Sol White's Official Base Ball Guide

by Sol White, Gary Ashwill (Editor)

A fascinating and unique look at the origins of Negro League Baseball, written by one of its brightest stars. Much of what is known of these players and teams and championships comes from this work.

Sol White, “King Solomon,” introduces his work this way: “I have endeavored to follow the mutations of colored base ball, as accurately as possible, from the organization of the first colored team, in 1885, to the present time [1907]…” and concludes his guide with an assertion, proven to be true 40 years later, with the arrival of Jackie Robinson” “For the players of today, with the same prospects for a future as the white players there would be a score or more of colored ballplayers cavorting around the American League or National League diamonds at the present time.”

First eBook edition, with a detailed introduction about White and times during which he played and managed, as well as a "Who's Who" of the Sol White Guide, 14 pages of biographies of all the players discussed in the guide, including their career highlights and the lives after baseball.

Genres: Baseball, History

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1907

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally written in 1906, this a fascinating account of black baseball back then. Very interesting to read what one of its own thought of baseball (and society) around the turn of the 20th Century. The addendum at the end by Gary Ashwill is an excellent addition as well.

[Armand Rosamilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The introduction/update is worth the price alone of this comprehensive book detailing the earliest days of black base ball. Sol White lays it all out in the language of the late 1800's and early 1900's and as a reader I felt like i was there, listening to this man tell the story of a nearly forgotten part of the great history of baseball.

[Brandon Woosley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A work which was very nearly lost to the world and is singular in its perspective. Sol White was a the only black man writing about black baseball at the beginning of the 20th century. He is a primary window into many great players and the mindset of a time. The book is filled with treasures, like the great Rube Foster on how to pitch (advice that seems amazingly contemporary now) and dozens of photos of players which are known to exist nowhere else. This is a must read if you are interested in baseball history.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A product of it's time, but a good product. White's not interested in statistics, to be fair they weren't as readily available as the time of publishing, but the stories of the figures of the day. He's presenting a who's who of the earliest days of Negro Leagues baseball. I would have liked more depth, but for what this book is, it's immensely fascinating and historically interesting/important.

[Chickens McShitterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a pretty fascinating perspective, for sure, though tedious in parts.
This has clearly been used as a primary source for many books about early black baseball that followed, and is definitely an exceptional resource for research with regard to early obscure players and teams.

[Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only known document about early African American Negro League Baseball

[Danny Knobler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating look into the early years of "colored baseball," written at the time by one of the top players.