SABR Digital Library: The Stars Shone on Philadelphia: The 1934 Negro National League Champions
Add a new baseball book to your collection from the SABR Digital Library:
The Stars Shone on Philadelphia: The 1934 Negro National League Champions
Edited by Frederick C. Bush and Bill Nowlin
Associate editors: Len Levin and Carl Riechers
ISBN (ebook): 978-1-960819-04-8, $9.99
ISBN (paperback): 978-1-960819-05-5, $24.95
8.5″ x 11″, 240 pages
In 1934, Ed Bolden’s Philadelphia Stars joined the new Negro National League II (NNL2), which had been founded one year earlier. After fending off their intrastate-rivals, the Pittsburgh Crawfords, the Stars claimed the NNL2’s second-half championship and faced the first-half champions for the title. They defeated the Chicago American Giants to claim the NNL2 crown.
Over two dozen SABR members researched the Stars’ history for this book, which includes biographies of as many of the team’s players as possible, even those who participated in only a single game. The 1934 Stars featured future Hall of Famers Raleigh “Biz” Mackey and Jud Wilson; stalwarts like Phil Cockrell, Webster McDonald, and Chaney White; shooting star Stewart “Slim” Jones; and temporary fill-ins like Frederick Coleman and Clifford “Whip” Irons.
Majority owner Ed Bolden, a vital figure in the history of Philadelphia baseball, and minority owner/booking agent Eddie Gottlieb—who is better known to basketball fans—are both featured, as well, along with the history of the Stars’ home ballpark in 1934, Passon Field, named after another prominent local baseball entrepreneur. Also included is a complete season timeline, articles about select games such as the epic September 9 Satchel Paige-Slim Jones pitching duel at Yankee Stadium, and a comprehensive write-up of the NNL2 championship series complete this portrait of the 1934 title-winning team.
Contributors include: Rebecca T. Alpert, Richard Bogovich, Frederick C. Bush, Alan Cohen, Joseph Gerard, Darren Gibson, Margaret M. Gripshover, Michael Haupert, Leslie Heaphy, Paul Hofmann, Jay Hurd, Bill Johnson, Thomas Kern, Bob LeMoine, Len Levin, Bill Nowlin, Will Osgood, James Overmyer, Richard J. Puerzer, Chris Rainey, Carl Riechers, Courtney Michelle Smith, Jeb Stewart, Mike Whiteman, and Dave Wilkie.
SABR members, get this e-book for FREE!
- E-book: Click here to download the e-book version of for FREE from the SABR Store. Available in PDF, MOBI, EPUB/Kindle formats.
- Paperback: Get a 50% discount on paperback edition from the SABR Store ($17.95 includes shipping/tax; delivery via Amazon Kindle Direct can take up to 4-6 weeks.)
Buy the book
- E-book: Click here to download the e-book version of for $9.99 from the SABR Store. Available in PDF, MOBI, and EPUB/Kindle formats.
- Paperback: Get the paperback edition of from the SABR Store ($34.95 includes shipping/tax; delivery via Amazon Kindle Direct can take up to 4-6 weeks.)
About the SABR Digital Library
For more than 40 years, SABR and its members have led the way in publishing the best baseball historical and statistical research. Our publications program is shifting to take advantage of new methods of publishing. Not only will we continue to publish new books like Can He Play? A Look At Baseball Scouts and Their Profession (2011); Inventing Baseball: The 100 Greatest Games of the 19th Century (2013); Scandal on the South Side: The 1919 Chicago White Sox (2015); Au jeu/Play Ball: The 50 Greatest Games in the History of the Montreal Expos (2016); The Pride of Smoketown: The 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords (2020); and Jackie Robinson: Perspectives on 42 (2021), which showcase the best efforts of SABR’s members, chapters and committees, but new technology makes it possible for us to bring out-of-print titles like The Fenway Project (2013); Go-Go to Glory: The 1959 Chicago White Sox (2019); and Green Cathedrals (2020) back again.
Visit SABR.org/ebooks to find all past titles and download your favorites. Books will be available in digital formats as well as paperbacks produced by “print on demand” (POD).
SABR members can download all Digital Library e-book editions for free and save 50% on purchase of the paperback editions. If you’re not a member, click here to join SABR.
Stay tuned throughout the year for new (and old!) titles that we’ll be adding to the SABR Digital Library. To learn more about SABR Publications, contact Publications Editor Cecilia Tan at ctan@sabr.org.
Having trouble downloading our e-books? To view PDF files on your computer, click here to download the free Adobe Reader software. Having trouble downloading e-books to your Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader or iPad? Click here for additional help.
- Note for Kindle users: Amazon no longer allows Kindle users to send new MOBI files to their Kindle library. (Any MOBI files already in your Kindle library will not be affected by this change.) Compatible formats for Kindle e-readers now include EPUB (.epub), which you can download and send to your library using your Send to Kindle email address. Amazon will also be adding EPUB support to the free Kindle app for iOS and Android devices and the Send to Kindle desktop app for PC and Mac.
Originally published: August 23, 2023. Last Updated: August 22, 2023.