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With an introduction by Joel Oppenheimer & a poem by Arthur Mann Kaye.

“. . . Oh well, there’s not much sense in me talking about what Mr. Smith knows so much better, so I will leave this celebration to him. [His book] is a little slice of time in one particular place and I bless him for it.  . .”

–from Oppenheimer’s intro

This rare little book is comprised of three short articles by Smith:
• “Professional Baseball in Rocky Mount: The ’46 Rocks”
• “1946: Bill Kennedy’s Fabulous Year”
• “Stories Pertaining to Local Negro Baseball in the Rocky Mount Evening Telegram April 24-Dec 31, 1946″

The Rocks played in the whites-only Coastal Plains League along with teams from New Bern, Fayetteville, Goldsboro, Kinston, Tarboro and Greenville. They won 9 of their last 11 games and the league playoffs, too, with left-handed pitcher Bill Kennedy leading the way with a 28-3 record.

The Rocky Mount Black Swans competed in the East Carolina Negro baseball league, with the Raleigh Giants, Littleton Brays, Durham Eagles, Kinston Greys, Goldsboro Blue Sox, South Hill Spiders, and teams from Warrenton and Charlotte. The Black Swans played the Spiders for the league championship, but, alas, the Telegram didn’t report the results!

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