The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O’Neil’s America

From the author of Baseball 100

“A fascinating account of a man who outlasted the ignorance of a nation and persevered to become a beloved figure...One of the best baseball books in years, filled with depth style and clarity." —Cleveland Plain Dealer

An award-winning sports columnist and a baseball legend tour the country to recapture the joys and wonders of two of America’s greatest pastimes

When legendary Negro League player Buck O’Neil asked sports columnist Joe Posnanski how he fell in love with baseball, that simple question eventually led the pair on a cross-country quest to recapture the love that first drew them to the game. Baseball & Jazz recounts their emotional quest to find the heart of America’s beloved sport that still beats despite the scandal-ridden, steroid-shooting, money hungry athletes who currently seem to define the sport. At its heart is the story of 94-year-old Buck O’Neil—a man that truly played for the love of the game. After an impressive career in the Negro Baseball Leagues in which he earned two hitting titles and one championship, O’Neil made baseball history by becoming the first African-American coach in major league baseball. Posnanski writes about that love and the one thing that O’Neil cherishes almost as much as baseball: jazz. This heartwarming and insightful journey is an endearing step back in time to the days when the crack of a bat and the smokey notes of a midnight jam session were the sounds that brought the most joy to a man’s heart.

When Legendary Negro League player Buck O'Neil asked sports columnist Joe Posnanski how he fell in love with baseball, Posnanski had to think about it. From that question was born the idea behind BASEBALL AND JAZZ. Posnanski and the 94 year old O'Neil decided to spend the 2005 baseball season touring the country in hopes of stirring up the love that first drew them to the game. This book is just as much the story of Buck O'Neil as it is the story of baseball. In a time when disillusioned, steroid–shooting, money hungry athletes define the sport, Buck O'Neil stands out as a man that truly played for the love of the game. Posnanski writes about that love and the one thing that O'Neil loved almost as much as baseball: jazz. BASEBALL AND JAZZ is an endearing step back in time to the days when the crack of a bat and the smoky notes of a midnight jam session were the sounds that brought the most joy to a man's heart.

“Posnanski masterfully conveys O’Neil’s charisma and the rhythm of his words...A worthy paean to an American legend.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“The best baseball book I’ve read... O’Neil is every bit the teacher, philosopher and character that Mitch Albom’s now-famous Morrie was, and we’re all the richer for being able to read the story...This book is a treasure--one of those rare reads that I didn’t want to end.” - CBS Sportsline

“Imagine, a year spent with Buck O’Neil...you don’t have to imagine it, it’s all here.” - Bob Costas

“[A] loving, lyrical effort by Joe Posnanski. One of the most original and winning baseball books in recent years.” - Harvey Frommer

“A moving elegy for both the Negro Leagues and one of the game’s biggest personalities. B+.” - Entertainment Weekly

“This book is flat-out terrific...If Gandhi had played baseball, he would have been Buck O’Neill.” - Leigh Montville, author of Big Bam and Ted Williams

“[A] poignant, very funny, and ultimately inspiring book.” - Dave Barry