The Cranklet's Chronicle #1 & 2

The Cranklet's Chronicle is a zine about "women, Baseball, and social change," I think it is a fabulous series. The format is much like the floppy format of  comic books, only with a formal introduction and accompanying interview, and the stories within are remarkable, eye-opening, and riveting. The first issue focused on Joan Payson, a heiress, entrepreneur, and the first majority owner of The New York Mets. I grew up in New York state, but I am a Yankees fan and had never heard of her. I learned much about her and her life, especially how she found a way to bring a new team to the city after the western migration of the Dodgers and Giants gut-punched their fans. 

The second volume was even better than the first, in my humble opinion.

It focused on Effa Manley, the only woman currently inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, while also examining a number of social issues by delving deeply into the history and politics of African-Americans and Latinos in baseball. Manley lived a complex life, growing up as the child of a mixed race couple and becoming a larger than life figure. Eventually, her involvement in baseball, civil rights, and business resulted in her being owner of the Newark Eagles, a Negro Leagues team that won a World Series title.

Both books excel in transporting the reader back in time to the eras of each person while exploring the social and political dynamics they had to navigate. The best sorts of history educate people and also encourage them to re-think what they know about people, places, and events, and these books exemplify these ideals. I learned so much about important figures that I was completely ignorant of, and I was tremendously entertained along the way. I am eager to see if this series continues and where it will go next. It is a superb read for any fan of baseball, history, and/or feminism.

These zines are the creation of Ellen Lindner, an artist who was nominated for an Ignatz Award for her graphic novel The Black Leather Falls. She also has a few other comics about baseball, including a series of webcomics at Medium and the mini-comic Lost Diamonds. Lindner makes comics as a fan, activist, and scholar, and I found it very easy to be swept away by her enthusiasm and expertise. Her artwork is energetic and compelling, and I liked the simple color scheme she employs using black, white, and blue.

I was not able to locate many reviews of these zines, but the ones I have seen have been positive. Martin Brown wrote about #1, "What makes The Cranklet’s Chronicle so great, though, is that Lindner doesn’t just tell Mrs. Payson’s story, even though that’s her stated objective. She weaves Mrs. Payson’s life through several other narratives, tracking American history, baseball lore, New York’s relationship with the sport, and, crucially, her own story." #2 has a 4 (out of 5) star rating on Goodreads.

The Cranklet Chronicle was self-published by Ellen Lindner and you can buy copies directly from her here. I first heard about the zines and got my copies from Birdcage Bottom Books at the listing here.