George Lawrence Lester (born 1949 in Charleston, Arkansas) is a

Negro league baseball The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relativel ...

author, historian, statistical researcher, and lecturer. 2018 Larry Lester at SABR National Convention Pittsburgh 2018

Biography

Larry Lester is the former chairman of the

Society for American Baseball Research The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) is a membership organization dedicated to fostering the research and dissemination of the history and statistical record of baseball. The organization was founded in Cooperstown, New York, on Au ...

's Negro League Committee, which hosts the annual Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference, a symposium dedicated exclusively to the examination and promotion of black baseball history. He co-founded the

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) is a privately funded museum dedicated to preserving the history of Negro league baseball in America. It was founded in 1990 in Kansas City, Missouri, in the historic 18th and Vine – Downtown East, Kans ...

(NLBM) in Kansas City, Missouri, and served as its Research Director, Senior Editor, and Treasurer from 1991 to 1995. He was described as "a driving force in the NLBM's licensing program" that generated $1.4 million in its start-up years. Through using available black and white photographs as guides, doing research of archival newspapers, and conducting interviews of former players, Lester discovered the authentic Negro league colors and designs, allowing apparel manufacturers to reproduce retro-vintage caps, jerseys, and jackets. The NLBM licenses generated approximately $6,000,000 in sales in 1992, with Major League Baseball Properties producing $2.4 billion. Lester founded NoirTech Research, an internet-based company, in 1995. It provides sports scholarships to the news media, professional sports teams, educational institutions, museums, corporations, libraries, and churches. He co-chaired the

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United St ...

's ''Out of the Shadows'' Negro Leagues Baseball Research program and served on the Hall of Fame's Special Negro Leagues Committee which inducted a record 17 Negro leaguers in 2006. He is listed as a contributing researcher to more than 220 publications on African American history.

Civic contributions through the Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference

* Annually provides four national scholarships to high school seniors, via the Thomas R. Garrett Memorial Scholarship Family, to high school seniors. Seniors are required to write essays on four selected topics. * Annually provides two monetary library grants, via the Richard Clark Memorial Library Grant, to public schools to enriched education, using sports as a learning instrument.

Bibliography

Lester has authored, co-authored, or edited several books about Negro Baseball League history.

As sole author

* ''Black Baseball's National Showcase: The East-West All-Star Game, 1933-1953'', published 2002 by University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE. Winner of The Sporting News-SABR Baseball Research Award, that honors outstanding research projects that have significantly expanded the country's knowledge or understanding of baseball. * ''Baseball's First Colored World Series: The 1924 Meeting of the Hilldale Giants and Kansas City Monarchs'', published 2006 by McFarland Publishing, Jefferson, NC * ''Rube Foster in His Time: On the Field and in the Papers with Black Baseball's Greatest Visionary'', published 2012 by McFarland Publishing * ''Black Baseball in New York City: An Illustrated History, 1885-1959'', published 2017 by McFarland * ''Black Baseball's National Showcase: The East-West All-Star Game, 1933-1962, Expanded Version'' published by NoirTech Research, 2000

As co-author

* ''Black Baseball In Chicago'' (with Dick Clark and Sammy J. Miller), published 2000 by Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, SC * ''Black Baseball In Detroit'' (with Dick Clark and Sammy J. Miller), published 2000 by Arcadia Publishing * ''Black Baseball In Kansas City'' (with Sammy J. Miller), published 2000 by Arcadia Publishing * ''Black Baseball In Pittsburgh'' (with Sammy J. Miller), published 2001 by Arcadia Publishing * ''The Negro Leagues Book: The Players 1862-1960, Volume 2'' (with Wayne Stivers), published by NoirTech Research, 2000

As Editor/Writer

* ''The Negro Leagues Book'' (with Dick Clark), published 1994, Society for American Baseball Research, Cleveland, OH * ''Black Ball: A Negro Leagues Journal,'' "Can You Read, Judge Landis?" published Fall 2008, McFarland Publishers, Jefferson, NC * ''National Pastime Museum,'' staff writer, 2013-2018 * ''The Courier,'' editor of quarterly newsletter, 1993 to 2022

Forewords Written

* ''Twenty Years Too Soon'' by

Quincy Trouppe Quincy Thomas Trouppe (December 25, 1912 – August 10, 1993) was an American professional baseball player and an amateur boxing champion. He was a catcher in the Negro leagues from 1930 to 1949. He was a native of Dublin, Georgia. Early life ...

. Reprinted in 1995 * ''Ruling Over Monarchs, Giants & Stars: Umpiring in the Negro Leagues & Beyond'' by Bob Motley (2007) * ''When to Stop the Cheering: The Black Press, the Black Community and the Integration of Professional Baseball'' by Dr. Brian Carroll (2007) * ''Our White Boy: the Jerry Craft Story'' (2010) * ''The Black Press and Black Baseball, 1915 - 1955: A Devil's Bargain'' by Dr. Brian Carroll (2015) * ''Black Stats Matter'' by Philip Lee (2023)

As consultant/advisor

Source: * Hall of Fame Negro League Advisory Committee, the "Blue Ribbon Committee," with

Roy Campanella Roy Campanella (November 19, 1921 – June 26, 1993), nicknamed "Campy", was an American professional baseball player, primarily as a catcher. The Philadelphia native played in the Negro leagues and Mexican League for nine years before entering ...

, Monte Irvin, Buck O'Neil, Dr. Jules Tygiel and Tweed Webb (1993). * ''Black Diamonds: Blues City'', the story of the Memphis Red Sox (1994) * "Shadow Ball" chapter in ''

Baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

'', the

Ken Burns Kenneth Lauren Burns (born July 29, 1953) is an American filmmaker known for his documentary films and television series, many of which chronicle American history and culture. His work is often produced in association with WETA-TV or the Nati ...

documentary (1995) * "Journey of the African American Athlete" by HBO (1996) * "Legacy of

Jackie Robinson Jack Roosevelt Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) was an American professional baseball player who became the first Black American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Robinson broke the Baseball color line, ...

: Breaking the Line" by ESPN (1997) * "Chasing the Dream",

Hank Aaron Henry Louis Aaron (February 5, 1934 – January 22, 2021), nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1954 through 1976. Considered one ...

documentary by HBO (1998) * "100 Years of ESPN Sports Century",

Willie Mays Willie Howard Mays Jr. (May 6, 1931 – June 18, 2024), nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid", was an American professional baseball center fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of ...

and Hank Aaron segments (1999) * "Dare to Compete: The Struggle of Women in Sports" by HBO (1999) * Served on the

United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or simply the Postal Service, is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the executive branch of the federal governmen ...

Advisory Board for the "Legends of Baseball" stamps series (2000) and for the Andrew "Rube" Foster stamp with award-winning artist Kadir Nelson. * Traveling exhibit, Exhibits USA's "National Pastime in Black and White: The Negro Baseball Leagues, 1867-1955", from 2003 to 2006. *

Grand Rapids Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...

Museum and Library exhibit, "A League of Their Own" from February – September, 2003 * Historical consultant for ''The League'', a baseball documentary by Magnolia Pictures and RadicalMedia (2023) produced by Sam Pollard * Curatorial consultant for the National Baseball Hall of Fame's "Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball" exhibit, 2023-24

Exhibit developer, designer and/or advisor

* "Stamps of Recognition": an 80-panel exhibit of 60 prominent Jazz greats, abolitionists, writers, historians, actors and entertainers using stamps, currency, and coins as mediums. * "Crowning Achievements: Baseball Caps from the Black Leagues" - An exhibit featuring 20 rare baseball caps from 18 teams, worn by some of the greatest Negro leagues stars * "The Currency of Change": a 25-panel overview of African Americans on monetary instruments issued by the U.S. Treasury and the U.S. Mint. * "Discover Greatness!": Developed original static exhibits at the

(1990-1994). * "Pride & Passion: The African American Baseball Experience". Touring exhibit created by the

* Text writer for the Negro leagues exhibit at

Comiskey Park Comiskey Park was a ballpark in Chicago, Illinois, located in the Armour Square neighborhood on the near-south side of the city. The stadium served as the home of the Chicago White Sox of the American League from 1910 through 1990. Built by Wh ...

for the

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...

, 1992 * Developed and designed a

Homestead Grays The Homestead Grays (also known as Washington Grays or Washington Homestead Grays) were a professional baseball team that played in the Negro league baseball, Negro leagues in the United States. The team was formed in 1912 in sports, 1912 by Cum ...

and Pittsburgh Crawfords exhibit for the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...

, 1996 * Provided photographs and historical information on the Philadelphia Stars for an exhibit at itizens Bank Parkfor the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

, 2004 * Developed the exhibit, "The National Pastime in Black & White: The Negro Baseball Leagues, 1867-1955" - a pictorial history of black baseball, which toured nationally 2003 to 2006 in museums, libraries and academic institutions * Designer and developer for "Beyond the Help: The Role of the African American Maid on the Silver Screen" exhibit. * Designer and developer for "A Laughing Matter: Black Sitcoms in Review from 1950 to 2000" exhibit. * Curator for The True Black History Museum's Negro League exhibit for the Detroit Tigers.

Awards

* Black Collectors Hall of Fame inductee, 1993 - an organization that honored collectors for the preservation of oral, written and visual artifacts by and about people of African Diaspora. * SABR Henry Chadwick Award, 2016 - The Chadwick award honors baseball's great researchers, historians, statisticians, annalists, and archivists—for their invaluable contributions to making baseball the game that links America's present with its past. * SABR Bob Davids Award, 2017 - This award honors contributions to baseball that reflect the ingenuity, integrity, and self-sacrifice of the founder and past president of SABR, L. Robert "Bob" Davids.

References

External links

author's home page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lester, Larry 1949 births Living people Baseball writers Sports historians People from Kansas City, Missouri