Only the Ball Was White

An Inspirational Documentary About the Forgotten Athletes of Baseball's Negro League

Only the Ball Was White — Plot

Throughout the 1900's, before Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in 1946, black baseball talent blossomed in the Negro Leagues. Baseball buffs still sing the praises of Josh Gibson who could be counted on to hit 70 homeruns in a season, and Satchel Paige who pitched over 100 no-hitters in his career. Only the Ball Was White pays tribute to the many topflight players from the Negro Leagues. Narrated by actor Paul Winfield, the program documents a bygone bittersweet era in baseball and the men who were denied stardom by the color line. Ballplayers throughout the country were interviewed for this program, all of them quick to tell tales of the life, the competition, and the camaraderie. These include: Satchel Paige, Roy Campanella, Buck Leonard, Jimmy Crutchfield, David Malarcher, Effa Manley, and Quincy Trouppe.

• Release date
• February 21, 1980
• Runtime
• 30 min
• Genres
• Documentary
• Director
• Ken Solarz

Only the Ball Was White — Cast

Paul Winfield Narrator

E

Effa Manley Self

D

Don Newcombe Self Leroy 'Satchel' Paige Self

B

Buck Leonard Self

J

Jimmie Crutchfield Self

R

Roy Campanella Self

S

Sam Hairston Self