Event 12 – How the Learning Never Ends at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

NLBM Field of Legends hats and jerseys display.
These Negro Leagues’ jerseys and hats adorn one of the walls in the Field of Legends.

The Written Word

Still Images

  • The entrance to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
  • A throne of bats feature the visages of Buck O’Neil and Satchel Paige.
  • The view of the Field of Legends through the chicken wire upon entering.
  • This way to the Theatre and exhibits.
  • The exhibits take visitors through the early years.
  • A statue of Negro Leagues founder Rube Foster.
  • More exhibit walls.
  • A powerful quote from then-MLB Commissioner Judge Landis.
  • There were plenty of youngster in the NLBM the day we visited.
  • A quadruple header!?! Not uncommon in those days, apparently.
  • Detroit Stars standout Turkey Stearnes’ is featured.
  • A Kansas City Monarchs uniform is on display.
  • A Michigan barnstorming team called the “House of David” was a regular opponent for some Negro Leagues teams.
  • Quite the twinbill in the Yankee Stadium that day.
  • A wall in the room dedicated to the media coverage of the Negro Leagues.
  • Writer Wendell Smith was one of the best journalists of his era.
  • A period typewriter is displayed.
  • Josh Gibson was one of the Negro Leagues’ biggest stars.
  • Ex-Negro Leaguers were some of MLB’s best players upon their entrance.
  • Satchel Paige is given a full display all to himself.
  • Ol’ Satch’s Rules for the Good Life:-)
  • Turnstiles from the old Kansas City Monarch stadium.
  • The NLBM gives a nod to the NFL barrier breakers …
  • … and the NBA and NHL’s as well.
  • Some of the firsts by Black MLB players.
  • Ernie Banks was the first Black Chicago Cub.
  • Ozzie Virgil was the first Black Detroit Tiger.
  • Some of the early Black MLB players’ trading cards.
  • A few more trading cards.
  • New York Yankees’ Hall of Fame relief pitcher, Mariano Rivera, was the last MLB player to wear the now-retired No. 42.
  • Baseball spikes honoring Jackie Robinson from LaTroy Hawkins, left, and Curtis Granderson, right. In the middle are special cleats produced by Adidas.
  • Prop jerseys from the film, “42,” about the life of Jackie Robinson.
  • Displays of Baseball HoFers Ray Brown and Cool Papa Bell.
  • Display of Baseball HoFer Pete Hill.
  • Display of Baseball HoFer Turkey Stearnes.
  • Display of Baseball HoFer Bullet Rogan.
  • Buck O’Neil has his own showcase as well.
  • How about a golden homeplate honoring Buck?
  • Buck O’Neil’s Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by George W. Bush.
  • The longview of the Geddy Lee autograph collection.
  • A narrower view of the Geddy Lee Autograph Collection.
  • Ray Dandridge and Judy Johnson autographs.
  • Don Newcombe’s autograph.
  • Cool Papa Bell’s autograph.
  • This illustration of Jackie Robinson, Don Newcombe, Roy Campenella, and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. praying is on display in the Field of Legends.
  • This is what remains of the Jackie Robinson statue from Wichita, KS, that was vandalized.
  • These Negro Leagues’ jerseys adorn one of the walls in the Field of Legends.
  • Buck O’Neil looks out onto the Field of Legends.
  • Umpire Bob Motley, catch Josh Gibson, and batter Martin Dihigo.
  • Pitcher Satchel Paige
  • Firstbaseman Buck Leonard
  • Secondbaseman Pop Lloyd
  • Thirdbaseman Ray Dandridge
  • Shortstop Judy Johnson
  • Leftfielder Cool Papa Bell
  • Centerfielder Oscar Charleston
  • Rightfielder Leon Day
  • Me and Satchel
  • The streetlights in the 18th & Vine neigborhood feature homages to the Negro Leagues.

Video

The entrance to the exhibit area.
Silent video of Goose Tatum clowning during practice.
What life on the road of a Negro Leaguer might look like.
A view of Negro Leaguer Hall of Famers.

Audio

Fun Facts

  • Traveling Party – Doug and his father, Jerry
  • Last Time Visited – I’d visited Kansas City, MO, once previously, but aside from seeing the inside of a conference center and eating barbecue at Jack Stack‘s, I’d done nothing more. My father had never been to KC before
  • Rare Meeting – My father, Jerry, met Chicago Cubs’ Baseball Hall of Famer, Ernie Banks, on a pair of occasions. Banks broke the Cubs’ color barrier
  • Running List of States Traveled To/Through – Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, & West Virginia
  • Running List of Countries Traveled To/Through – Canada (Ontario & Quebec), England, Scotland, United States, & Wales
  • Distance Traveled – 1,582 miles round trip
  • Cumulative Distance Traveled After 12 Events – 23,528 miles
  • Up Next: A University of Kansas men’s basketball game at historic Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, KS