This is a very special episode of the Black Baseball Mixtape podcast. Award-winning author, journalist, and producer Howard Bryant returns to the Mixtape. Cheats and HB go one-on-one discussing his new book, Kings and Pawns: Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson in America.

The conversation takes place in the immediate aftermath of the passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., and Bryant and Cheats take a moment at the start of the episode to reflect on his legacy.

The book is a must-read. Cheats and Bryant discuss many themes in the book, including the looming presence of the Cold War, the overeconomic climate affecting both Robinson and Robeson, political leadership, and, of course, the business of baseball. But the magic of the conversation is how they apply the themes of the '50s, '60s, and '70s to today's landscape.

Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson are giants. But one's legacy, Robinson, is criminally misunderstood, while the other, Robeson, is woefully overlooked, even forgotten. The book tells an amazing story about these two men, and this podcast is an excellent companion.

We are honored to have Jake Mintz join the Mixtape this week. Jake is the co-founder of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast podcast and an MLB writer for Yahoo Sports. He absolutely loves the game of baseball, and he talks about his love of the game with the BBM crew.

Cheats, Flobo, April, and Malik are all on hand for this fantastic conversation. McCutchen and the Pirates — Casellanos and the Philles, even Bregman and the Sox, nothing is off limits on this episode. Please like and subscribe. And follow the Mixtape on Substack.

The Black Baseball Mixtape is in partnership with the Players Alliance, Minority Prospects, and Numbers Game.

Cheats and Flobo visit with former first-round draft pick and eleven-year MLB pro Denard Span, who joins the BBM podcast. He talks about his journey through baseball from Little League to the MLB.

The Black Baseball Mixtape is brought to you in partnership with the Players Alliance, Minority Prospects, and Numbers Game Scorebooks.

Please subscribe to the Black Baseball Mixtape on Substack.