BUCK LEONARD

Tracing his life from its humble beginnings, the story of an accomplished baseball player who never dared to dream of the Hall of Fame furnishes an eyewitness account of the Negro leagues and a saga of the black experience.

YA?Buck Leonard, one of the all-time greats of the Negro Baseball Leagues, was a first baseman for the Homestead Grays during the 1930s and '40s. His wondrous ability was acknowledged when he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. While there is information about his private life throughout, this autobiography focuses more on games played and on other players. It is a chronological account of the Homestead Grays, the teams they went up against, and things that happened to them on the road. Although Leonard rambles a bit, his memories vividly portray a bygone era.?Pat Royal, Crossland High School, Camp Springs, MD
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Leonard starred in the Negro leagues during the 1930s and 1940s. His tale is simple, unadorned, and quite charming. Given the renewed appreciation for the Negro leagues, libraries should add.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.