Let Them Play - Hardcover

by Margot Theis Raven (Author), Chris Ellison (Illustrator)

The inspiring true story of the Cannon Street All-Stars, a tale of humanity set against the backdrop of America's favorite pastime.

Segregated Charleston, SC, 1955: There are 62 official Little League programs in South Carolina -- all but one of the leagues is composed entirely of white players. The Cannon Street YMCA All-Stars, an all-black team, is formed in the hopes of playing in the state's annual Little League Tournament. What should have been a time of enjoyment, however, turns sour when all of the other leagues refuse to play against them and even pull out of the program. As the only remaining Little League team in the state, Cannon Street was named state winner by default, giving the boys a legitimate spot in the Little League Baseball World Series held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. While the Cannon Street team is invited to the game as guests, they are not allowed to participate since they have not officially "played" and won their state's tournament.

Let Them Play takes its name from the chant shouted by the thousands of spectators who attended the World Series final and who watched the boys take the field for a warm-up to a game they would not be allowed to play. It was a chant that told the 14 players they were on the ball field where they belonged. A chant that said they were not the team nobody would play. They were the team that had won a crowd's heart.