Now Presenting: Paint the Corners

This week, we rejoin Gus Greenlee and the formidable Pittsburgh Crawfords on the road to stardom. But nothing gold can stay. Greenlee fights to maintain his wealth while the Crawfords fight against the often harsh realities of the day; the Depression, the heat, the crosstown Grays, and the final assessment of Greenlee Field at the hands of the government.

The story of Gus Greenlee, a titan of Pittsburgh's Black Wall Street in the 1930s. In this episode (part 1 of 3) Greenlee solidified his influence by purchasing the Pittsburgh Crawfords and building them into a powerhouse of the Negro Leagues. And then he had an idea. The Crawfords deserved a cathedral. He led the effort to develop Greenlee Field, the first Black-led ballpark in America.

In 1971, the Pittsburgh Pirates fielded the first all-minority lineup in the history of major league baseball. A lineup made up of all Black and Latino players. 24 years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, the Pirates forever changed the landscape and culture of baseball. 

The story of Eddie Waitkus, a legendary first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies and his most deadly fan, Ruth Ann Steinhagen.

The traumatic story that turned Ty Cobb into a snarling wildcat and one of history’s complicated legends.

The story and swirling drama of Jackie Mitchell, a professional female pitcher, striking out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

The first cheating scandal in baseball history and a rags-to-riches-to-rags tragedy for one of America’s first sports stars.