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Meet the Real Joe Black: An Inspiring Life - Baseball, Teaching, Business, Giving
by Steven Michael Selzer
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Joe Black was a baseball pioneer, the first black pitcher ever to
win a World Series game. He then became the only Major Leaguer to
become a full-time public school teacher after his baseball career
ended. The Black family lived in a very modest house right next to the
author's father's auto body shop near the railroad tracks in the
poorest part of Plainfield, New Jersey and they knew his late father,
Nathan. Joe Black was a man devoted to character and education and helping others. From humble beginnings in Plainfield, New Jersey, through the Major Leagues when being a black athlete was difficult at best and onto a bright corporate career and life that touched so many in so many ways, Mr. Joe Black was a true American Hero.
Steven Michael Selzer writes from a unique perspective. The author first met Mr. Black when he came to Hubbard Junior High
School as a teacher and baseball coach and their forty year friendship
continued until his death in 2002. As his teacher, coach, and mentor
until the end of his life, Mr. Black became a trusted friend. He
greatly influenced the author's life, his law practice, and his family.
Selzer was given the honor of being the opening speaker at Joe Black's
Memorial Celebration on June 1, 2002. Many of Joe's friends,
acquaintances, and former colleagues contributed stories for this book;
among them are Bill Cosby, Sandy Koufax, Bob Costas, Joe Garagiola,
Dusty Baker, Jerry Reinsdorf, Jerry Colangelo, John Teets, former CEO
of the Greyhound Corporation, and many others.
Coach Black and his Hubbard Junior High School baseball team are pictured below. The author is in the top row, third from the right.
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