All Star: How Larry Doby Smashed the Color Barrier in Baseball

The remarkable story of Larry Doby, the first Black baseball player in the American League. 

In 1947, Larry Doby signed with the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first Black player in the American leagues. He endured terrible racism, both from fans and his fellow teammates. Despite this, he became a unifying force on and off the field, and went on to become a seven-time All Star. Illustrated with Cannaday Chapman’s bold, stylized illustrations, this exceptional biography tells the story of an unsung hero who not only opened doors for those behind him, but set amazing records during his Hall of Fame career. More significantly, it examines the long fight to overcome racism in sports and our culture at large, a fight that is far from over. 

This biography for young readers brings an American hero’s story to life:

• An Unsung Hero of Baseball: Learn about Larry Doby, the first Black player in the American League, who broke barriers just eleven weeks after Jackie Robinson.
• Overcoming Adversity: A powerful, age-appropriate introduction to the Civil Rights movement and the story of facing down racism with courage and dignity.
• Inspirational Sports Story: Follow Larry’s journey from the Negro Leagues to becoming a seven-time All-Star and a Hall of Fame legend.
• Stunning Illustrations: Vibrant, stylized art by Cannaday Chapman makes this an engaging and beautiful book for read-alouds and young history lovers.

Audrey Vernick is the author of more than a dozen books for young readers, including Is Your Buffalo Ready For Kindergarten? and Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team. She is also the coauthor of the middle grade novels Two Naomis and Naomis Too. She lives with her family near the ocean in New Jersey. Visit her online at audreyvernick.com

Cannaday Chapman is the illustrator of the picture book biographies All-Star: How Larry Doby Smashed the Color Barrier in Baseball and Feed Your Mind: The Story of August Wilson, and his work has been featured in the New York Times and on the cover of The New Yorker. He was born in upstate New York and studied illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and he currently lives and works in Berlin, Germany.