Baseball's Leading Lady: Effa Manley and the Rise and Fall of the Negro Leagues

by Andrea Williams

Overview

For fans of Hidden Figures and Steve Sheinkin's Undefeated, Andrea Williams's Baseball's Leading Lady is the powerful true story of Effa Manley, the first and only woman inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Before Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947, Black athletes played in the Negro Leagues—on teams coached by Black managers, cheered on by Black fans, and often run by Black owners.

Here is the riveting true story of the woman at the center of the Black baseball world: Effa Manley, co-owner and business manager of the Newark Eagles. Elegant yet gutsy, she cultivated a powerhouse team. Yet just as her Eagles reached their pinnacle, so did calls to integrate baseball, a move that would all but extinguish the Negro Leagues.

On and off the field, Effa hated to lose. She had devoted her life to Black empowerment—but in the battle for Black baseball, was the game rigged against her?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250623720
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	01/05/2021
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)
Lexile:	1300L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Andrea Williams is an author and journalist who worked in marketing and development for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, before turning to writing full-time. She now lives and writes in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and four children.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part I A Rebel Is Born 11

Chapter 1 Color Lines 12

Chapter 2 Fields of Dreams 20

Chapter 3 Strong Arms 32

Chapter 4 A League of Their Own 42

Chapter 5 Negro Improvement 51

Chapter 6 New Negroes 59

Chapter 7 Reversal of Fortune 69

Chapter 8 Fair Play 78

Chapter 9 A Winning Team 92

Part II Black in Business 101

Chapter 10 King(s) of Diamonds 102

Chapter 11 Born Again 111

Chapter 12 Making Moves 121

Chapter 13 Trouble in Paradise 132

Chapter 14 Speaking Up 143

Chapter 15 Waging War 154

Chapter 16 Enemies and Allies 160

Part III A Change Is Gonna Come 169

Chapter 17 Battle Wounds 170

Chapter 18 Best-Laid Plans 183

Chapter 19 Crossing the Line 195

Chapter 20 The Thief of New York 212

Chapter 21 The Negro (Leagues) Problem 227

Chapter 22 Flying High 237

Chapter 23 Champions at Last 248

Chapter 24 Winning and Losing 253

Chapter 25 The Call 264

Chapter 26 The Beginning of the End 273

Chapter 27 Effa's Last Stand 284

Epilogue 291

Author's Note 293

Discussion Questions 295

Source Notes 297

Bibliography 319

Photo Credits 324

Index 325

Editorial Reviews

07/01/2021

Gr 6–9—An important hole in baseball literature is addressed in this nonfiction recollection of businesswoman Effa Manley's role in the rise and fall of the Negro Leagues. Effa's role as a light-skinned woman who grew up in a biracial family and fought for rights for Black people and women is portrayed through detailed narratives and passionate quotes from her career as a co-owner of the Newark Eagles with her husband Abe Manley. The narrative explores the 19th-century beginnings of the Negro Leagues, to the recruitment of Black players to the major leagues, to its ultimate downfall. The biography of Effa Manley's life is intertwined with, and sometimes overwhelmed by, the history of the Negro Leagues as a whole. Endnotes and sources are very detailed and the narration reads like a textbook with a small amount of archival photos and pull quotes. The conclusion features a story about Effa purchasing a mink cape with her final paycheck, which is dramatic and endearing—however it leaves a big gap for readers. The remainder of Effa's life is not addressed, nor is her inclusion into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. VERDICT A detailed history of Negro League baseball focusing on Effa Manley's life and a supplemental addition to middle school sports collections.—Emily Bayci-Mroczek, Naperville P.L.-Naper Boulevard Lib., IL

School Library Journal

2020-11-17
A smart and determined woman becomes an unlikely influence in baseball’s Negro Leagues.

Effa Brooks came of age in the early 20th century as baseball was becoming the leading sport in the United States. A passionate baseball fan and Black civil rights activist, she married Abe Manley, a businessman. As baseball evolved and racial segregation became entrenched within it, African Americans developed their own teams and leagues, such as the Negro National League through which Effa and Abe acquired a franchise for the Brooklyn Eagles. Effa’s activism had honed her abilities as a manager, and after early struggles, the Manleys were able to make progress, moving the team to Newark and winning the 1946 Negro World Series. However, the integration of Major League Baseball undercut the leagues that had nurtured African American baseball players; they could not survive the loss of stars and fans. Effa’s role at this critical time in American sports, as a light-skinned Black woman who was able to get jobs reserved for Whites but who believed in Black unity, is an interesting one, as she used her personality and position to fight racism and sexism. The narrative presents substantial historical context about baseball and society, sometimes overwhelming Effa’s individual story. However, it does provide keen insight into the intersections of race, sports, business, and the efforts of those like her who challenged these powerful forces.

A fascinating contribution to baseball and racial history. (author's note, endnotes, bibliography, photo credits, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews

Baseball’s Leading Lady is an intricate, engaging look at Effa Manley’s groundbreaking career, the complex history of the Negro Leagues, and the unwavering talents who changed America’s favorite pastime forever.” —Brandy Colbert, award-winning author of Black Birds in the Sky and The Voting Booth

“Andrea Williams brings the Queen of the Negro Leagues back to life through the pages of this wonderfully written and introspective look at the most important woman in baseball history.” —Bob Kendrick, President, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

“Andrea Williams comes at the reader like a masterful pitcher with a full repertoire at the ready. She weaves the story of the Negro Leagues with a primer on Black history and, most impressive, a case study in the rise and fall of a successful Black-owned business.” —Andrew Maraniss, bestselling author of Strong Inside and Games of Deception

“A smart and determined woman becomes an unlikely influence in baseball’s Negro Leagues . . . A fascinating contribution to baseball and racial history.” —Kirkus Reviews

“With a flair for bringing clarity and excitement to back office wheeling and dealing, Williams offers a potent complement to Nelson’s We Are the Ship.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“A well-organized, detailed introduction to Effa Manley, who was the first woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.” —Booklist

“For middle-school-and-up readers seeking historical role models of resilience.” —Seattle Times

"A large font, spacious page design, and well-selected black-and-white photographs—along with the fascinating history—make for an inviting read." —Horn Book

"An important hole in baseball literature is addressed in this nonfiction recollection of businesswoman Effa ­Manley’s role in the rise and fall of the Negro Leagues." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher