Buck Leonard: The Black Lou Gehrig: The Hall of Famer's Story in His Own Words

Now 87, Leonard was one of the top stars of what was then called the Negro leagues, playing for Pittsburgh's Homestead Grays from 1934 to 1950, when the team won nine straight pennants and Leonard was chosen to play in 11 all-star games. And just as the New York Yankees featured the hard-hitting Ruth and Gehrig, the Grays had Josh Gibson and Leonard, two of the first black players admitted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Enhancing this autobiography is the star's realistic assessment of his times, his team and himself. Could the Grays have beaten the Yankees? No, says Leonard, because they were not as strong at every position. Did Negro league players pine for jobs in the major leagues? No, because it was not considered an option until 1946, even for players like Leonard, whose batting average hovered around .380. Coauthor Riley's books include The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues. Photos not seen by PW. (Jan.)