Black Baseball's Heyday

Black Baseball's Heyday features the unique paintings of Kansas City artist Anthony High and High-Lights vignettes—a word-play on his last name—that provide insight into his creativity in helping tell the broader story of not only black baseball but also black culture during more than a half-century.

From the book’s Introduction, by Anthony High:

“I hope that turning the pages of this book will be like walking through an art gallery on a guided tour, viewing paintings that represent different artistic methods and styles, and saying to yourself as you read the accompanying text: ‘I didn’t know that!’

“Many of the works in this book were created just to illustrate the engaging stories Denny Dressman has written to capture the Black baseball era, which the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City has preserved for more than three decades. Others are my interpretations of related subjects that called to me long before this book was even an idea.

“I have a keen interest in history, especially jazz and Black baseball, which began sharing a special home in Kansas City’s iconic 18th and Vine cultural district in 1997.

“Artistically, I try to show the connection between jazz and baseball in Kansas City. I gravitated to Black baseball and jazz because there are so many wonderful stories that need to be told. I think this book is important for the unique way it captures the era of segregated baseball, spotlighting both unforgettable individuals and historic aspects of the period in which they became famous.”

High’s works can be found in the St. Luke Hospital Art Gallery, the Sprint Collection and the Buttonwood Art Space in Kansas City, and in the Noseworthy Collection in Newfoundland, Canada, among many installations.

One, an abstract interpretation of three Negro Leagues stars, titled “Josh, Satchel & Cool Papa,” has toured America for more than two decades as part of the traveling art exhibition titled “Shades of Greatness: Art inspired by Negro League Baseball.”

Commissioned by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, “Shades of Greatness” features, according to the museum: “35 original works of art produced by 28 diverse professional artists from across the country. The art interprets the Negro Leagues experience on-and-off the playing field.”

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