Dodgers enjoy ‘Jackie vs. Jackie’ matchup vs. Royals in honor of Negro Leagues
If you tuned in to Sunday’s series finale between the Royals and Los Angeles Dodgers at Kauffman Stadium, you no doubt noticed the special ball caps.
It was the Royals’ annual Salute to the Negro Leagues game, paying tribute to Negro Leagues baseball. The Royals donned blue and yellow Kansas City Monarchs hats, and living legends Sam Allen and Pedro Sierra threw out ceremonial first pitches.
Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, was also in attendance.
“It never gets old for me,” Kendrick told SportsNetLA about having the opportunity to share stories from the glory days of the Negro Leagues.
Kendrick on Saturday visited with the Royals, who then proceeded to beat the Dodgers 9-5. There was no win for KC on Sunday, as L.A. won 5-1.
“Bob, first and foremost, is hands-down the most passionate speaker on any subject I’ve ever heard,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Clearly, he’s a historian — he knows every detail of every player, every umpire, every story that comes from the Negro Leagues. For me, it’s very humbling, just to know not only that the league is integrated, but the conditions those players played in, and the love of the game that they played for.
“Bob does a great job of bringing those things to light while not being dour about it. He inspires people. He loves the game of baseball, first and foremost, but the way he brings it to life is special.”
The Royals’ matchup for Sunday’s special game was close to perfect, too — Kendrick dubbed it a “Jackie vs. Jackie” pairing, in reference to the great Jackie Robinson.
L.A. took the field wearing Brooklyn Dodgers caps. The Negro Leagues’ Monarchs were Robinson’s first team in pro baseball in 1945. The next season, he was signed by the minor-league Montreal Royals — the Triple-A affiliate of the then-Brooklyn Dodgers.
Called up to the big leagues in 1946 by the Dodgers, Robinson broke the color barrier in the majors.
In his short time with the Monarchs, Robinson played 47 games at shortstop, hitting .387 with five home runs and 13 stolen bases. He was a league All-Star in the annual East-West All-Star Game.
During his time with the Monarchs, Robinson’s teammates included Hall of Famer Satchel Paige.
“This is a great opportunity,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of honoring both Brooklyn and Robinson on Sunday. “Being able to represent the Brooklyn team and the fanbase — and the Dodgers had history to go along with the Monarchs’ — I think it’s really cool.
“I hope most of our players can take a step back decades and put themselves in a different period of time, and feel like we’ve gone in a time machine. I think that’s fun for me, to be a part of history and wear this Brooklyn Dodger hat.”
Dodgers All-Star Mookie Betts has been vocal about the need for more change in baseball, telling the Washington Post last October, “I just want to bring more Black people to the stadiums, to the minor leagues. Baseball is a beautiful game. Times have changed and I think we’ve just got to adapt with it.”
On Sunday, Betts’ pride remained evident.
“Putting on the uniform is super special,” he told The Star. “We all know what they (Negro Leagues players) did. There’s no other real way to explain it ... I’m just very grateful for the opportunity.”
Of representing the Dodgers’ Brooklyn legacy this weekend, Betts said: “I just remember when I was younger, it was super cool. We used to go to Lids to get these hats, and you know what it means. And then you get to wear it on the field.”
Betts said he has been to KC’s Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and supports what that organization, headed by Kendrick, has done.
“Even if you didn’t know about Negro Leagues baseball, or even baseball in general, you walk into that museum and leave really amazed and wowed at what’s in there,” Betts said. “The history, the knowledge, the facts, the bats and gloves and stuff that’s in there — it’s really amazing. To go in there and see what they’ve done is awesome.”
Like the museum, the Royals’ Salute to the Negro Leagues game is a way of ensuring the importance of this history isn’t diminished over time.
“Obviously not a lot of us are here without them,” Betts said of those who played Negro Leagues baseball. “The stats and things that they did matters. It shaped the game to where it is now.
“I think that should be celebrated, just like Babe Ruth and Ted Williams. There’s no difference, so we just have to make sure we continue to spread the word.
“Knowledge is power,” Betts added. “Just continue to spread knowledge.”
This story was originally published June 29, 2025 at 8:29 PM.
