A fabulous showcase of individuals, events, and inventions that have made Minnesota.

A century before Kirby Puckett led the Minnesota Twins to World Series championships, Minnesota was home to countless talented African American baseball players, yet few of them are known to fans today. During the many decades that Major League Baseball and its affiliates imposed a strict policy of segregation, black ballplayers in Minnesota were relegated to a haphazard array of semipro leagues, barnstorming clubs, and loose organizations of all-black teams—many of which are lost to history. They Played for the Love of the Game recovers that history by sharing stories of African American ballplayers in Minnesota, from the 1870s to the 1960s, through photos, artifacts, and spoken histories passed through the generations. Author Frank White’s own father was one of the top catchers in the Twin Cities in his day, a fact that White did not learn until late in life. While the stories tell of denial, hardship, and segregation, they are highlighted by athletes who persevered and were united by their love of the sport.

Dreams - sometimes they change the world, sometimes they just plain fall through. Over the course of a weekend at grandpa's farm near Luverne, Minnesota, 14-year-old Josh Lindstrom gets in touch with his dreams as they spend their time inventing, and grandpa relates the stories of some of the great Minnesota inventors. Success, however, does not come easily. So, is there anything to be learned from the inventors that preceded them, especially those of the aptly named Greatest Generation? Josh and his grandpa discover together that when it comes to dreams of inventing, failure is okay. As Minnesota inventor Earl Bakken had said, "Failure is closer to success than inaction." Some surprises are revealed along the way, and the unexpected ending soars with a heartfelt and compelling, once-in-a-lifetime, encounter. An appendix featuring profiles of the Minnesota 80 serves as a resource of the state's key inventors.

Presents the history, geography, government, economy, and people of Minnesota, as well as general facts about the state.