match.

Just the Facts - Johnny Mize has been quoted as saying the Martin Dihigo is the best player he ever saw. But none of the details of his story fit. What's going on here?

Our Giants in Havana - In 1937 the Giants did spring training in Havana. There they met a Cuban winter league team fresh off of its season. The results? Read on...

Josh & Buck Take the Field - In 1945 the Washington Senators hit only one home run in Griffith Stadium. How many did Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard clout?

It's a Long Way from Mobile to Cleveland - Don't look back, but this is the story of how Satchel Paige broke into the majors.

John McGraw and the Negro Leagues - Little Napoleon and his efforts to break the color barrier.

The Good Old Days - A look at the 1998 home run chase under the racial rules of yesteryear.

Negro Leagues articles written by other Diamond Angle authors.

An Encounter With The Great Satchel Paige - All Star Wally Berger tells of his game against Paige.

A Double Duty Book Review - Kyle McNary's book on Double Duty Radcliffe is reviewed.