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A review by sheltzer
Hanging Curve by Troy Soos
4.0
This book was fascinating. Mickey Rawlings finds himself in St. Louis playing for the Browns. He's approached with an offer to play in a semi-pro game against a team from the Negro Leagues. Shortly after, the winning pitcher from the Negro League team is lynched and found hanging from the backstop. When Mickey is suspended for playing in the game, he finds himself delving into the convoluted world of Prohibition-era race relationships to find out if the pitcher was killed over the final score or for a different reason
Not so much on the baseball this time around and, I admit, I'm not well-versed in the Negro league players of the day. But the historical background on the KKK and the St. Louis race riots of 1917 was utterly fascinating. It was interesting to watch Mickey's eyes be opened to the what separate but equal means through his budding friendship with the "colored" lawyer. I had no idea how widespread the KKK was in the 20s, nor how wholesome it was viewed by the general populace. It sounds so different from what I think about the deplorable actions and members of today's KKK, it makes me want to read more about the "Invisible Empire" that comes complete with it's own language, secret signals and totally ridiculous titles.
Not so much on the baseball this time around and, I admit, I'm not well-versed in the Negro league players of the day. But the historical background on the KKK and the St. Louis race riots of 1917 was utterly fascinating. It was interesting to watch Mickey's eyes be opened to the what separate but equal means through his budding friendship with the "colored" lawyer. I had no idea how widespread the KKK was in the 20s, nor how wholesome it was viewed by the general populace. It sounds so different from what I think about the deplorable actions and members of today's KKK, it makes me want to read more about the "Invisible Empire" that comes complete with it's own language, secret signals and totally ridiculous titles.