Larry Lester has spent five decades recovering the box scores, biographies and business of Black baseball. Co-founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, author of nine books, and the researcher museums call when the record needs to be right.
Was Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis baseball's gatekeeper of segregation, the "Leader of the Resistance," or a hostage to social norms? Lester's perspective on how the "Gentlemen's Agreement" kept African Americans out of Major League Baseball for more than 60 years.
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.Edmund Burke
Encyclopedias, game histories and biographies built from primary-source box scores. Every title available through Amazon.
The same primary-source rigor behind the books, available for hire. Clients include Major League Baseball, museums, film and TV productions.
Verified statistics and player biographies compiled from period newspapers and league records.
Concept, content and artifact curation for museum exhibitions and traveling installations.
Manuscript review and historical verification for publishers, documentaries and journalists.
Curated exhibitions telling Black history through sport, screen, currency and culture. Scroll →
Tributes, fast facts and the story behind the number every team retired. Larry's #42 work honors the man who broke the line and the leagues that made him ready.
Explore Number 42 →Many Negro Leagues players were buried without headstones. Larry leads the effort to place markers, research the records, and bring families and fans together for dedications.
The Hall of Fame player, manager and author who wrote the first history of Black baseball finally received a marker, more than 60 years after his death.
Read the story →Keynotes, museum programs, classrooms and media. Larry speaks on the Negro Leagues, Jackie Robinson, Rube Foster, and the business of segregated baseball. Schedule a call to discuss dates and topics.
Book a call on Calendly →