The Roots of Black Baseball

April 5, 7-8:45 pm. Nationally known baseball historian Jim Overmyer of Lenox will discuss the early history of black baseball and sign copies of his book, Effa Manley and the Newark Eagles, and local author and reporter Derek Gentile of the Berkshire Eagle, will introduce and moderate a discussion and sign copies of some of his own baseball books. The event is co-sponsored by the Du Bois Center and the Great Barrington Historical Society. Donations are most appreciated.

In addition to his multi-media presentation, Overmyer will display artifacts from his collection of Negro Leagues baseball. A member of American Baseball Research, he has written extensively about baseball history and appeared as a featured speaker at the Baseball Hall of Fame. His book about team owner Effa Manley has been optioned to become a movie. Derek Gentile is an award-winning journalist, one of the few reporters in the Berkshire Eagle's who has awards in both sports and news. He has also published The Complete Boston Red Sox, The New York Yankees and the Meaning of Life, and other books.