SportsBeat KC: A day like no other for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum arrives Sunday
Sunday will be a day like no other for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, which is celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the league’s founding in Kansas City.
Every team throughout baseball will honor the Negro Leagues and the museum during Sunday’s games. Players, coaches and umpires will wear patches and museum president Bob Kendrick will be making appearances on broadcasts throughout the day, culminating with a spot on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.
The celebration has taken many forms this year. Toyota has a commercial that features a former Kansas City Monarchs player. Former pitching star C.C. Sabathia has collaborated on a Negro Leagues clothing line and sharing proceeds with the museum. Four former U.S. Presidents led the way with a tip-your-cap salute to the Negro Leagues.
Kendrick wasn’t sure a celebration would work this year, with the COVID-19 pandemic dominating the spring and summer. But he had faith, and the exclamation point comes Sunday in baseball stadiums around the country. Kendrick shares his thoughts on the day and how it came about on this episode of The Star’s daily SportsBeat KC podcast with host Blair Kerkhoff.
Story links:
Bob Kendrick: Negro Leagues players set a world-class example of determination