Under Jackie's Shadow: Voices of Black Minor Leaguers Baseball Left Behind by Mitchell Nathanson (review)

Wallbangers that came second in the Eastern Division of the American League during the strike year of 1981, and won the AL championship the following year.Despite high expectations, the Brewers failed to rise to these heights again, due mainly to devastating injuries and some morale issues.Selig, who had been a strong backer of Dalton at first, eventually, somewhat underhandedly, decided that his general manager needed to go.Following his own advice, Dalton felt that it was best to leave the game while he still enjoyed it.Apart from his other duties, Dalton had a role to play in implementing some of the major changes that were affecting the game.During the battle over free agency, Dalton initially followed the party line but later laid down a three-part plan to help the two sides bridge the financial gap and mend fences.And during the cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, Dalton, who always believed in having highcharacter players on his teams, tried to minimize the problem through a series of trades.At each turn in the road, Dalton proved himself to be sensitive to the interests of the players, the fans, and the well-being of the organization.The one theme that flows throughout Kluck's book is a veneration of Dalton's character and his humanity.Frequent references are made as to Dalton's passion for the game, his love of family, his work ethic, his humility, his listening skills, his loyalty to close associates, many of whom remained with him over his entire career, and his integrity, among other things.What one is left with is the image of Dalton as a role model that stands above his successes and failures as a baseball executive.