“Raceball proves that Ruck remains at the top of his game. Incorporating personal interviews with many former players and personalities, such as Harold Tinker, Ted Page, Mal Goode, and August Wilson, who have since passed away, Ruck relies on their voices from the grave and his deep knowledge of black and Latin baseball to make his narrative truly sing.”
—Brad Snyder, author of A Well-Paid Slave
“A profound look at why Latinos have replaced African American baseball players, helping the reader understand the game as a business. Definitely a must-read for those who love the game, regardless of origin, race, or ethnicity.”
—Juan Marichal, MLB Hall of Famer
“Some are well-versed when it comes to the Negro Leagues. Others are aficionados about the rise of Latinos in baseball. But Rob Ruck is one of the few writers who can be called an expert in both fields. Perceptive and insightful, Raceball is a pleasure to read.”
—Tim Wendel, author of The New Face of Baseball and High Heat
“One of our greatest historians of sport has given us a gift for the ages: a history of baseball that captures its multicultural dynamics in original and profoundly illuminating ways. Synthesizing a lifetime of pathbreaking research, Raceball presents a brilliant new account—in black, white, and brown—of what can no longer be regarded as merely the national game.”
—Marcus Rediker, author of The Slave Ship
Michael Kazin, Nostalgia at Bat, The New Republic, May 15, 2011
Tim Marchman, Squeeze Play, Wall Street Journal
Updated March 11, 2011 12:01 a.m. ET
NPR Interview, Heard on All Things Considered, March 11, 2011:
“In 'Raceball', A Look At Players And Race
(Transcript here)
Excerpt on The Big Book by Daryl Paranada, Marketplace, March 1 2011
NPR Interview, Rob Ruck with Steve Inskeep, July 4, 2011:
Light-Skin Cubans Cross Baseball's Color Line
