📖 Overview
Robert W. Peterson (1925-1989) was an American sports journalist and author best known for his influential baseball writing, particularly his 1970 book "Only the Ball Was White," which chronicled the history of Negro League baseball.
Peterson's work helped bring attention to the overlooked stories of African American baseball players and teams during the era of segregation. His research and interviews with former Negro League players preserved crucial historical accounts that might otherwise have been lost.
"Only the Ball Was White" established Peterson as an authority on Negro League baseball history and influenced subsequent generations of baseball historians. He also wrote other notable sports books including "Pigskin: The Early Years of Pro Football" and "Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball's Early Years."
Before his career as an author, Peterson served in World War II and worked as a newspaper reporter and editor. He was a graduate of Rutgers University and spent many years as an editor at Sports Illustrated magazine.
👀 Reviews
Readers commend Peterson's thorough research and documentation of Negro League baseball history in "Only the Ball Was White." Baseball fans appreciate his detailed player accounts and his ability to capture the era's social context through firsthand interviews.
What readers liked:
- Comprehensive coverage of Negro League teams, players, and culture
- Clear, straightforward writing style
- Preservation of personal stories from former players
- Balance of statistics with human interest
What readers disliked:
- Dense statistical sections can be overwhelming for casual readers
- Some passages focus heavily on game scores and standings
- Limited availability of updated editions
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: 4.2/5 (300+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.5/5 (50+ reviews)
Notable reader comment: "Peterson interviewed the players while they were still alive. No one else could have captured these stories firsthand. This book saved an important piece of baseball history." - Amazon reviewer
His other books about pro football and basketball history receive similar praise for their research but have fewer total reviews.
📚 Books by Robert W. Peterson
Pigskin: The Early Years of Pro Football
Chronicles the history of professional football from its origins in the 1890s through the 1958 NFL championship game.
Only the Ball Was White Documents the history of Negro League baseball and its players from 1900 to 1947, including interviews with surviving players.
The Boy Scouts: An American Adventure Traces the development of the Boy Scouts of America from its founding in 1910 through the organization's first fifty years.
Sports and American Society: Selected Readings A collection of essays examining the relationship between sports and social issues in American culture.
The Masters: A Hole-by-Hole History of America's Golf Classic Details the history of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, including significant moments and changes to each hole.
Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball's Early Years Examines professional basketball's evolution from its humble beginnings to its emergence as a major sport in the 1960s.
Only the Ball Was White Documents the history of Negro League baseball and its players from 1900 to 1947, including interviews with surviving players.
The Boy Scouts: An American Adventure Traces the development of the Boy Scouts of America from its founding in 1910 through the organization's first fifty years.
Sports and American Society: Selected Readings A collection of essays examining the relationship between sports and social issues in American culture.
The Masters: A Hole-by-Hole History of America's Golf Classic Details the history of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, including significant moments and changes to each hole.
Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball's Early Years Examines professional basketball's evolution from its humble beginnings to its emergence as a major sport in the 1960s.
👥 Similar authors
Roger Kahn wrote baseball histories and biographies focused on the Brooklyn Dodgers era, including "The Boys of Summer." His writing style combines personal narrative with deep research into baseball's golden age.
David Halberstam produced works on baseball and American society in the 1950s and 1960s, including "Summer of '49" and "October 1964." His background as a journalist shaped his approach to documenting sports history through social context.
Donald Honig authored multiple books on baseball's early years through extensive player interviews and archival research. His work includes oral histories and encyclopedic collections of baseball's deadball era.
Lawrence Ritter created "The Glory of Their Times," interviewing players from the early 1900s about their experiences. His work preserved first-hand accounts of baseball's development and established a template for sports oral histories.
Peter Golenbock wrote team-specific baseball histories focusing on the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, and Mets. His books combine player interviews with season-by-season historical narratives of franchise development.
David Halberstam produced works on baseball and American society in the 1950s and 1960s, including "Summer of '49" and "October 1964." His background as a journalist shaped his approach to documenting sports history through social context.
Donald Honig authored multiple books on baseball's early years through extensive player interviews and archival research. His work includes oral histories and encyclopedic collections of baseball's deadball era.
Lawrence Ritter created "The Glory of Their Times," interviewing players from the early 1900s about their experiences. His work preserved first-hand accounts of baseball's development and established a template for sports oral histories.
Peter Golenbock wrote team-specific baseball histories focusing on the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, and Mets. His books combine player interviews with season-by-season historical narratives of franchise development.