Mamie on the Mound

November 18, 2019
In this biography of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson (1935–2017), “the first female pitcher in professional baseball,” Henderson focuses on Johnson’s determination and passion for the sport. “Swinging a tree limb for a bat, she knocked homemade balls of stone wrapped with twine and masking tape.” Playing professionally was unlikely (“She already had two strikes against her./ She was a girl./ She was black”), but barred from trying out for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League—even after Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers—she eventually landed an opportunity to pitch for the Negro League’s Indianapolis Clowns, where she earned a 33–8 record. Johnson’s grit appeals: “She would say, ‘Don’t emphasize the hardness of it,’ because she and the other players were doing what they wanted to do—playing the game they loved.” Smoothly exaggerated realism gives Doutsiopoulos’s illustrations an engaging cartoon flair. Ages 8–12.

December 1, 2019
Mamie "Peanut" Johnson broke gender barriers playing in the Negro League in the 1950s. Through informative prose and muscular illustrations, Mamie emerges as both small in stature and larger than life. Standing 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighing in at 120 pounds, Mamie was frequently underestimated due to her small size and gender but consistently proved skeptics wrong with her strong right arm. She even joined the all-white, all-boys Long Branch Police Athletic League in New Jersey while still a preteen, overcoming her teammates' snickers and helping them win two championships. She was unable to prove her worth for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which denied black women the opportunity to play. On the urging of a former Negro League player, Mamie won a spot on the Indianapolis Clowns at 19, eventually pitching her way to a 33-8 record in her three-season career. The artwork deftly works with the text to provide a memorable reading experience, Mamie's enthusiasm and determination shining from every page. Images of Mamie facing down white and/or male hostility alternate with scenes of prowess and accomplishment. This compelling story of breaking barriers and perseverance is timely and essential; it will pair well with She Loved Baseball, by Audrey Vernick and illustrated by Don Tate (2010). An incredible tribute to an African American woman who dismantled racial and gender obstacles amid the civil rights movement. (afterword, notes, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 5-9)

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January 1, 2020

PreS-Gr 4-Mamie Johnson grew up loving baseball, but she knew she wanted to do more than just watch men have all the fun. Johnson, motivated by the loving encouragement of her family, learned about the game and played alongside local boys on her family's farm in South Carolina. After moving to New Jersey, she earned her place on an all-white, all-boys Police Athletic League Team. Johnson led her team to two division championships. As she grew older, her skills and love of the game grew. After being effectively shunned at the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League tryouts, Johnson finally became a pro for the Indianapolis Clowns, a traveling Negro League team. The colorful, expressive artwork highlights Johnson's joy while also showing the oppressive racism faced by the ball player and her teammates. The afterword explains how Johnson's contributions to the sport have resonated through the years, earning recognition from Presidents Clinton and Obama. VERDICT Readers who are unfamiliar with Johnson will walk away from Henderson's thoughtfully written picture book biography as fans of this resilient, über-talented ballplayer. An important purchase for most collections.-Abby Bussen, Muskego Public Library, WI

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