Being a black man in America is just generally difficult.

The time in which he's being a black man in America is exceptionally difficult to deal with all that he has in his life and also be the best at what he does on the baseball field.

What was an inspiration?

There's no more lore or legend surrounding Negro League players than there is when we talk about, of course, the immortal Leroy Satchel page,

the speed of the legendary cool Papa Bell, and the immense power of the great Josh Gibson.

And y'all, I love telling Josh Gibson stories.

Perhaps some of this, I think, was kind of instilled in me hanging around my friend, the late great Buck O'Neill, who also delighted

in telling Josh Gibson's stories.

One of those stories that Buck oftentimes told was playing a game here in Kansas City and a young kid playing for the Kansas City Monarchs

walks by the bench of then the homestead grays where Josh Gibson was of course a fixture

and in front of the bench was an old broken bat.

And the kid decided he's going to pick the broken bat up and he's teasing Josh.

Josh, this must be your old broken bat.

And Josh, of course, sitting on the bench like any great hitter, had the big 40-ounce, 41-inch bat in his

hand, and he turns and shows him the faded out spot where the sweet spot is on the bat.

And he looks at him, he says, son, I don't break bats. I wear them out. And then there's another

story that Buck delighted in telling.

And kid is on first base for the homestead grays,

and he tries to break off and steal second.

Josh is in the batters box.

And, of course, the kid gets thrown out.

The game is over.

...