Black Diamond Kings: Heroes of Negro League Baseball

Gr 2-5–Short poems and eye-catching illustrations introduce 12 great players from the Negro Leagues. With folksy hyperbole and verses, Smith hails each player’s remarkable skills. “Fast as What?” details James “Cool Papa” Bell’s tremendous speed: “he could steal two bases on one pitch.” Fireworks explode in the sky as Satchel Paige, leg kicked high, winds up to pitch. Smith deems Paige “the Picasso on the hill/ ready to paint strikes/ with finesse and skill.” Sketched by hand and digitally painted illustrations capture gravity-defying plays made by infielders “Pop” Lloyd and Ray Dandridge. Close-ups highlight the intensity of Josh Gibson and flamethrower “Smokey” Joe Williams, two of the best—though neither played in the major leagues. A few poems fall short with forced rhymes or trite sentiments, but overall, the verses and art offer a fine introduction and tribute. Back matter adds more facts about each player and an overview of the Negro Leagues. Excellent follow-ups include Smith’s previous book Stars in the Shadows: The Negro League All-Star Game of 1934 and Kadir Nelson’s We Are the Ship.