Biz Mackey, a giant behind the plate : the story of the Negro league star and Hall of Fame catcher / Rich Westcott ; forewords by Monte Irvin and Ray C. Mackey III.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Westcott, Rich, author.

Irvin, Monte, 1919-2016, author of foreword.

Mackey, Ray C., author of foreword.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mackey, Biz, 1897-1965.

Mackey, Biz.

Catchers (Baseball)--United States--Biography.

Catchers (Baseball).

Baseball players--United States--Biography.

Baseball players.

African American baseball players--Biography.

African American baseball players.

African American baseball managers--Biography.

African American baseball managers.

Negro leagues--History.

Negro leagues.

Baseball--United States--History--20th century.

Baseball.

United States.

Genre:

Biographies.

History.

Physical Description:

xxi, 180 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : Temple University Press, 2018.

Summary:

""The best all-around catcher in black baseball history"--Cumberland Posey, Owner of the Homestead Grays National Baseball Hall of Fame catcher James Raleigh "Biz" Mackey's professional career spanned nearly three decades in the Negro Leagues and elsewhere. He distinguished himself as a defensive catcher who also had an impressive batting average and later worked as a manager of the Newark Eagles and the Baltimore Elite Giants. Using archival materials and interviews with former Negro League players, baseball historian Rich Westcott chronicles the catcher's life and remarkable career in Biz Mackey, a Giant Behind the Plate, as well as providing an in-depth look at Philadelphia Negro League history. Westcott traces Mackey's childhood in Texas as the son of sharecroppers to his success on the baseball diamond where he displayed extraordinary defensive skills and an exceptional ability to hit and to handle pitchers. Mackey spent one third of his career playing in Philadelphia, winning championships with the Hilldale Daisies and the Philadelphia Stars. Mackey also mentored famed catcher Roy Campanella and had an unlikely role in the story of baseball's development in Japan. A celebrated ballplayer before African Americans were permitted to join Major League Baseball, Biz Mackey ranks as one of the top catchers ever to play the game. With Biz Mackey, he finally gets the biography he deserves"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

One of baseball's greatest catchers

From the farm to the diamond

Black baseball in Philadelphia

Blossoming with the daisies

Helping the stars to sparkle

Elevating baseball in Japan

Moving up to the job of manager

Teaching Campy the tricks of the trade

A long-overdue induction into the Hall of Fame.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Westcott, Rich. Biz Mackey, a giant behind the plate.

ISBN:

9781439915516

1439915512

OCLC:

987796355

Publisher Number:

40027852338