History That Doesn't Suck 166: A Conversation on Negro Leagues Baseball History with Bob Kendrick
Sep 30, 2024
Bob Kendrick, the President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, dives into the rich and often overlooked history of African-American baseball. He shares personal anecdotes and discusses the recent recognition of over 2,300 Negro Leagues players in Major League Baseball records. The conversation explores the impact of segregation on the sport, the transition to integration with pioneers like Jackie Robinson, and the museum's plans to expand and educate future generations about this vital chapter in American history.
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Segregation in Baseball
- MLB's shift to segregated play in 1887 reflected growing segregation nationwide.
- An undocumented "gentleman's agreement", not a written rule, banned Black players from white MLB teams for six decades.
Moses Fleetwood Walker
- Bob Kendrick highlights Moses Fleetwood Walker, a Black player in the major leagues as early as 1883.
- Walker's career was cut short due to a "gentleman's agreement" led by Cap Anson, banning Black players.
The "Right One"
- MLB owners claimed no rule barred Black players, only a search for the "right one".
- This "right one" had unrealistically high standards, revealing a hidden racist agenda.