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New book celebrates the life of Bakersfield's Art Williams who became the National League’s first Black umpire

KVPR | By Kathleen Schock
Published June 3, 2022 at 12:37 PM PDT
Art Williams’ trailblazing career as a Major League umpire is the subject of a new book
Edward Bartel II
Art Williams’ trailblazing career as a Major League umpire is the subject of a new book

Bakersfield’s Art Williams made history in the 1970s when he became the second Black umpire in major league baseball and the very first in the National League. But as a new book by Art Williams’ younger brother Dr. Audie Williams shows, it was a remarkable life cut short far too soon at the age of just 44. Valley Edition host Kathleen Schock spoke with Dr. Williams about the book, along with filmmaker Ed Bartel II, who is producing a documentary about Art Williams’ journey from farm work to the big leagues.
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Local News Major League BaseballAuthor InterviewdocumentaryBakersfieldAfrican Amerian
Kathleen Schock
Kathleen Schock is the host of Valley Edition. In the show, Kathleen and the Valley Public Radio news team explore issues that matter to the residents of Central California through engaging conversations and in-depth reporting.
See stories by Kathleen Schock
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