The Bambino Secret: A Novel of Love, Murder, and Scandal

J. Anderson Cross
Elkhorn Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780979517600
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer for Reader Views (9/08)

 

The author of this book has done an excellent job of writing a very suspenseful and intriguing story surrounding Babe Ruth. For years rumor mills said Babe Ruth was black but it never could be proved. Having been one of America’s greatest heroes does it really matter?

During the 20s blacks weren’t allowed to do many things and being a baseball player was one of them. It all began when a black man named Griffin needed a lawyer-- he had something very important to tell. Once he told his story, no one believed him and even though in good health, he ended up dead. Was it to have a secret to stay that way, or was it due to natural causes?

Babe’s career started with the Orioles – he learned fast, stayed away from others and didn’t talk about his past. He was loud, drank too much and always had women around him even though he was married. His career was anything but pleasant some of the time-- many suspected him of being black. He didn’t really know. Until one day he met his grandparents-- then he knew. But he kept it a secret. No one could touch the Babe-- even to this day can anyone say for fact he was black?

This is a very interesting and informative book. “The Bambino Secret” covered many aspects of being black and poor during the 20s, as well as suspenseful in that some information was fact and some was fiction. It is a great read and one book you can’t put down.

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