This is the untold story of black semi-professional baseball in the Lone Star State. While baseball may have long been considered an all-American sport in which a melting pot could celebrate ethnic heroes like Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Hank Greenberg, Connie Mack, and Stan Musial, racial segregation excluded blacks from an otherwise democratic picture. Such was certainly the case in Texas, where, in the state's first professional matchup soon after the Civil War, the R. E. Lees faced the Stonewalls-and African Americans, not surprisingly, played no part. Drawing upon oral histories and mining such rare sources as rosters and box scores from black newspapers, Rob Fink situates Texas' African American teams and players against the rise and decline of professional Negro Leagues. From the 1880s Galveston Flyaways through Dallas shortstop Ernie Banks' signing with the Chicago Cubs in 1953, ""Playing in Shadows"" brings to light an important but little-studied inning in American sport.

In 1881, six months after the establishment of Abilene, Texas, seventeen residents met at the local public school building and chartered First Baptist Church of Abilene. These founders instilled a mission-minded focus in the new institution. While First Baptist was not the only institution that served Abilene, the church's importance cannot be overlooked. For over 125 years, First Baptist Church of Abilene has played a prominent role in the Abilene community. From its inception, First Baptist dedicated itself to meting the needs of Abilene. The missionary spirit led to the creation of numerous programs, other churches, and major institutions in town. Through its commitment to serving God through loving others, First Baptist played an indispensable roll in shaping the history of Abilene, Texas.