This book tells a harsh story of late-19th-century race and baseball in the U.S. Set at a federally funded boarding school, where indoctrination in what was rapidly becoming the National Pastime would “transform” (read civilize) Native Americans into “Americans,” the book concentrates on Hall of Famer Chief Bender. Other notable Native Americans in Major League Baseball history include Jim Thorpe (by and large acknowledged the greatest North American athlete), Allie Reynolds, Joba Chamberlain, Kyle Lohse, and Jacoby Ellsbury.