Directed by Paris Barclay
Written by Sean Whitesell
Jeffries is guilted by his nephew into solving the murder of Clyde Taylor, a Negro League baseball player who was murdered after helping win an exhibition game against major league players.
Tropes:
- Bait-and-Switch: Troy, the bratty son of the opposing pitcher Tyler, was previously confronted by Clyde for a racist prank. He later brings his father, who was known to use racist smack-talk on field, to the locker room and points to Clyde, but instead of resulting in a confrontation, Tyler apologizes to Clyde and compliments him on his skills, while berating his own son for his racism.
- Baseball Episode: Clyde was a promising baseball player at the height of his career in 1945. Crumbs insists that had he lived longer, he would have become the first black Major League player instead of Jackie Robinson.
- Batter Up!: Crumbs accidentally killed Clyde by swinging Clyde's gifted bat against his head.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Crumbs would have given anything for one good swing of the baseball bat. Well, he got one good swing…at his best friend’s head, killing him.
- Been There, Shaped History: Clyde was almost the first man to break the race barrier in Major League Baseball. But he was killed before he made it, and the honor, as per history, went to Jackie Robinson instead.
- Bottle Episode: The flashbacks occur before, during and after the exhibition game.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Willie Dandridge, the owner of the team, is a black millionaire in the 1940s, and did not climb to his position by playing nice. Dandridge fears that Clyde leaving the team for the Major Leagues could damage his fortune, and threatens to blackmail Clyde over his affair with a white woman.
- Deliberate Values Dissonance: As the flashbacks were set in the 1940s, the term "negro" was the accepted term to describe African-Americans then. Nowadays, it is considered an antiquated and potentially offensive term.
- Friendly Enemy: The pitcher from the opposing team, Tyler Cage, was much nicer to Clyde than would be expected from the guy who got creamed by a black guy in 1945. He was even more open-minded than his young son, whom he scolds for mistreating and racially abusing Clyde.
- Hiding Your Heritage: Esther (played by Christina Hendricks) is actually a black woman who could pass for white. Tyler Cage knew that Esther is black but kept it a secret.
- Hidden Depths: Tyler Cage initially seems like a racist jerk, but when he meets Clyde, he compliments his skill, shakes his hand, and forces his son to apologize for being a bigoted brat. He also kept Esther's secret for years.
- I Coulda Been a Contender!: Moody Brown was desperate to go to the majors. He gets passed over for the likes of Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige instead.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Clyde was willing to give up his shot at becoming the first black Major League player to be with Esther, so Crumbs pressured her to leave Clyde. She reluctantly agreed, not wanting to hold him back. However, Crumbs did this without Clyde's consent, leading to tragedy.
- Jerkass: Troy Cage; even as an adult he's utterly unpleasant.
- Kids Are Cruel: Troy Cage, the opposing pitcher's Bratty Half-Pint son, who was younger than 10 when he made fun of Clyde, tricking him into giving his autograph and then telling Clyde he would use it as toilet paper. He then made various racial epithets towards Clyde when caught. His father, who used racist smack-talk on field, is visibly embarrassed by his son's behavior and made him apologize to Clyde.
- Known Only by Their Nickname: Jake Crumbly is best known as "Crumbs".
- No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Crumbs insisted that if Clyde hadn't been murdered at the time he was, he would have made history as the first black player in the Major Leagues instead of Jackie Robinson. But the writers made sure to place his murder right before he hit it big, to stay in line with history.
- Pass Fail: Esther was really black, but she looked white, so her mother encouraged her to go on passing to have a better life in the '40s than she would have had as a black woman.
- Scary Black Man: Moody Brown, the player that Clyde replaced on the day of the game. He has a large scar on his face and isn't above intimidating his own teammates. Even the racist brat, Troy, trembles at his presence.
- Where da White Women At?: Clyde was in love with a white showgirl, Esther. Subverted by the fact she is a black woman who could pass for white.
