Inearlysummer1959,TexasTechseniorJerryCraftwasplanningtostayhomeonthefamilyranchwhenCarlSedberry,asemiprobaseballmanager,phoned,askinghimtotryoutforhisclub.CrafthadneverheardoftheWichitaFalls/GrahamStars,buttheyneededapitcher,andCraftwassurprisedandpersuadedbytheiroffertopay$75pergame.CraftwasinforanevenbiggersurprisewhenhereportedtoSpudderParkandrealizedthatMr.SedberrywasrecruitinghimfortheWestTexasColoredLeague.Noone--leastofallCraft--couldknowforsurewhatwouldhappenwhentheLeague’sfirstwhitepitchertookthemoundthatsummerday.ButasMr.Sedberry’swisdomprevailed,theStarsandtheirwhiteteammatepulledtogethertoplayagametheyloved.CraftwouldpitchtwoseasonsfortheStars.AstheymadehistoryCraftandhisteammateswouldlearnmuchfromMr.Sedberryandeachotheraboutsportsandlife,andshareexperiencesthatwouldchangethemforever.LookingbackonthoseyearsbeforetheCivilRightsmovement,whenbaseballwasstillverymuchasegregatedgameinasegregatedsociety,Craftrelatesanunlikelystoryofrespect,character,humor,andultimatelyfriendship.
