Only the Ball Was White 44 years old

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

Only the Ball Was White

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.

Credits

Only the Ball Was White Cast

Name Character
Paul Winfield He was 40, 64 years old when he died as Narrator

Only the Ball Was White Crew

Name Department
Ken Solarz as Director. He was 26 (now 71) years old Directing
Ken Solarz as Producer. He was 26 (now 71) years old Production
Ken Solarz as Writer. He was 26 (now 71) years old Writing
Only the Ball Was White poster
Only the Ball Was White (44 years)

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

  • Release day: Thursday, February 21, 1980
  • Runtime: 30 minutes