Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) is a privately funded museum dedicated to preserving the history of Negro league baseball in America. It was founded in 1990 in Kansas City, Missouri, in the historic 18th & Vine District, the hub of African-American cultural activity in Kansas City during the first half of the 20th century. The NLBM shares its building with the American Jazz Museum.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Established1990
LocationKansas City, Missouri
Coordinates39.0914°N 94.5627°W / 39.0914; -94.5627
TypeProfessional sports
Websitewww.nlbm.com

History

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was founded in 1990 by a group of former Negro league baseball players, including Kansas City Monarchs outfielder, Alfred Surratt,[1] Buck O'Neil, Larry Lester, Phil S. Dixon [2] and Horace Peterson.[3]

It moved from its original small, single-room office inside the Lincoln Building at historic 18th & Vine Streets in Kansas City to a 2,000-square-foot (190 m2) space in 1994.[3] Three years later, in 1997, the museum relocated again, to a 10,000-square-foot (930 m2), purpose-built structure five times the previous size.[4]

An advance screening of the movie 42, a biographical film about the life of Jackie Robinson, who played for the Kansas City Monarchs prior to breaking baseball's color barrier, was held in Kansas City on April 11, 2013, a day before its nationwide release, as a benefit for the NLBM. Actor Harrison Ford, one of the stars of the film, participated in the fundraiser.[5]

The museum was on the verge of financial collapse in 2008 before rebounding with stronger leadership and greater engagement with the community. Bob Kendrick took over as President in 2011.[6] By 2012, the museum experienced a profit of $300,000, its most successful year since 2007.[7]

In June 2019, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was awarded the Gold American Award for Nonprofit Organization of the Year from the American Business Awards.[8]

Exhibits

The museum chronologically charts the progress of the Negro leagues with informative placards and interactive exhibits. Its walls are lined with pictures of players, owners, and officials of Negro league baseball from the Negro National League of 1920 through the Negro American League which lasted until 1962. As visitors progress through the exhibit, they move forward in time through the history of Black baseball. In one area of the museum, there are lockers set up for some of the legends of the Negro leagues. One can see game-worn uniforms, cleats, gloves, and other artifacts from stars such as Josh Gibson, the "Black Babe Ruth."

An impressive aspect of the museum is the Field of Legends. Separated from the visitor at the entrance by chicken wire, it is accessible only at the end of the tour. One can walk onto a field adorned by nearly life-sized bronze statues of twelve figures from Negro league history. Crouching behind the plate is Gibson, one of the most prolific hitters in baseball history, a man who allegedly hit over 80 home runs in one season. At first base is another Baseball Hall of Famer, Buck Leonard, a teammate of Gibson's with the Homestead Grays. At second base is Pop Lloyd, Judy Johnson monitors shortstop, while Ray Dandridge holds down third base. In the outfield are Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston, and Leon Day. On the mound is perhaps the most famous Negro leaguer of all time, Satchel Paige, who became a rookie in the major leagues at age 42 in 1948. At the plate is Martín Dihigo, the only man to be inducted into the Halls of Fame in three countries: Mexico, Cuba, and the United States. Other statues commemorate Rube Foster, the founder of the first Negro National League, and Buck O'Neil, a former Kansas City Monarch and a member of the board of the museum until his October 6, 2006, death.

On November 13, 2012, the family of Buck O'Neil donated two items to the museum in honor of what would have been his 101st birthday. O'Neil's Presidential Medal of Freedom—awarded posthumously by President George W. Bush—was donated. Also given to the museum was a miniature replica of the Buck O' Neil statue which is displayed at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The items are showcased in a special area of the NLBM dedicated to O'Neil.[9]

The Geddy Lee Collection

On June 5, 2008, Geddy Lee (of the Canadian band Rush), himself an avid baseball fan, donated nearly 200 autographed baseballs to the NLBM. The signatures on these baseballs include names such as Hank Aaron, Cool Papa Bell, and Lionel Hampton. At the time, Geddy Lee's gift was one of the largest single donations the NLBM had ever received.[10]

Awards
Main article: Legacy Awards (NLBM)

Each year, the museum presents the following awards:

Citations
  1. Penn, Steven (2010-02-28). "Alfred "Slick" Surratt, a founder of Negro Leagues Museum, dies at age 87". Kansas City Star. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  2. "About Author". www.LarryLester42.com. Retrieved 2018-09-22.
  3. Kaegel, Dick (January 11, 2010). "NLBM's Legacy Awards given Jan. 30: Royals' Kauffman, White co-chairing annual event". MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
  4. "CBAKC Board Members: Don B. Motley, Chairman". Community Baseball Academy of Kansas City (CBA-KC). Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved 2011-11-02. [U]nder Motley’s direction [as executive director], the NLBM moved into a 10,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in November 1997.
  5. "Kansas-based company helps bring 42 to Kansas City". Associated Press via KSHB-TV website. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  6. Whirty, Ryan (2011-05-02). "BaseballAmerica.com: Majors: Kendrick Hopes To Rescue Negro League Museum". baseballamerica.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  7. Taylor, Nate (2013-08-23). "A Comeback for Negro Leagues Museum". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-12-18.
  8. "Negro Leagues Baseball Museum earns major national award for Nonprofit of the Year". FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. 2019-06-11. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  9. Kaegel, Dick (November 13, 2012). "Negro Leagues Museum gets new O'Neil items". MLB.com via KC Royals website. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  10. Rush's Geddy Lee gives NLBM a donation (video); The Kansas City Star; June 6, 2008. Archived October 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine

See also

References

Further reading
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