The legends of Negro League baseball, most of them long gone, came alive inside a posh moving van-turned traveling museum that rolled up outside the stadium parking lot for a one-night visit.
The van, custom-fitted with touch-screen displays, vintage movie clips and dazzling uniform display cases, was on the third stop of a nationwide tour to rekindle the history of the old Negro Leagues, which were founded in 1920 and began to fade after World War II when Major League Baseball finally allowed Blacks to play."For a lot of folks, particularly for our young people, this will be their first introduction to the fact that there was even a Negro League," said Bob Kendrick, marketing director for the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City, which is co-sponsoring the tour with Roadway Express Inc.Titled "Times of Greatness," the exhibit reminds fans that Robinson played in the Negro Leagues long before he became the majors' first Black player. It highlights the legendary career of Paige, the Hall of Fame pitcher who spent 21 years in the Negro Leagues before making his major league debut at age 42, and chronicles Doby, the first Black to play in the American League. It tells the story of Manley, one of the first female owner-managers of a professional sports team, who fought for better schedules, better travel and better salaries for her players."When we make these stops, the common reaction is: 'I didn't know that,' " Kendrick said. "What Roadway has done (is) wet (fans') appetite so they will want to make plans to come to Kansas City." For more information, check http://www.roadway.com/baseball/times_of_greatness.html
The van, custom-fitted with touch-screen displays, vintage movie clips and dazzling uniform display cases, was on the third stop of a nationwide tour to rekindle the history of the old Negro Leagues, which were founded in 1920 and began to fade after World War II when Major League Baseball finally allowed Blacks to play."For a lot of folks, particularly for our young people, this will be their first introduction to the fact that there was even a Negro League," said Bob Kendrick, marketing director for the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City, which is co-sponsoring the tour with Roadway Express Inc.Titled "Times of Greatness," the exhibit reminds fans that Robinson played in the Negro Leagues long before he became the majors' first Black player. It highlights the legendary career of Paige, the Hall of Fame pitcher who spent 21 years in the Negro Leagues before making his major league debut at age 42, and chronicles Doby, the first Black to play in the American League. It tells the story of Manley, one of the first female owner-managers of a professional sports team, who fought for better schedules, better travel and better salaries for her players."When we make these stops, the common reaction is: 'I didn't know that,' " Kendrick said. "What Roadway has done (is) wet (fans') appetite so they will want to make plans to come to Kansas City." For more information, check http://www.roadway.com/baseball/times_of_greatness.html
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