The Team That Changed Baseball by Bruce Markusen

The Team That Changed Baseball by Bruce Markusen

In 1947, major league baseball experienced its first measure of integration when the Brooklyn Dodgers brought Jackie Robinson to the National League. While Robinson's breakthrough opened the gates of opportunity for African Americans and other minority players, the process of integration proved slow and uneven. It was not until the 1960s that a handful of major league teams began to boast more than a few Black and Latino players. But the 1971 World Championship team enjoyed a full and complete level of integration, with half of its 25-man roster comprised of players of African American and Latino descent. That team was the Pittsburgh Pirates, managed by an old-time Irishman.

In The Team That Changed Baseball: Roberto Clemente and the 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates, veteran baseball writer Bruce Markusen tells the story of one of the most likable and significant teams in the history of professional sports. In addition to the fact that they fielded the first all-minority lineup in major league history, the 1971 Pirates are noteworthy for the team's inspiring individual performances, including those of future Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, and Bill Mazeroski, and their remarkable World Series victory over the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles. But perhaps their greatest legacy is the team's influence on the future of baseball, inspiring later championship teams such as the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics to open their doors fully to all talented players, regardless of race, particularly in the new era of free agency.

Markusen, Bruce: - Bruce Markusen is the author of seven books on baseball, including the award-winning A Baseball Dynasty: Charlie Finley's Swingin' A's, the recipient of the Seymour Medal from the Society for American Baseball Research. He currently works as a museum teacher at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Farmers' Museum, and the Fenimore Art Museum, all located in Cooperstown. In addition to the Hardball Times, he also contributes articles to Bronx Banter.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781594160301
ISBN 10	1594160309
Title	The Team That Changed Baseball
Author	Bruce Markusen
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Westholme Publishing
Year published	2006-05-15
Number of pages	226
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.