That iconic ‘KC Heart’ Charlie Hustle logo? Negro Leagues’ Monarchs wore it first
The timing was never right for Bob Kendrick to remind folks about the origins of the iconic “KC heart” graphic made popular by vintage-style T-shirt maker Charlie Hustle Clothing.
The design first appeared on a patch worn on the Kansas City Monarchs’ jersey more than 80 years ago, said Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The 1941 squad wore them first before the following year’s inspiring team captured the hearts of Monarch fans everywhere.
But February is Black History month, and Monday is Valentine’s Day, which presented the perfect opportunity to unveil the museum’s “My Heart Belongs to the Monarchs” campaign. It’s a not-so-subtle rebranding of a symbol that has become a source of civic pride. And people need to know local history.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the 1942 Monarchs’ Negro Leagues championship season. Last year, the independent pro baseball team formerly known as the T-Bones won the American Association title the first year after being renamed the Monarchs. Perhaps the most important development was the selection last year of Buck O’Neil to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. One of baseball’s greatest ambassadors, O’Neil played for and managed the Monarchs and was a scout for Major League Baseball.
People had mostly forgotten about the heart-shaped design until Charlie Hustle reintroduced it to the public years ago, Kendrick said. Its popularity speaks to the lasting impact the Monarchs had in Kansas City. Kendrick went into storytelling mode when asked about the signature patch.
The 1942 squad, Hall of Famer Buck O’Neil’s favorite team, became darlings of the Black community by winning the Negro League World Series. The symbol personified the heart of America, Kendrick said.
“They had civic pride during a time when they weren’t treated so civilly,” he said. The new line of T-shirts will raise money for the museum.
Chase McAnulty, Charlie Hustle founder and CEO, was a fan of Jackie Robinson and the Negro Leagues as a child. As an entrepreneur, he used the patch to make Charlie Hustle a household name. The company partnered with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in 2014 to launch its Negro Leagues collection and raised $23,737. The KC heart image was Charlie Hustle’s 16th tee design but soon became its most recognizable and profitable.
To pay homage and reciprocate the museum’s support, McAnulty pledged on Charlie Hustle’s behalf that nearly $24,000 to the museum.
“The heart on the Monarchs jersey inspired my creativity,” McAnulty said.
Kendrick knows that some people may not be aware of the story behind the design. True to his nature, Kendrick’s main focus is on highlighting a 1942 team that featured four Hall of Fame players: Satchel Paige, Hilton Smith, Willard Brown and the newly enshrined O’Neil. There is no hostility or legal issues between the museum and Charlie Hustle — the company used the image with permission. More collaborations are possible, which is encouraging. But history can no longer be denied.
Kendrick and staff used an independent designer to create the new apparel.
“It’s important as a teaching institution that we help people understand that there’s a deep-rooted connection to that particular emblem, and it goes back to one of the greatest baseball teams of all time,” Kendrick noted.
Enough said.
