Reviews
"Expertly captures Stone's significant life and the impressive strength of her will." -- Kirkus Reviews, "As the Negro Leagues have faded from living memory, the tales have grown taller and truth has, sadly, become a casualty. Curveball bucks that trend, providing an unflinching and unvarnished account of Toni Stone's life in baseball which ultimately does more to honor her legend and example than any amount of mythmaking."--Craig Calcaterra , NBCsports.com, "What makes Curveball stand out are the moving stories of racism faced by the black players, and Stone encountered more of it than most." -- Publishers Weekly, " Curveball is an eloquent and a necessary work. Toni Stone's life and this book are both wonders to behold." --Dayn Perry, columnist, FOXSports.com, and author, Reggie Jackson: The Life and Thunderous Career of Baseball's Mr. October, "Wow! Martha Ackmann has done a wonderful job telling the story of Toni Stone, this remarkable woman. There are no tears, no quit, no despair in baseball. Stand tall, keep your eyes on the Prize. SWING!" --Nikki Giovanni, "Martha Ackmann has lovingly introduced us to someone in baseball whom almost none of us ever knew existed. We should thank her for that introduction to the indomitable Toni Stone and for guiding us to a forgotten place in the sport's history." --Frank Deford, columnist, Sports Illustrated , and author, Bliss, Remembered, "Martha Ackmann's biography of Toni Stone is three stories in one--of barnstorming baseball, the insidious Jim Crow era of segregation, and gender bias by blacks and whites. They are stories worth reading." --Larry Tye, author, Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend, "We need to know [Toni Stone's] story, and in Martha Ackmann's capable hands, we do. From this time forward it will be impossible to overlook Stone or her heroic contribution to both the National Pastime and the cause of women's rights." --Glenn Stout, author, Young Woman and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the World ; editor, The Best American Sports Writing 2009, " Curveball tells the remarkable story of Toni Stone, a trailblazer who broke the gender barriers in the world of professional baseball. Her courageous journey and experiences are sure to be an inspiration to anyone seeking to make a way out of no way." --Donna Brazile , author of Cooking with Grease , syndicated columnist, and Democratic strategist, "A fine addition for all baseball shelves." -- Library Journal "Expertly captures Stone's significant life and the impressive strength of her will." --Kirkus, "Martha Ackmann's biography of Toni Stone is three stories in one--of barnstorming baseball, the insidious Jim Crow era of segregation, and gender bias by blacks and whites. They are stories worth reading." --Larry Tye, author, Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend
