She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story

Effa Manley became aware of racial prejudice at a young age, when she was criticized by a school principal for playing with "those Negroes," who were in fact her darker-skinned siblings. Moving to New York City as an adult, she organized the "Citizen's League for Fair Play," demanding businesses hire black employees. With her husband, she started the Brooklyn Eagles, part of the Negro National League, "handling almost all the team's business," and later working to insure that the players were never forgotten. Tate's energetic illustrations harmonize well with Vernick's fresh and engaging text. History favors the individuals in the spotlight: here's an entertaining portrait of a woman who made significant strides behind the scenes. Ages 5–10. (Nov.)