About the Book
With the world's eyes on Jackie Robinson, there were not many who noticed the sportswriter who traveled by the baseball star's side in 1946-47. Wendell Smith was a pioneer not only in writing, but in broadcast media as well, with a career that spanned 1937-1972 and included more than 1,500 written pieces.
After an extensive biographical sketch, this work presents a collection of Smith's writings. Chapters are organized to present him as one who chronicled Black history, traveled extensively, challenged racism, noted progress in racial relations, criticized friends, praised enemies, and bid farewell to notable figures who passed before him. Black athletes covered in his writings include Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Jesse Owens, Ernie Banks, and many more. When necessary, the editor provides commentary to provide context or illustrate key points.
Table of Contents:
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction: Wendell Smith’s “Life of Splendor and Excitement” by Michael Marsh
1. Remembering Wendell
December 9, 1972, Hazel Garland’s Things to Talk About, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 13
December 9, 1972, Louis Martin’s The Big Parade: “We Mourn a notable friend,” The Pittsburgh Courier, p. 3
December 16, 1972, Dick Young, The Sporting News, p. 16
2. Black History
July 30, 1938, Smitty’s Sport Spurts, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 16
March 6, 1943, Sports Beat, “Young Frank Dixon Refutes Old Myth About Durability of Negro Runners,” Pittsburgh Courier, p. 19
August 31, 1946, Sports Beat, “Marshall Bowling King,” Pittsburgh Courier, p. 16
August 16, 1947, Sports Beat, “Louis Amateur King; Rhodes Tops Pros in Courier Meet,” Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
May 7, 1949, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 22
January 7, 1950, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 20
January 3, 1959, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 25
March 25, 1961, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 38
January 20, 1962, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 45
June 22, 1963, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 15
September 21, 1963, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 15
March 28, 1964, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 19
July 4, 1964, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 15
September 5, 1964, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
October 22, 1966, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 15
December 17, 1966, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
July 20, 1971, “Golfing riches still elude Sifford” by Wendell Smith, Chicago Sun-Times, p. 81
May 9, 1972, “Pressure hasn’t bothered Aaron in push for Ruth’s homer mark” by Wendell Smith, Chicago Sun-Times, p. 98
3. Jackie Robinson
April 27, 1946, The Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 16
June 7, 1947, The Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
March 19, 1949, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 10
May 19, 1951, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
February 26, 1955, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 12
January 19, 1957, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 25
February 9, 1957, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 25
May 20, 1959, The Sporting News, p. 4
June 3, 1961, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 34
May 17, 1964, “Changing Times in the U.S. and England,” Chicago Tribune, p. 190
January 26, 1971, “Jackie Robinson discusses old adversary Leo,” Chicago Sun-Times, p. 72
November 4, 1972, “The Jackie Robinson I Knew,” Pittsburgh Courier, p. 9
4. Foreign Affairs
July 19, 1941, Smitty’s Sports Spurts, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 16
January 10, 1948, Pittsburgh Courier, pp. 1, 4
April 10, 1948, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 13
August 14, 1948, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 7
November 7, 1953, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
July 25, 1959, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 25
May 12, 1962, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 45
April 27, 1963, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 11
July 27, 1963, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 15
December 3, 1972, Tuesday at Home Magazine, “Should the Olympic Games Be Continued,” pp. 269–275
5. Confronting Racism
December 10, 1938, Smitty’s Sport Spurts, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 16
November 9, 1940, Smitty’s Sport Spurts, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 18
February 23, 1946, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 12
January 26, 1952, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
November 9, 1957, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 24
September 24, 1960, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 25
January 28, 1961, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 37
April 15, 1961, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 38
January 6, 1962, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 32
August 15, 1964, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
August 4, 1970, “Dark still bothered by racist charge,” Chicago Sun-Times, p. 75
October 31, 1964, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 15
March 13, 1965, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 15
February 3, 1970, “Ashe is caught in South Africa dilemma,” Chicago Sun-Times, p. 80
6. Friendly Fire
May 14, 1938, Smitty’s Sport Spurts, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 17
June 17, 1939, Smitty’s Sport Spurts, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 17
December 18, 1943, Smitty’s Sports Spurts, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
September 1, 1945, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 12
January 26, 1946, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 16
January 24, 1948, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 16
March 12, 1949, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 10
January 12, 1957, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 22
July 18, 1959, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 25
December 7, 1963, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 15
October 3, 1964, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
7. Progress
October 29, 1938, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 17
August 19, 1939, “‘Owners Will Admit Negro Players If Fans Demand Them’—Cards’ Pilot,” Pittsburgh Courier, p. 16
December 7, 1940, Smitty’s Sport Spurts, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 17
February 9, 1946, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 16
October 4, 1947, Sports Beat, “The Series Takes The Town…,” Pittsburgh Courier, p. 13
December 29, 1951, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
August 8, 1953, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
July 3, 1954, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
June 22, 1957, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 25
August 2, 1958, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 25
September 17, 1960, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 52
December 8, 1962, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 18
March 26, 1966, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 11
February 27, 1971, We Believe… by C.C. Johnson Spink, Editor and Publisher, The Sporting News, pp. 17, 30
8. Women!
May 15, 1948, “Now the ‘New Look’ Is in the Fight Game,” Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
September 18, 1948, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 22
July 29, 1950, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 22
June 20, 1953, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
September 25, 1954, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
August 24, 1957, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 25
9. Muhammad Ali
August 3, 1963, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 15
January 16, 1965, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 15
December 11, 1965, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 15
January 20, 1970, “Foggy future keeps Cassius on the move,” Chicago Sun-Times, p. 73
September 23, 1970, “Long layoff Ali undoing,” Chicago Sun-Times, p. 87
November 17, 1970, “Chamberlain vs. Clay? It’s a good idea,” Chicago Sun-Times, p. 80
March 9, 1971, “‘I Ain’t No Champ,’ Moans Once Invincible Ex-Champ,” Chicago Sun-Times, p. 28
June 22, 1971, “A new Ali faces uncertain future,” Chicago Sun-Times, p. 81
10. Loss
May 15, 1943, Smitty’s Sports Spurts, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 18
December 2, 1944, Smitty’s Sports Spurts, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 12
November 20, 1948, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 10
July 19, 1952, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 14
December 25, 1954, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, pp. 1, 4
November 30, 1963, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 15
August 5, 1964, Sports Beat, Chicago Daily Defender, pp. 22, 28
November 27, 1965, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 15
April 2, 1966, Sports Beat, Pittsburgh Courier, p. 15
Bibliography
Index
About the Author :
Michael Scott Pifer lives in Alachua, Florida.
Review :
“A splendid and important book.”—Chicago Tribune
“For the first time in more than 50 years, Chicago’s avid sports fandom can refamiliarize themselves with the insightful and generous writings of Wendell Smith.”—Chicago Reader
“A sumptuous selection of Smith’s writings…Pifer has put together an exceptional collection…[Smith’s] strong prose and his interviewing skills make his writing still a joy to read…thanks to [Pifer], [Smith’s] impressive record will be forever etched in the minds of baseball historians and fans alike.”—Washington Examiner.
