Description
Book SynopsisTed Strong Jr. (1917-1978) was a two-sport athlete, a major star of the Negro Leagues and one of the original Harlem Globetrotters. His prominence in the Negro Leagues led Branch Rickey and other white baseball league owners to consider Strong as one of several possible players to integrate major league baseball, and he was a key force on the basketball court when the Globetrotters defeated the then-invincible Minneapolis Lakers in 1948. Despite his athletic dominance in the 1930s and 40s, Strong Jr. has largely been forgotten in American sports history.In Ted Strong Jr.: The Untold Story of an Original Harlem Globetrotter and Negro Leagues All-Star, Sherman L. Jenkins finally shares the fascinating story of this star athlete. Born Theodore Relighn Strong Jr. in South Bend, Indiana, Strong Jr., the eldest of fourteen children, was fortunate to have a positive influence in his fathera baseball player himself. Strong Jr. went on to play in seven Negro League Baseball East-West All-Star g
Trade ReviewTed Strong Jr. was one of the first two-sport professional athletes in the U.S. (baseball and basketball), but his career in baseball was overshadowed by Satchel Paige and Jackie Robinson. A big, athletic kid, Strong, who learned sports from his father, a Negro League ballplayer and manager, played baseball for the famed Kansas City Monarchs while simultaneously playing basketball for Abe Saperstein’s Harlem Globetrotters. Jenkins, a journalist and member of the Society for American Baseball Research, Negro Leagues Research Committee, sorts facts from myth about this talented athlete, who competed and excelled in the 1930s and 1940s; five years older than Robinson, he never got a shot at the big leagues. The text draws heavily on excerpts from African American newspapers, including the Chicago Defender, to document Strong’s career, the changing climate of baseball, and the growing popularity of the Globetrotters’ franchise in the 1940s. A significant sidebar in the early history of African American athletes. * Booklist *
Step aside Bo Jackson, Ted Strong Jr., was the original multi-sport superstar. A player in both the Negro Leagues and a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, Strong could pretty much do it all. He is a widely overlooked subject in today’s sports realm and this book is reversing that injustice. This biography shows the readers the determination and sheer guts that drove this man to obtain his goals throughout his life. Through interviews with family and friends this is another book that sheds light on an often overlooked subject and expands the fans knowledge base of the game. This is another book that was a welcome learning experience and I think it is very important to remember those who hard work and dedication this game is built upon. Fans of any league or sport for that matter, will not be disappointed in this one. * Gregg's Baseball Bookcase *
The richness of Jenkins’ journey is evident by his will and dedication in the search for the truth about an unappreciated and unrecognized talent in both baseball and basketball history. The "untold story" of Ted Strong Jr. is a welcome addition to anyone’s library. -- Larry Lester, chairman of SABR’s Negro Leagues Committee
An important story of a man whose accomplishments have been long overlooked. Ted Strong Jr.’s story needed to be told and this book introduces us to this two-sport star. But it is more than a sports story; it is a history tale as well. Readers will learn as much about history from the 1910s onwards as they will about Strong’s athletic feats. -- Leslie Heaphy, associate professor, Kent State University at Stark, and author of The Negro Leagues, 1869-1960
I have been emotionally moved and more richly educated by Sherman L. Jenkins. He presents a sensational biography on Kansas City Monarch great Ted Strong Jr. I was similarly awestruck by the depth of information in this volume. It is more than amazing—it is magnificent! -- Phil S. Dixon, baseball historian and author, co-founder of the Negro League Baseball Museum
Sherman Jenkins is to be applauded for the years devoted to researching, recording, and then presenting to readers a compassionate chronicle of the contributions of Ted Strong Jr., one of the unsung heroes of Negro Leagues Baseball and black basketball, who made an indelible mark on both the Kansas City Monarchs and the Harlem Globetrotters. -- Donald Spivey, author of “If You Were Only White:” The Life of Leroy Satchel Paige
Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Chapter 1: It Started with a Senior Chapter 2: “Ted Was Big for His Age” Chapter 3: Ted Jr. Comes into His Own Chapter 4: The Sky Is the Limit Chapter 5: Prime Time Abounds with Hiccups Chapter 6: The Fifteenth Season Chapter 7: 1942–1943: A Season of Change, World War II Calls Chapter 8: The Brothers Return Chapter 9: “Life for Me Ain’t Been No Crystal Stair” Chapter 10: 1947 Chapter 11: Ted Jr.’s Younger Brother Begins to “Break ’Em” Off Chapter 12: Twilight Triple Header Epilogue Appendix A: Facts about Ted Strong Jr. Appendix B: Quotes about Ted Strong Jr. Appendix C: Ted Strong Jr.’s Baseball Statistics Notes Selected Bibliography Index About the Author
