Leon Day: A Baseball Life from the Negro Leagues to the Hall of Fame

Best known as a Hall of Fame pitcher (1934-1957) for the Baltimore Black Sox, Newark Eagles, and Baltimore Elite Giants, as well as teams in Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba, and Venezuela, Leon Day (1916-1995) often was compared with the more flamboyant Satchel Paige whom he beat in three of four meetings. Day excelled at all positions except catcher and was feared as much for his hitting (.300 plus career batting average) as his pitching. A record seven-time Negro Leagues All-Star and holder of the All-Star games strikeout record, he served as a private in World War II, ducking German bullets on Utah Beach. During retirement, he married the love of his life, worked various odd jobs, faced financial struggles and Jim Crow, and endured a lengthy trek to Cooperstown. Through newspaper accounts and interviews with several people close to him, this book tells his story on and off the field for the first time.

Bob Luke is the author of six books about baseball and race in America. He lives in Garrett Park, Maryland.