The Philadelphia Stars have a special place in Negro League history. The Stars had some of the best players to ever play the game of baseball. And one of them was Bill Cash, a terrific catcher.

Al Hunter Jr. spent nearly 30 years as an award-winning journalist in this city, and the last 17 years as a feature writer at the Philadelphia Daily News. Hunter has written a tremendous book on Cash, a legendary Negro League player, titled “Thou Shalt Not Steal: The Baseball Life and Times of a Rifle-armed Negro League Catcher.”

Hunter does a great job of writing and researching the life and career of Cash. In 1943, Cash started his playing career with the Stars. He played against some of baseball’s greatest players such as Larry Doby, Roy Campanella, Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson. Cash had the nickname “Ready” and could really play behind the plate. He played with the Stars from 1943 to 1950.

In addition to playing for the Stars, he played baseball in Cuba, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Canada and Venezuela. Like many Negro League players of that era, Cash should have been given the opportunity to play in the majors. Racism was quite prevalent in baseball for African Americans. That’s why it’s important to continue to keep this history in front of the general public. Cash helped pave the way for many of the Black baseball stars that came after him.

In the book, there are a number of great photos of Cash and his teammates Stanley Glenn, Mahlon Duckett, Harold Gould and others. There’s a great photo of Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard with Cash and Duckett from the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association awards dinner in Cherry Hill, N.J. The Stars were recognized for their lifetime achievement. The photo was very appropriate. Howard has a lot of respect for Negro League baseball as well as the members of the Stars. Every year before spring training, he goes to the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.

The book has a photo of Cash during a ceremony where the Stars were honored with a sculpture and memorial at Belmont and Parkside avenues near where the Stars played their games. In addition, there’s a good team photo of the 1946 Stars in the book.

Cash attended Overbrook High School and lived in the Elmwood section of the city. He has a special place in baseball history. Cash passed away in September 2011. He was 92 years old. The book is a real tribute to his life and career. The book is $11.95 and available on www.Amazon.com.

Contact staff writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .