Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

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The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was founded in 1990 in Kansas City, Missouri.

History

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was founded in 1990 by a group of former Negro Leagues baseball players, including Kansas City Monarchs outfielder, Alfred Surratt,^[1] Buck O'Neil, and Horace Peterson.^[2] It moved from a small, single-room office inside the Lincoln Building at historic 18th & Vine streets in Kansas City^[2] to a 2,000-square-foot (190 m²) space in 1994.

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.^[3] The museum resides in the 18th and Vine District of Kansas City, the hub of African-American cultural activity in Kansas City during the first half of the 20th century. Within the same building is the American Jazz Museum, celebrating Kansas City's likewise vibrant jazz scene during that same time period.

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 1960. As one progresses through the exhibit, one moves forward 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."

By far the most impressive aspect of the museum, however, 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 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.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was a Founding Sports Partner of the Sports Museum of America which opened in 2008 and closed in 2009 at 26 Broadway in New York City.

The Geddy Lee Collection

On June 5th, 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.

Awards

Each year, the museum presents the following awards:

• Oscar Charleston Legacy Award – "Most Valuable Players" in the National (NL) and American (AL) leagues
• Pitcher of the Year – "Pitchers of the Year" in the NL and AL:
  • Leroy "Satchel" Paige Legacy Award (2000–2005)
  • Wilbur "Bullet" Rogan Legacy Award (2006–present)
• Larry Doby Legacy Award – "Rookies of the Year" in the NL and AL
• Hilton Smith Legacy Award – "Relievers of the Year" in the NL and AL
• Walter "Buck" Leonard Legacy Award – batting champions in the NL and AL
• Josh Gibson Legacy Award – "Home Run" leaders in the NL and AL
• James "Cool Papa" Bell Legacy Award – "Stolen Base" leaders in the NL and AL
• Charles Isham "C. I." Taylor Legacy Award – "Managers of the Year" in the NL and AL
• Andrew "Rube" Foster Legacy Award – "Executives of the Year" in the NL and AL
• John Henry "Pop" Lloyd Legacy Award – in recognition of "Baseball and Community Leadership"
• Sam Lacy Legacy Award – "Baseball Writer of the Year"
• Jackie Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award – for "Career Excellence in the Face of Adversity"
• John "Buck" O'Neil Legacy Award – to a local or national corporate/private philanthropist for "Outstanding Support of the NLBM"

Citations

References

• 'A museum of their own', CNN.com (February 2 2001). Retrieved August 15 2005.^{[dead link]}
• Falkoff, Robert. 'Negro League Legacy', MLB.com (2001). Retrieved August 15 2005.
• 'Rush vocalist makes donation to Negro Leagues Museum', kansascity.com (2008). Retrieved June 7 2008.^{[dead link]}
• 'Rush's Lee makes big donation', MLB.com (2008). Retrieved June 7 2008.

Further reading

• "Recession hits Negro Leagues Museum". Associated Press. January 31, 2010. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4873812. Retrieved 2011-10-21. "Plans to move the museum to the old YMCA building and build the Buck O'Neil Education and Research Center have been put on hold in spite of a $1 million donation for that specific purpose by Julia Irene Kauffman, daughter of the late founder of the Kansas City Royals." 
• Gonzalez, Alden (February 1, 2010). "Negro Leagues Museum in financial straits: Deficit reflects dwindling donations in struggling economy". Kansas City Royals website. MLB Advanced Media, L.P. http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100201&content_id=8004162&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc. Retrieved 2011-10-21. "... Sean Gibson, the great-grandson of Hall of Famer Josh Gibson and the head of the Josh Gibson Foundation in Pittsburgh." 
• Kendrick, Scott (February 1, 2010). "Negro Leagues museum facing tough times". About.com. http://baseball.about.com/b/2010/02/01/negro-leagues-museum-facing-tough-times.htm. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 
• Whirty, Ryan (May 2, 2011). "Kendrick Hopes To Rescue Negro League Museum: New President Looks To Create Financial Stability". Baseball America Inc. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/news/2011/2611677.html. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 
• Forgrave, Reid (August 29, 2011). "Preserving key baseball legacy not easy". Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Negro-Leagues-Museum-looks-toward-future-under-Bob-Kendrick. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 

External links

• Negro Leagues Baseball Museum website
• eMuseum home page. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) and Kansas State University (KSU)
  • Negro Leagues Baseball: A Brief History (with links to "Historical Timeline" (1860–1959); "Diamond Cuts"; "Team Profiles" (by state); and "Personal Profiles"). eMuseum website (NLBM and KSU)
  • Research Library. eMuseum website (NLBM and KSU)

Coordinates: 39°05′29″N 94°33′46″W / 39.0914°N 94.5627°W / 39.0914; -94.5627