Integrating Pittsburgh Sports.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Finoli, David.

Contributor:

Black, Samuel W., Author of introduction, etc.

Series:

Sports

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

African American athletes--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh--History.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (192 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Chicago : The History Press, 2023.

Summary:

Steel City Sports as a Catalyst for Change Though Pittsburgh athletics had many of the same barriers to equality and racial discrimination as the rest of the nation for far too long, the city has celebrated some of the most important moments in the integration of sports in the country. Pittsburgh was the only city with two Negro League teams, fielding such future Hall of Famers as Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston and Satchel Paige. Local high school basketball stars Chuck Cooper, Bill Nunn, Jr., Dick Ricketts, Maurice Stokes, and Jack Twyman held integrated pick-up games at local parks such as Mellon Park in Shadyside in the 1950s. In college football, Connellsville native Jimmy Joe Robinson became the first African American player on Pitt's football team in 1945 as the school continued to integrate its squad ahead of federal desegregation. The Association of Gentleman Pittsburgh Journalists present the compelling, heartbreaking and courageous history of how Pittsburgh's integration of sport helped lead the nation.

Contents:

Intro

Title Page

Copyright

Contents

Foreword, by Samuel W Black

Acknowledgements

Introduction

I. Baseball

1. A Great-Grandson Bears Josh Gibson's Torch, by Tom Rooney

2. Integration by the Numbers: The Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords Become Part of Major League History, by David Finoli

3. In the Beginning: The Pirates' Forgotten First Player of Color, Carlos Bernier, by David Finoli

4. Curt Roberts: The First Pittsburgh Pirates African American Player, by Bill Ranier

5. Elements of Style: Roberto Clemente Was Heroic on and off the Field, by Chris Fletcher

6. .414: Clemente and the 1971 World Series, by Rich Boyer

7. September 1, 1971: The Heroes of This Great Day in the Integration of Major League Baseball, by David Finoli

8. Gene Baker: His Unknown and Uncelebrated Place in Major League History, by David Finoli

II. Basketball

9. One of a Kind: Cum Posey Stands Alone in Sports History, by Robert Healy III

10. An Upset For the Ages: The 1912 Colored World Champion Monticello Athletic Association, by David Finoli

11. A Son Searches for Chuck Cooper's Rightful Place, by Tom Rooney

12. Duquesne University Opens Its Doors, by David Finoli

13. Two Years, Two MVPs: Connie Hawkins Makes an Impression on the City of Pittsburgh, by David Finoli

14. From Clairton to Murray State: Stew Johnson's Historic Journey, by David Finoli

III. Football

15. The Doctor from Washington &amp

Jefferson Is In…The Record Books, by Tom Rooney

16. Western Pennsylvania's Gift to the Big Ten: Willie Thrower and Sandy Stephens, by David Finoli

17. A Temporary Integration: The Story of Ray Kemp, by David Finoli

18. A Savior for the City: Jimmy Joe Robinson, by David Finoli

19. Prejudice off the Field…and Perhaps on It: Bobby Grier at the Sugar Bowl, by David Finoli.

20. The Foundation: Joe Greene Made the Steelers the Big, Bad Steelers, by Chris Fletcher

21. The Ballad of Jefferson Street Joe, by Chris Fletcher

22. Mike Tomlin: The Spirit of the Rule, by Josh Taylor

23. Tony Dungy: "Make the Situation Better," by Josh Taylor

24. Going Different Directions: Washington &amp

Jefferson's Walter Cooper and Dan Towler, by David Finoli

IV. Boxing

25. From Integration to World Travel to Eternal Champion: Jackie Wilson, by Gary Kinn

26. A Fair Chance No Exceptions: Integrating Pittsburgh Boxing, by Douglas Cavanaugh

27. Harry Bobo, by Douglas Cavanaugh

28. John Henry Louis: Career Revived in Pittsburgh by Gus Greenlee, by Douglas Cavanaugh

V. Other Sports

29. The Great Escape: The Story of John Woodruff 's 1936 Gold Medal Run, by David Finoli

30. The Legendary Sportswriters of the Pittsburgh Courier, by Samuel W Black

Bibliography

About the Authors.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9781439676820

1439676828

OCLC:

1372579587