"Arlene and Elston were in many ways the "First Family" of the great Yankee teams of the '50s and '60s. So much was asked of them—integrating a historically white franchise while dealing with the racial issues in a changing America—all while winning championships and forming lifelong friendships through basic goodness and kindness. Their story is an American story we all need to know better."

– Marty Appel, New York Yankees historian and author of Pinstripe Empire, Munson, and Casey Stengel

"Elston Howard played in ten World Series and was a member of nine All Star teams. And yet, from reading Arlene Howard's bittersweet memoir, her husband Elston's career was badly hurt by his becoming the first African-American to play for the New York Yankees. He had to wait too long to become a Yankee. He had to wait too long to become the starting catcher. He had to wait—in vain—to be named the Yankee manager. As he explained segregation to his five-year-old son: 'It's like a private club,' Ellie told him, 'and we aren't members.'"

– Peter Golenbock, author of Dynasty: The New York Yankees 1949-1964