Gossett at bat for Negro Baseball documentary (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Former "Roots" star LouisGossett Jr. has signed on as executive producer and narrator ofa documentary about the Negro Baseball Leagues.

"The Untold Truth" focuses on the history of black baseballfrom 1865-1947, when Jackie Robinson became the first blackbaseball player in the major leagues.

The film's director, Gregg Champion, said the film will notonly focus on the story of the Negro Baseball Leagues but also"how jazz and baseball came together, how women influencedbaseball at that time and how the economics of baseball playedinto black Americans succeeding in all walks of life."

The filmmakers, who have an exclusive rights contract withthe Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo., plan torelease the film during this year's World Series. Adistribution deal has not been secured yet.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter