16 episodes
Reclaimed ABC News
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- History
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4.7 • 781 Ratings
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For decades, Black baseball players were excluded from the major leagues and forced to create their own space: the Negro Leagues. In “Reclaimed: The Forgotten League,” we’ll uncover the stories of some of these overlooked greats, including Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, one of the best hitters of all time. Overshadowed by racial prejudice and oppression, their legacy was hidden — but now, experts and family members reflect on their impact, which extended far beyond the game. We’ll discover how newly acknowledged Negro Leagues stats could rewrite history and redefine baseball’s roster of GOATs. Vanessa Ivy Rose, granddaughter of Turkey Stearnes, brings us on a quest to excavate the stories and stats of Black players who were shut out of the major leagues, a legacy that still haunts the sport. The series includes interviews with family and friends of Turkey Stearnes, including a living Negro Leagues player; never-before-published audio of Stearnes himself; and interviews with leading historians.
Season 2 of this series, “The Story of Mamie Till-Mobley,” explored the story of the civil rights trailblazer before the death of her son, and was recognized with the Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Podcast. Season 1, “Tulsa’s Buried Truth,” covered the search for mass graves beneath Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the fight for justice for the descendants of the Black Americans killed in the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
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The Forgotten League, Ep. 1: A Gentlemen's Agreement
Vanessa Ivy Rose is on a quest to learn more about the legacy of her grandfather, Norman "Turkey" Stearnes. That means going back all the way to the beginning of baseball, when a covert agreement shuts Black players out of the nation's pastime — until they boldly create their own league.
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The Forgotten League, Ep. 2: Golden Age
The newly founded Negro Leagues struggle to catch on — until savvy businessmen and fierce rivalries propel Black baseball to the national stage.
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The Forgotten League, Ep. 3: Call and Response
To draw crowds to their games, Black baseball players develop a signature style of play. It captivates audiences around the world — even gets the attention of one of Latin America's most notorious dictators.
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The Forgotten League, Ep. 4: Crossing the Line
When Jackie Robinson is signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers, he opens a door that was closed for decades. The move changes baseball forever and sets Negro Leagues players on a new trajectory. But integration comes with a heavier price than they could've ever imagined.
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The Forgotten League, Ep. 5: The Hall
Baseball's institutions fail to recognize Negro Leaguers as pressure builds for the sport to reconsider who counts as one of the greats.
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The Forgotten League, Ep. 6: 'A White Man's Sport'
The odds of seeing a Black American baseball player on the diamond were higher in the 1950s than they are today. Baseball's future will be defined by how it reckons with the past. But is it too little too late?
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Customer Reviews
A Must Listen!
Educational, eye-opening, engaging and entertaining. This is a must-listen for any baseball fan, and non-fans alike. I listened to The Forgotten League in a weekend and was sad when it ended.
My Dad
My dad played for the Monarchs, Clowns and I can’t remember the third team, his name is Sherwood Brewer, nickname Woody, I’m going to definitely start listening to this podcast.
Truth hurts. Thanks for sharing .
See PenName69, who is triggered by facts and history that clashes with his narrow minded gutless beliefs.