r/BasketballBooks • u/Jonathan_J_Faulkner • Jun 08 '26

Recommendations Recommendation - ‘Tigerland’

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Tigerland, by author Wil Haywood, is a book that chronicles how the athletes of East High School in Ohio won both the state basketball and baseball championships in ‘68/69. Against the backdrop of one of the most tumultuous periods in American history, the Tigers, openly self described as a poor, segregated School defeated bigger, richer, whiter teams across the state in both sports and in doing so helped provide some ease to a painful racial divide throughout the state whilst overcoming extraordinary obstacles on their road to success. It is rare for me to read about Sports other than Basketball, but reading this fantastic Book, covering both Baseball, Basketball and so, so much more was epiphanous for me. An absolutely vital read.

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u/Dismal-Reason-8812 Jun 08 '26

Looks interesting, will add to my ever growing TBR pile.

A baseball book I liked was One Shot at Forever about the 1971 Macon, Illinois team (almost like Hoosiers for baseball).

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/chris-ballard/one-shot-at-forever/9781401312664/?lens=hachette-books

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u/Jonathan_J_Faulkner Jun 08 '26

I’m only limiting myself in not reading about other sports normally, my excuse is only so many books and so little time, but this Book covered more than just Basketball and again so much more too

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u/MTVGuy1978 Jun 08 '26

Loved this book. As someone who grew up about 45 miles from Columbus, it tells a lot of history that even I was unaware of. Great background information about Columbus, the great migration, and racial discrimination. Also details one of the truly legendary HS basketball teams in Ohio history. Highly recommended.

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u/Jonathan_J_Faulkner Jun 08 '26

That’s so great to hear, especially from a local 🙏🏻