Magic Johnson to Produce Apple Series About Negro League Star Satchel Paige

Earvin Magic Johnson has signed on to produce a new drama series for Apple TV about Negro League Baseball and legendary Black pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige.

The project will tell the story of the all-Black league that provided African American baseball players an opportunity to play the sport professionally during the segregation era. The series is based on Donald Spivey’s book, “If Only You Were White: The Life of Leroy ‘Satchel’ Paige,” The Wrap reported Tuesday.

Paige played both in the Negro Leagues and the Major Leagues when he made his debut with the Cleveland Indians at 42. He died in 1982 at age 75.

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Apple Studios and Kapital Entertainment will partner on the project alongside the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Major League Baseball is also helping to fund the project.

Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson is no stranger to baseball. He became co-owner of the L.A. Dodgers in 2012.

In addition to Johnson, Peter Guber, Academy Award-nominee Ron Shelton, John Mass and Jason Smith and Kapital’s Aaron Kaplan and Dana Honor will serve as executive producers of the upcoming series.

The official Twitter account of the MLB tweeted details about the series, writing:  “We are really excited to watch this great story about the Negro Leagues and Satchel Paige.”

A release date and cast details have not yet been announced.