Bob Kendrick Leads Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Into An Exciting New Chapter

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick finally has a moment to reflect on several accomplishments over the past two years and discuss his vision for the museum going forward. People are taking greater notice of the Negro Leagues thanks to Kendrick’s exceptional leadership, charisma, and storytelling. An educator and historian, Kendrick’s enthusiasm for the Negro Leagues brings to life the ball players and executives who epitomized the American spirit even as they were denied access to opportunities within Major League Baseball.

Amid the euphoria surrounding Buck O’Neil’s posthumous induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Kendrick’s excitement is also evident in discussions regarding the 2022 Negro Leagues Baseball Commemorative Coin Program in collaboration with the United States Mint. Major League Baseball’s decision to bestow major league status on seven professional Negro Leagues in December 2020 represents historical validation but is also a long overdue correction of a gross oversight. Sean Forman’s wildly popular Baseball Reference website began expanding its coverage of the Negro Leagues in June 2021 thanks to his extraordinary efforts and the unparalleled work of several researchers from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR).

Kendrick has experienced a multitude of emotions regarding O’Neil’s 16-year odyssey to the hallowed halls of Cooperstown. “I feel an overwhelming sense of pride and joy even though there’s still a bit of I don’t want call it despair because I wish my friend had been here to celebrate with us,” said Kendrick. O’Neil passed away in October 2006 at 94 years old. Two months earlier, he was mesmerizing the 11,000 fans in attendance at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony as O’Neil spoke on behalf of 17 Negro Leagues ball players and pioneers. The personification of class and dignity, O’Neil had fallen short by one vote in the 2006 Special Committee on Negro Leagues election.

Kendrick was discouraged about whether his friend would ever receive the proper recognition among the game’s immortals. He said, “Honestly, I had given up on the notion of Buck ever getting into the Hall of Fame.” Kendrick continued, “The 2006 election was supposed to be the end all for the Negro Leagues and they were going to put in everybody that deserved to be in and that was going to be it.” The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum created the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 and erected a life-size bronze statue in his honor. Kendrick said, “Well, it’s not the plaque but it is not token in nature and I am good with it.”

Reality finally set in for Kendrick when he was standing in the Hall of Fame’s venerable gallery with only members of the media present to watch the installation of O’Neil’s plaque. “I had been to the Hall of Fame just a few weeks prior and they took me to the plaque room and at that point in time they had the place on the wall with a little sticker of masking tape that said O’Neil and that was emotional for me,” said Kendrick. Even though this was a momentous experience for him, nothing would compare to the plaque installation. As O’Neil’s plaque was being walked into the gallery and mounted into place next to another pioneer, Minnie Miñoso, the emotions for Kendrick finally reached a crescendo after months of anticipation and years of disappointment.

O’Neil’s Hall of Fame plaque recently enjoyed a Kansas City homecoming at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The Los Angeles Dodgers were in town to play the Royals as both ball clubs celebrated a “Salute to the Negro Leagues” and the 75^th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s major league debut. Vindication would define the mood of O’Neil’s loyal fans. Kendrick said, “To see the people coming in to line up and see the plaque to take their pictures with the plaque gave me chills, but also a tremendous sense of pride that we had finally gotten to the mountaintop for Buck.”

Kendrick hosted Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and several ball players at the museum. He was particularly impressed with left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw. “Clayton hung with me every step of the way. He was absolutely fascinated by the stories and about a piece of history that he maybe knew a little bit about,” according to Kendrick. He is very proud of how the museum parallels not only what was happening in the Negro Leagues during its rise and fall, but also seeing the social rise of America through the eyes of courageous athletes.

The next phase of development has already begun for Kendrick. The museum launched the “Thanks A Million, Buck” campaign in August to raise $1 million by November 13^th which would have been O’Neil’s 111^th birthday. The goal is to complete the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center at the site of the Paseo YMCA. Ever the baseball romantic and scholar, Kendrick has an attachment to this property not only because of O’Neil’s legacy but it is also the birthplace of the Negro Leagues in 1920 thanks to a meeting organized by Andrew “Rube” Foster.

Kendrick has grandiose plans as the museum has already outgrown its current home. He wants to capitalize on every opportunity but also hopes the museum can make history relevant to what is happening in the lives of people today. Kendrick is attracted to unique opportunities such as cinematic and scripted television endeavors, travel exhibitions, and digital experiences that create access for the masses.

Amid the horrific social injustices, people are turning to Kendrick and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum for thought leadership and guidance particularly after the murder of George Floyd. Kendrick said, “People started to grasp that our museum is a social justice museum. It is a civil rights museum. It is just seen through the lens of baseball and more importantly, it is triumph over that adversity.”

If Buck O’Neil is the patron saint of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Bob Kendrick is its guardian angel. He wants to elevate interest and awareness in the Negro Leagues through continued partnerships with Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association. Kendrick intimately knows how the museum can play a pivotal role in addressing social ills while presenting invaluable life lessons during turbulent times. O’Neil’s spirit will always be present, but it will be Kendrick’s determination that propels the museum forward in the coming years.