Movie: Only the Ball Was White

Top 10 Billed Cast

Paul Winfield
Paul Winfield

Narrator

Effa Manley
Effa Manley

Self

Don Newcombe
Don Newcombe

Self

Leroy 'Satchel' Paige
Leroy 'Satchel' Paige

Self

Buck Leonard
Buck Leonard

Self

Jimmie Crutchfield
Jimmie Crutchfield

Self

Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella

Self

Sam Hairston
Sam Hairston

Self

Quincy Trouppe
Quincy Trouppe

Self

Branch Rickey Jr
Branch Rickey Jr

Self

  • HomePage

  • Overview

    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

    1980-02-21

  • Average

    9

  • Rating:

    4.5 starts
  • Tagline

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

  • Genres

  • Languages:

    English
  • Keywords

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