Only the Ball Was White (1980)
Throughout the 1900's, before Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in 1946, black baseball talent blossomed in the Negro Leagues. Baseball buffs still sing the praises of Josh Gibson who could be counted on to hit 70 homeruns in a season, and Satchel Paige who pitched over 100 no-hitters in his career. Only the Ball Was White pays tribute to the many topflight players from the Negro Leagues. Narrated by actor Paul Winfield, the program documents a bygone bittersweet era in baseball and the men who were denied stardom by the color line. Ballplayers throughout the country were interviewed for this program, all of them quick to tell tales of the life, the competition, and the camaraderie. These include: Satchel Paige, Roy Campanella, Buck Leonard, Jimmy Crutchfield, David Malarcher, Effa Manley, and Quincy Trouppe.
Director: Ken Solarz
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Paul Winfield as Narrator |
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Effa Manley as Self |
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Don Newcombe as Self |
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Leroy 'Satchel' Paige as Self |
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Buck Leonard as Self |
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Jimmie Crutchfield as Self |
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Roy Campanella as Self |
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Sam Hairston as Self |
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Quincy Trouppe as Self |
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Branch Rickey Jr as Self |
| Directing | Ken Solarz | Director |
| Editing | Jay Tannenbaum | Editor |
| Camera | G. Richard Sato | Camera Operator |
| Sound | Bob Dove | Sound Editor |
| Sound | Laszlo Aranyos | Sound Editor |
| Sound | Jim Mancini | Sound Editor |
| Production | Ken Solarz | Producer |
| Writing | Ken Solarz | Writer |
| Sound | John Stiernberg | Music |
