'I'm going to miss thinking about them' Windsor author publishes book on Chatham Coloured All-Stars
For the last six years, Heidi Jacobs has been researching and writing about the historic team from 1934.
“They were the first Black team to win an Ontario baseball amateur Association Championship in 1934,” but Jacobs says that’s only half the story. “They really made a difference not only in terms of sports in the region, but also life and opportunities for people of colour in this region.”
The idea to memorialize the team started as a website, at work, where Jacobs is a librarian for the University of Windsor.
”We honestly thought we could finish this up in six months. It's been six years, and I fell more and more in love with this team,” says Jacobs. “It's been a really long thing, but I'm going to miss thinking about them. They've really occupied a huge part of my mind.”
Jacobs couldn’t find a lot of published works about the team, but lots of old newspaper clippings and genealogical records to sift through.
“I didn't have any inkling (about) how amazing it would be and I just kept digging deeper and deeper and deeper and I got to a point where I realized this is a story that needs to go out there,” says Jacobs.
The Chatham All-Stars are shown in this photo (Source: Brock Greenhalgh)
Enter Dan Wells, owner of Biblioasis bookstore and publishing house.
“This book for me is personal in a way most of our other regional books haven't been,” he said.
Wells is originally from Chatham and a life-long baseball fan.
But more importantly, his grandfather was friends with some of the team members of the Chatham Coloured All-Stars.
“I knew about their connection to baseball, but at the time as a kid I didn't care, right? I mean, I didn't understand the Negro League because I didn't understand amateur baseball. It was MLB (Major League baseball) or bust,” said Wells. “I regret the fact that when I knew these men I didn't care enough.”
Together, they have published ‘1934: The Chatham Coloured All-Stars’ Barrier-Breaking Year’ on sale now at Biblioasis 1520 Wyandotte Street East.
They are also planning a book launch for Tuesday, June 6 at 7 p.m. at the book store and Wednesday June 7 at 7 p.m. at Sons of Kent brewery in Chatham.
“There are these undiscovered incredible stories everywhere if we only know where to look and what she has done is she's uncovered this story that we all should know a lot more about,” says Wells.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.