Birmingham Public Library to Host Book Signing by John Klima
As a precursor to Pride and Passion: The African American Baseball Experience to be held May-June 2010, the Birmingham Public Library is excited to host the just-published book, Willie’s Boys: The 1948 Birmingham Black Barons, The Last Negro League World Series and the Making of a Baseball Legend. Published in September of 2009, author John Klima will begin his book tour in the city that first gave Willie Mays his shot at stardom.
As the author Klima’s website states, “While much has been said and written about Willie Mays over the years, no book has ever explored how Willie became the player so many baseball fans consider to be the greatest all-around talent in the game’s history.”
“Imagine for a moment Willie as a teenager, affable and awesomely gifted, yet thrown into a world where even major league teams that signed black players discriminated against them. For all the romantic images of the Negro Leagues, this was the reality. There were too many players and too few jobs.”
“So Willie got his education on the bus, with his wise player-manager Piper Davis, and a group of ballplayers you’ll meet when you hop aboard Willie’s Boys. There was Pipe, Squeaky, Stainless, Rocking Chair, Schoolboy, the Prophet, Zapp, His Majesty, Grease, Brit, and Buck Duck – that was Willie. Mays and his gifted teammates formed a brotherhood, centered around helping the youngest player among them achieve his dreams.”
The Library will provide light refreshment at the booksigning and copies of the Willie’s Boys will be available for purchase.
Details
Event: Book Signing with John Klima
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Central Library’s Arrington Auditorium
Cost: Free
As the author Klima’s website states, “While much has been said and written about Willie Mays over the years, no book has ever explored how Willie became the player so many baseball fans consider to be the greatest all-around talent in the game’s history.”
“Imagine for a moment Willie as a teenager, affable and awesomely gifted, yet thrown into a world where even major league teams that signed black players discriminated against them. For all the romantic images of the Negro Leagues, this was the reality. There were too many players and too few jobs.”
“So Willie got his education on the bus, with his wise player-manager Piper Davis, and a group of ballplayers you’ll meet when you hop aboard Willie’s Boys. There was Pipe, Squeaky, Stainless, Rocking Chair, Schoolboy, the Prophet, Zapp, His Majesty, Grease, Brit, and Buck Duck – that was Willie. Mays and his gifted teammates formed a brotherhood, centered around helping the youngest player among them achieve his dreams.”
The Library will provide light refreshment at the booksigning and copies of the Willie’s Boys will be available for purchase.
Details
Event: Book Signing with John Klima
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Central Library’s Arrington Auditorium
Cost: Free
Comments