SPENT THE DAY AT THE NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL MUSEUM WHERE HISTORY IS ON FULL DISPLAY. >> REPORTER: BLACK LEAGUE MUSEUM DIRECTOR BOB KENDRICK HAS STORIES. A LOT OF STORIES. HE IS USED TO A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE. >> THEY WERE THE TEAM THAT SHOULD HAVE COME TO GET US TOGETHER, THAT WAS INCREDIBLE. THE MOST LIKELY HISTORICAL TOUR YOU COULD EVER DREAM OF. REPORTER: ON THIS MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY, THE BASEBALL TEAMS FROM KANSAS AND MISSOURI CAME OUT FOR TOURS, BUT IT WAS JUST PART OF THE LESSON. >> IT’S THE MUSEUM OF SOCIAL JUSTICE SEEN THROUGH THE LENS OF BASEBALL. REPORTER: NOT ONLY BASEBALL PLAYERS CAME ON THE TRIP. >> IT’S AWESOME. THAT IS OUR HISTORY. JOURNALIST: FROM BASEBALL TO BENCH, THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE HERE. ON THIS SPECIAL HOLIDAY, ONE PICTURE STANDED OUT MORE THAN THE OTHERS. JACKIE ROBINSON AND OTHERS. KING, REVOJAC ATHLETE AND LEADER OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. THEY BOTH CHANGED THE WORLD. >> HERE WE MAKE THE CLAIM THAT JACKIE ROBINSON BREAKED BASEBALL’S COLOR BARRIER, A SIX DECADE LONG SELF-IMPOSED COLOR BARRIER. REPORTER: IT WAS CRYSTAL CLEAR TO THE VISITORS TODAY. >> MY FAMILY AND I HEAR ABOUT YOU
The President of Negro Leagues Baseball Museum reminds visitors that it’s about much more than sports
Baseball is just part of the lesson during tours, especially on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Updated: 17:36 CST, January 16, 2023
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Director Bob Kendrick has stories, lots of stories. This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the KU and Mizzou baseball teams stopped by for tours. Players watched and listened to Kendrick, hoping to promote conversations about diversity. Baseball, however, was only part of this lesson. “It’s a social justice museum, just seen through the lens of baseball,” Kendrick said. From baseball to bleachers, the museum has something for everyone. One painting was of particular significance to visitors during the holiday tour on Monday. Jackie Robinson and Dr. King together – revolutionary athlete and leader of the United States civil rights movement, both working to change the world. “We’re arguing here that Jackie Robinson didn’t break the color barrier, the six-decade long self-imposed color barrier, that was the beginning of a social movement in this country,” Kendrick said. On Monday, the intersection of baseball and social change was crystal clear to visitors. “My family and I knew about Jackie Robinson, but we were shocked to learn so much more than that. It was a lot more,” said visitor Sadie Pederson.
Director of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Bob Kendrick has stories, lots of stories.
This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the KU and Mizzou baseball teams stopped by for tours.
Players watched and listened to Kendrick, hoping to promote conversations about diversity.
However, baseball was only part of this lesson.
“It’s a social justice museum, just seen through the lens of baseball,” Kendrick said.
From baseball to bleachers, the museum has something for everyone. One painting had a special meaning for visitors during the tour on Bank Holiday Monday.
Jackie Robinson and Dr. King together – revolutionary athlete and leader of the United States civil rights movement, both working to change the world.
“What we’re arguing here is that Jackie Robinson didn’t break the six-decade-long self-imposed color barrier, it was the beginning of a social movement in this country,” Kendrick said.
On Monday, the intersection of baseball and social change was crystal clear to visitors.
“My family and I knew about Jackie Robinson, but we were shocked to learn so much more than that. It was a lot more,” said visitor Sadie Pederson.