Willie's boys: the 1948 birmingham black barons, the last negro league world series, and the making of a baseball legend - john klima

The story of Willie Mayss rookie year with the Negro American Leagues Birmingham Black Barons, the Last Negro World Series, and the making of a baseball legendBaseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays is one of baseballs endearing greats, a tremendously talented and charismatic center fielder who hit 660 career homeruns, collected 3,283 hits, knocked in 1,903 runs, won 12 Gold Glove Awards and appeared in 24 All-Star games.

But before Mays was the Say Hey Kid, he was just a boy.

Willies Boys is the story of his remarkable 1948 rookie season with the Negro American Leagues Birmingham Black Barons, who took a risk on a raw but gifted 16-year-old and gave him the experience, confidence, and connections to escape Birminghams segregation, navigate baseballs institutional racism, and sign with the New York Giants.

Willies Boys offers a character-rich narrative of the apprenticeship Mays had at the hands of a diverse group of savvy veterans who taught him the ways of the game and the world.

Sheds new light on the virtually unknown beginnings of a baseball great, not available in other booksCaptures the first incredible steps of a baseball superstar in his first season with the Negro Leagues Birmingham Black BaronsIntroduces the veteran group of Negro League players, including Piper Davis, who gave Mays an incredible apprenticeship seasonIlluminates the Negro Leagues last days, drawing on in-depth research and interviews with remaining playersExplores the heated rivalry between Mayss Black Barons and Buck ONeils Kansas City Monarchs, culminating in the last Negro League World SeriesBreaks new historical ground on what led the New York Giants to acquire Mays, and why he didnt sign with the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees, or Boston Red SoxPacked with stories and insights, Willies Boys takes you inside an important part of baseball history and the development of one of the all-time greats ever to play the game.