KANSAS CITY, Mo. — We all know what a special place the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is and what it means to baseball. However, there are many people who still don’t, but the Royals’ postseason run is helping change that
“It’s been an amazing run, man. I mean, it’s been beyond our wildest dreams,” museum president Bob Kendrick said.
Kendrick spoke as a fan of baseball and an expert on baseball history in Kansas City, something the Negro Leagues is a huge part of. With the Royals in the World Series, Kendrick’s two worlds are colliding in a great way.
“There’s a buzz, there’s an energy level, interest level is so high from the national media and local, regional media want to tell the story, and we need them to tell the story. We need as many voices as we can to echo what this museum means and giving people a better understanding of what Kansas City baseball roots,” Kendrick said.
Even though San Francisco didn’t have a Negro Leagues team, it was deeply impacted by its players.
“This is the team, from an organizational standpoint, had Willie mays, had Monte Ervin, Hank Thompson; you are talking about some stars form the Negro Leagues that made their way into the Giants’ organization,” Kendrick said.
As for the Royals and their style of play this year: Small ball, speed and defense, Kendrick says he sees it every time he walks through the museum. It’s all very familiar.
“That was the style of play that became signature Negro League baseball, very fast, very aggressive, very daring. They’d bunt their way on, steal second, steal third, and if you weren’t too smart they’d steal home,” Kendrick explained.
Of course you can’t mention Negro Leagues baseball without thinking of the face of the league and museum, Buck O’Neil. Buck loved Negro Leagues ball and Kendrick says he would have loved this Royals team.
“The late Buck O’Neil would say you couldn’t go to the concession stand, because you might miss something you’d never seen before, and that’s what we are getting with our young Royals,” Kendrick said.
With the World Series at a conclusive Game 7, the playoffs have been a benefit to the museum. More visitors learning or remembering what the Negro Leagues’ players mean to baseball, but with each game also brings a wide array of emotions for all fans, including Kendrick.
“You feel like there might be a little magic in the air. There’s something special happening with baseball in Kansas City,” he said.
