Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Nlbmandjazz.jpg

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

Contents

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 Ray Dandridge, Pop Lloyd monitors shortstop, while Judy Johnson 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.

Citations

  1. ^ Penn, Steven (2010-02-28). "Alfred “Slick” Surratt, a founder of Negro Leagues Museum, dies at age 87". Kansas City Star. http://www.kansascity.com/2010/02/19/1760824/alfred-slick-surratt-a-founder.html. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
  2. ^ a b Kaegel, Dick (January 11, 2010). "NLBM's Legacy Awards given Jan. 30: Royals' Kauffman, White co-chairing annual event". MLB Advanced Media, L.P. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100111&content_id=7899854&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy&partnerId=rss_nyy. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 
  3. ^ "CBAKC Board Members: Don B. Motley, Chairman". Community Baseball Academy of Kansas City (CBA-KC). http://kcbaseballacademy.com/board.html. 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." 

References

Further reading

External links

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


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