{"product_id":"biz-mackey-a-giant-behind-rich-westcott-9781439915523","title":"Biz Mackey, a Giant Behind the Plate: The Story of the Negro League Star and Hall of Fame Catcher","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"The best all-around catcher in black baseball history\"--\u003c\/i\u003eCumberland Posey, Owner of the Homestead Grays\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNational Baseball Hall of Fame catcher James Raleigh \"Biz\" Mackey's professional career spanned nearly three decades in the Negro Leagues and elsewhere. He distinguished himself as a defensive catcher who also had an impressive batting average and later worked as a manager of the Newark Eagles and the Baltimore Elite Giants.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUsing archival materials and interviews with former Negro League players, baseball historian Rich Westcott chronicles the catcher's life and remarkable career in \u003ci\u003eBiz Mackey, a Giant behind the Plate \u003c\/i\u003eas well as providing an in-depth look at Philadelphia Negro League history. Westcott traces Mackey's childhood in Texas as the son of sharecroppers to his success on the baseball diamond where he displayed extraordinary defensive skills and an exceptional ability to hit and to handle pitchers. Mackey spent one third of his career playing in Philadelphia, winning championships with the Hilldale Daisies and the Philadelphia Stars. Mackey also mentored famed catcher Roy Campanella and had an unlikely role in the story of baseball's development in Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA celebrated ballplayer before African Americans were permitted to join Major League Baseball, Biz Mackey ranks as one of the top catchers ever to play the game. With \u003ci\u003eBiz Mackey, \u003c\/i\u003ehe finally gets the biography he deserves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Rich Westcott\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1439915520\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781439915523\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Temple University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/07\/2020\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 208\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.50lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.50h x 5.40w x 0.40d","brand":"Rich Westcott","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44066175647999,"sku":"9781439915523","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_5d088655-d933-4d9c-9f1d-fc96a1c8629d.jpg?v=1685405737","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/biz-mackey-a-giant-behind-rich-westcott-9781439915523","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}