Fox, William Price. Satchel Paige's America.

FOX, William Price. Satchel Paige's America. Univ. of Alabama Press. 142p. c2005. 0-8173-5189-2. $16.95. JSA 

Sports memoirs are written mostly for sports fans, and as such are apt to have a severely restricted reader base. Not so this wide-ranging and good-natured personality piece, though, which will be enjoyed even by those who don't particularly care about sports. Fox's book is chatty and easily read. He writes with the relaxed tone of the professional sportswriter who thoroughly knows his field and enjoys spinning yarns with his interview subject. Add to this the warm and likeable personality of someone like Satchel Paige, and you have a nearly foolproof formula for success. The author presents Satch's life remembrances as an extended conversation between two friends just sitting over a beer and letting the good talk drift wherever it may. Along this rambling road the reader learns about much besides baseball: the finer points of making moonshine whiskey, tips on selling balloons at a carnival, and how to spot a pool shark (watch where he puts the chalk). But it is Satch's memories of starting out in the old Negro League that are the most fascinating. He effortlessly brings those long-forgotten Depression-era games back to life, and for a while one feels genuine suspense about how a game 75 years ago, in a town no one ever heard of, came out.

This is an unashamedly nostalgic book full of fascinating insights into the pride, hardships, camaraderie and--yes--racism during those days of close friendships and no money. Those long rides in rackety rented school buses turned out to be worthwhile, both for young Satchel Paige and for the whole country. Raymond Puffer, Ph.D., Historian, Edwards AFB, Lancaster, CA

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.