Voir Ken Burns: Baseball - Episode 6

Throughout America, and even on the baseball diamonds in New York's Central Park, thousands of homeless people build shantytowns called "Hoovervilles." More than ever, America needs heroes. And even as it struggles to make it through the Depression, baseball provides them. But the heroes do not come only from the Major Leagues. The Negro Leagues being baseball to towns the Major leagues ignore - to people the Major Leagues spurn. To delight the fans, they develop an elaborate warm-up routine in pantomime; throwing and hitting an invisible ball so convincingly. spectators can't believe it's not real. It's called "shadow ball."