Between 1876 and 1960, nearly 100 northeastern Pennsylvanians played, managed, coached or umpired in the major leagues. Many were the sons of immigrant coal miners and living and working conditions in America were quite different from what they had been used to. Baseball became an important part of the assimilation process and it thrived as a church-sponsored form of recreation and entertainment for the coal miners and their families. Diamonds in the Coalfields explores the childhood, and minor and major league experiences of Christy Mathewson, Stan Covelski, Stanley “Bucky” Harris, Hughie Jennings, Ed Walsh, Nestor Chylak, Joe Bolinsky, Jake Daubert, John “Buck” Freeman, Mike Gazella, Pete Gray Wyshner, John Edward Murphy, Steve O’Neill, John Picus Quinn, Joe “Lefty” Shaute, Steve Bilko, Harry Dorish, Bob Duliba, Joe “Professor” Ostrowski, and Stan Pawloski — 21 players, managers, and umpires who exemplify the great talent, dedication, humility and hardship that many northeastern Pennsylvanians experienced.