Tigerland

1968-1969: A City Divided, a Nation Torn Apart, and a Magical Season of Healing

Against the backdrop of one of the most tumultuous periods in recent American history, as riots and demonstrations spread across the nation, the Tigers of poor, segregated East High School in Columbus, Ohio did something no team from one school had ever done before: they won the state basketball and baseball championships in the same year. They defeated bigger, richer, whiter teams across the state and along the way brought blacks and whites together, eased a painful racial divide throughout the state, and overcame extraordinary obstacles on their road to success. In Tigerland, Wil Haygood gives us a spirited and stirring account of this improbable triumph and takes us deep into the personal lives of these local heroes. At the same time, he places the Tigers’ story in the context of the racially charged sixties, bringing in such national figures as Jackie Robinson, Martin Luther King Jr., and Richard Nixon, all of whom had a connection to the teams and a direct effect on their mythical season.

Flashback to the Late 1960s

I graduated high school in 1969 so I lived through all the turmoil just like this team did. What a great flash back into the turbulent times of the late 60s. Some of it I had forgotten or never knew. I was just in high school so you're not paying that much attention. Great listen and great history of all these players and what happened later in their lives, after their amazing high school basketball team.

Beautiful

I am a proud East High School alumnus and this book tells the history of joy, sadness and pride of a year that was a linchpin in the history of EHS and of Columbus, Ohio. The details of lives of all of the players, coaches, staff and those in the orbit of this Championship year are in depth and touching. The history here of African-Americans struggle within the city, education and sports is deep and informative. I have an all new respect and Tiger Pride for my fellow alumni and those that worked so hard for a championship but also respect of the basic civil rights of citizens in Columbus and the nation.