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Black Diamonds

Black Diamonds

111 episodes — Page 1 of 3

Ep 101The Geddy Lee Collection

Bob Kendrick sits down with Rush’s lead singer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Geddy Lee. Learn the story of how a “White, Canadian Rocker” fell in love with the history of the Negro Leagues, what the museum means to him and his donation of 400 Negro Leagues baseballs autographed by legends including Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Josh Gibson. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 18, 202536 min

Ep 100Hall of Game 2025 | Dusty Baker, Willie Randolph, Cito Gaston, Jerry Manuel, Tony Reagins

Bob Kendrick sits down with Dusty Baker, Cito Gaston, Willie Randolph and Jerry Manuel to discuss how they got their opportunity to lead a baseball team and share their advice for the next generation as they are inducted into the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s “Hall of Game.” Recorded at the Sheraton Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City and co-hosted by Royals broadcaster Joel Goldberg, you’ll also hear former MLB General Manager, Tony Reagins receive the inaugural J.L. Wilkinson “Innovator” Award, given for moving the game of baseball forward while embracing the greats of Black baseball’s past. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 11, 20251h 23m

Ep 99BONUS | Don Newcombe: In His Own Words

Hear Don Newcombe’s full length conversation with former Negro Leaguer and Dodgers teammate Lou Johnson. From growing up in New Jersey to experiences in the Negro Leagues and his bond with Jackie Robinson and Roy Campenella as they trailblazed baseball, Newcombe describes in vivid detail the challenges, obstacles and the overt racism he experienced on and off the field. Newcombe also discusses his battle with alcoholism and how his journey enabled him to help teammates with their own struggles. You’ll also hear Newcombe reflect on his friendship with Martin Luther King Jr., and the impact the Negro League pioneers had on the Civil Rights Movement. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 22, 20251h 0m

Ep 98Don Newcombe | Trailblazer, Pioneer and The First Black Ace

Bob Kendrick tells the pioneering story of Don Newcombe. In a turbulent time in America, Newcombe exhibited the resilience and determination that were hallmarks of the Negro Leagues. In an interview at the NLBM with former Negro Leaguer and Dodgers OF Lou Johnson, you’ll hear Newcombe in his own words: From his humble beginnings growing up in New Jersey, to joining the Negro Leagues as a teen, to winning Rookie of the Year and multiple MVP awards with the Dodgers, to his role in the Civil Rights Movement. Don Newcombe was a trailblazer and along with Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella, endured racial animus to play baseball and reshape American society. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 31, 202457 min

Ep 97The Vision of Bill Veeck

Bill Veeck was a baseball visionary and pioneer with an important connection to the Negro Leagues - He was the man responsible for integrating the American League.Veeck respected the talent of the Negro Leagues and the business of the Negro Leagues - purchasing the contract of Larry Doby from Newark Eagles owner, Effa Manley. Later, Veeck brought an aging yet ageless Satchel Paige to the Major Leagues with the Indians and the Browns. Former Red Sox All-Star Rico Petrocelli joins Bob to discuss facing Satchel in 1965 when Satchel returned to baseball with the Kansas City Athletics. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 23, 202458 min

Ep 96Kerrick Jackson | College Baseball's Trailblazer

Following in the footsteps of such trailblazers as Buck O’Neil and Frank Robinson, Kerrick Jackson made history when he was hired as the first black baseball head coach in SEC history. After his success with Southern University and the University of Memphis, Kerrick accepted the Missouri Tigers job prior to the 2024 season. Kerrick joins Bob Kendrick to discuss his vision for the program and his role as a pioneer of diversity in college baseball. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 18, 202455 min

Ep 95Ken Burns | "There's Nobody Better than Buck"

Ken Burns joins Bob Kendrick to discuss the making of his 1994 landmark documentary “Baseball” and the episode “Shadow Ball” which highlighted the stars of the Negro Leagues and revealed Buck O’Neil to a worldwide audience for the first time. Bob and Ken discuss the influence of the Negro Leagues on Civil Rights, the pivotal roles Jackie Robinson, Buck O’Neil and Henry Aaron played in that progress, how the public’s understanding and appreciation of the Negro Leagues continues to grow and how Ken’s friendship with Buck O’Neil enriched his life. Bob also discusses Ken Burns’s latest project, “Leonardo da Vinci.” And, for the first time publicly released, hear Ken’s moving eulogy at Buck O’Neil’s memorial service in 2006. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 11, 20241h 7m

Ep 94Hall of Game 2024 | Frank White, John Mayberry, Amos Otis, Willie Wilson, Diego Seguí, Joel Goldberg

Join Bob Kendrick and Royals Broadcaster Joel Goldberg at the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, as they induct five Royals legends - Amos Otis, John Mayberry, Frank White, Willie Wilson and Hal McRae - into the Negro League Baseball Museum's "Hall of Game." The NLBM's 2024 class commemorates the 100th anniversary of the first Negro League World Series, won by the 1924 Kansas City Monarchs. In addition, Diego Seguí receives the José Méndez Beisbol Legend Award given for Lifetime Achievement and to celebrate the historical connection between the Negro Leagues and Spanish-speaking countries around the globe. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 4, 20241h 28m

Ep 93Dave Sims | The Black Press

The Black Press played an integral role in elevating the stature of the Negro Leagues and helping preserve its history. With newspapers like the Chicago Defender, Pittsburgh Courier and New York Amsterdam News at the forefront of social consciousness and the push for Civil Rights, their platforms were essential to the integration of baseball. 2025 Ford C. Frick Award nominee Dave Sims joins Bob Kendrick to discuss his path from sportswriter to renowned play-by-play broadcaster. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 27, 202454 min

Ep 92Ron Washington | Six Decades Inside Black Baseball

One of Jackie Robinson's last wishes was to one day see a black manager in Major League Baseball. Among those carrying on Jackie's wish and legacy is Angels Manager Ron Washington. A self-described baseball lifer and generational giant, Ron joins Bob Kendrick to discuss the tremendous impact he's had on the game of baseball. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 20, 202452 min

Ep 91Fergie Jenkins | From the Ice to the Diamond

Bob Kendrick is joined by Ferguson "Fergie" Jenkins. They discuss his upbringing in Ontario as a multi-sport star, the influence of his father who once played for the semi-pro Chatham Coloured All-Stars, getting discovered by the Phillies at the age of 15, and becoming a dominant pitcher with the Cubs en route to 284 wins and a Hall of Fame career. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 13, 202425 min

Ep 90Al Downing | 50 Years After Hank Aaron Broke Babe Ruth’s Record

Chasing a record once thought to be unbreakable, Henry Aaron battled through discrimination and death threats to become the all-time home run king. As the man who threw the fateful pitch that resulted in #715, Al Downing joins Bob Kendrick to discuss that historic night on April 8, 1974. And hear reflections from Dusty Baker – the man who was in the on-deck circle as history was made. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 6, 202457 min

Ep 89Josh Rawitch | The Souls of the Game

The stories and impact of the Black baseball experience continue to gain recognition. Bob Kendrick talks with President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Josh Rawitch, about its groundbreaking new exhibit in Cooperstown, "The Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball." Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 30, 202445 min

Ep 88Dorian Hairston | The Stories of Josh Gibson

Almost 80 years later, Josh Gibson’s larger-than-life persona continues to inspire. Bob talks with Dorian Hairston, a former University of Kentucky baseball player, about the impact the stories of Josh Gibson had on him, and how they influenced his poetry.Read “Pretend the Ball is Named Jim Crow: The Story of Josh Gibson” by Dorian Hairston - Amazon Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 23, 202450 min

Ep 87Michael Hill | Creating Opportunities in MLB: A Conversation about Leadership

Bob Kendrick discusses the evolution of black leadership in baseball, beginning with the vision of Negro Leagues pioneer Rube Foster. He's joined by former Marlins GM and current MLB executive Michael Hill, whose Front Office & On-Field Diversity Pipeline Program is bringing in new, young talent into the game. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 16, 20241h 1m

Ep 86When the Monarchs Were Kings of Baseball – 100th Anniversary of the KC Monarchs First Championship

As the white owner of a Negro League baseball team, J.L. Wilkinson turned the Kansas City Monarchs into a model franchise. Over a dozen Hall of Famers wore the uniform as the Monarchs won 12 league titles and 2 Negro League World Series championships with star-studded rosters including the likes of Satchel Paige, Jose Mendez, Bullet Rogan, Buck O’Neil, and a young Jackie Robinson. Bob Kendrick explores the legacy of the Monarchs and recognizes the first team to bring a championship to Kansas City with the grandson of J.L. Wilkinson, Ed Catron. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 9, 20241h 4m

Ep 85Style and Flair with Tim Raines

The Negro Leagues were known for their brash, daring and exciting style of play. In this episode, Bob Kendrick discusses the speed, athleticism and bold base running that was routinely on display. He’s joined by Hall of Famer Tim Raines, whose own unique style was reminiscent of the Negro Leagues. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 2, 202439 min

Ep 84William Brashler | The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings

Bob Kendrick discusses the impact of the 1976 sports comedy film “The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings”, loosely based on the barnstorming days of the Indianapolis Clowns. Bob remembers the life and legacy of James Earl Jones, who stars alongside Richard Pryor and Billy Dee Williams. Bob also talks with author William Brashler, whose fictional novel inspired the film, about his motivation for penning the book and its place in Negro Leagues lore. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 25, 202456 min

Ep 83Andre Dawson | HBCU Baseball and the Negro Leagues

Approximately 40 percent of Negro Leaguers were college educated – more than the players in the Major Leagues during that time. Bob Kendrick discusses the impact of black college baseball and how HBCU programs helped disprove the perception of that time that Negro League players didn’t have the intelligence required to play in the Major Leagues. How the college baseball programs acted as the minor leagues for the Negro Leagues and the impact the Negro League players had in their community following their playing careers. Bob also talks with Hall of Famer and Florida A&M alum Andre Dawson about being one of three HBCU alumni enshrined in Cooperstown and the influence the school had on his life and career. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 18, 202446 min

Ep 82Tony Gwynn Jr., Josh Barfield | The Storied East-West All-Star Game

The East-West All-Star Game was a showcase of baseball talent that drew fans from all over. A game so grand, it consistently drew more fans than the MLB All-Star Game. Bob Kendrick reflects on the origin of the East-West game, its impact on the community and talks about the legacy of the game with Tony Gwynn Jr. and Josh Barfield, two former players who participated in the East-West Classic game played at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 11, 20241h 5m

Ep 81Ryan Howard | Josh Gibson – The Greatest Slugger of All-Time

Bob Kendrick discusses the epic feats of baseball’s greatest power hitter, Josh Gibson. Hall of Famers Ted Williams, Satchel Paige and Roy Campanella all testified to his incredible ability. His peers recalled Gibson’s home runs as if they were measured in miles, not feet. A larger than life figure, Gibson was often compared to Babe Ruth, with some even calling Ruth – “The White Josh Gibson.” Hear about his prodigious power, the rarity of a catcher employing a five-tool skill set and how his life ended far too soon. NL MVP Ryan Howard joins the conversation to reflect on Gibson’s legacy and place in the baseball record book. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 4, 202452 min

Ep 80CC Sabathia, Adam Jones, Roy Wood Jr., Clinton Yates | MLB at Rickwood Field

Bob Kendrick reflects on MLB’s Tribute to the Negro Leagues at Rickwood Field. With emotions heightened by the passing of Willie Mays, Bob discusses the importance of Rickwood, America’s oldest ballpark and home of the Birmingham Black Barons, hosting an MLB game and the significance of the history making moment with ESPN’s Clinton Yates, Orioles great Adam Jones, Yankees legend CC Sabathia and comedian Roy Wood Jr. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 28, 20241h 13m

Ep 79Integrating the MLB Record Book

It’s a new era in baseball history as Josh Gibson now sits atop many MLB all-time leaderboards and numerous other great Negro Leaguers are now found in the top 10. Bob Kendrick discusses the significance of Major League Baseball’s decision to finally incorporate the Negro Leagues into the MLB record book and what it means for the players and the leagues to be officially recognized. Bob’s joined by historians John Thorn and Phil Dixon as they reveal how the committee uncovered the records, which players are finally getting long overdue recognition and what their findings mean for baseball history. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 21, 20241h 1m

Ep 78The Legacy of Willie Mays

Bob Kendrick explores the life and legacy of Willie Mays. From his days as a teenager playing against adults in the Negro Leagues, his unique combination of speed and power in MLB with the Giants, to his impact on society before and after the Civil Rights Movement. Biographer Jim Hirsch joins the conversation to discuss how the Negro Leagues influenced Mays on and off the field and how he broke the mold as a major league player and became an icon. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 14, 202452 min

Black Diamonds Returns AUGUST 14

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Black Diamonds is back! The award-winning podcast of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum returns with all-new episodes telling the sport's most incredible stories, starting August 14th. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jul 31, 20242 min

BONUS | Full Breakdown of Negro Leagues Stats Entering the Major League Record Books

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Bob Kendrick reacts to the news of Negro Leagues statistics officially entering the Major League record books, following three years of intensive work by the Negro Leagues Statistical Review Committee. With the accomplishments of more than 2,300 Negro Leagues ballplayers from 1920-1948 being recognized, Bob looks at the path taken to reach the historic announcement, and examines the triumphs of Negro Leagues legends such as Josh Gibson, who becomes the all-time leader in several MLB categories. Audio of Ernest Burke courtesy of the University of Baltimore - Negro League Oral History Collection Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 13, 202420 min

BONUS | Sridhar Pappu and Luke Epplin | A Salute to the Black Aces

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Bob Kendrick joins fans at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum's "Black Aces" exhibit for an in-depth discussion with two acclaimed authors. Sridhar Pappu discusses his book, "The Year of the Pitcher", chronicling Bob Gibson's historic 1968 season, set "against the backdrop of assassinations, while boys boarded planes to Saigon and riots swept through American cities, forever changing the fabric of this country." Then Luke Epplin sits down for a conversation about his book, "Our Team", "the story of the integration of the Cleveland Indians and their quest for a World Series title through four key participants: Bill Veeck, an eccentric and visionary owner adept at exploding fireworks on and off the field; Larry Doby, a soft-spoken, hard-hitting pioneer whose major-league breakthrough shattered stereotypes that so much of white America held about Black ballplayers; Bob Feller, a pitching prodigy from the Iowa cornfields who set the template for the athlete as businessman; and Satchel Paige, a legendary pitcher from the Negro Leagues whose belated entry into the majors whipped baseball fans across the country into a frenzy." Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezRead Siridhar Pappu's "The Year of the Pitcher" - AmazonRead Luke Epplin's "Our Team" - AmazonTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.comSee and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 25, 20241h 37m

Ep 77Hall of Game 2023 | Dwight Gooden, Dontrelle Willis, Dave Stewart, Al Downing, Derrick Blue, Greg Proops

Join Bob Kendrick and comedian Greg Proops at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum's 2023 "Hall of Game" ceremony, as they celebrate the induction of the The Black Aces - Five of the 15 Black pitchers in AL/NL history to win 20 games in a Major League season, and five men who carried the spirit and style of the Negro Leagues through their whole career. Hear Bob and Greg sit down with the legendary Al Downing (10:43) to talk about his 17-year career, from the 1961 Yankees and the chase for 61, to being a part of Henry Aaron's historic 715. Enjoy Dave Stewart's stories (24:02) of his friend and teammate, the great Mike Norris. Listen to story upon story about the late Vida Blue (42:52) from his son, Derrick. Laugh and learn with the always-hilarious, never-hittable Dontrelle Willis (59:40) as he remembers his career, and thanks his heroes. And experience the thrill of the career that was Dwight Gooden (1:11:05) with the Doc himself. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezFollow Greg Proops on Twitter - @GregProopsTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.comSee and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 14, 20231h 29m

Ep 76The Story of Willard "Home Run" Brown | Featuring the Late Willard Brown

He was Ese Hombre. He was Sunny. He was Home Run Brown. He was Special Services for the US Army at the invasion of Normandy. And he was the Negro Leagues' greatest power hitter of the 1940's.Meet Willard Brown, through the stories of Bob Kendrick and the archived voice of Brown himself. Hear how the late Hall of Famer planned to be a Kansas City Monarch from an early age, and ended up rewriting their record books. Hear about his legendary tape-measure shots, and game-winning heroics, his larger-than-life persona in his career in Latin America, and the joy he brought to European troops hitting home runs for the Army in World War II. And don't miss the story of Willard Brown's historic, yet ill-fated, stint as the first Black player (alongside Hank Thompson) in St. Louis Browns history, and why it paled in comparison the competitive levels of the Negro Leagues. Interviews with Willard Brown recorded June 22, 1982, and appear courtesy of the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.comSee and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 7, 202340 min

Ep 75Cam Perron and Al Holt | The 1948 Birmingham Black Barons

The last Negro Leagues World Series was held in 1948, and one of the teams playing was the Birmingham Black Barons. Why was that '48 squad so special, and how did a young white kid become so involved in preserving the legacy of Black baseball in Birmingham and beyond? Find out as Bob chats with Cam Perron, author and Negro Leagues researcher, along with Al Holt, and former third baseman and outfielder for the Black Barons. Hear Cam discuss how his interest in the Negro Leagues began in his pre-teens, which has led to friendships with over 100 former players and helping dozens of them secure pensions from Major League Baseball, with the help of Dr. Layton Revel. Cam also talks about the distinct honor of having Hank Aaron, Bob's childhood idol, write the foreword to his 2021 book, "Comeback Season: My Unlikely Story of Friendship with the Greatest Living Negro League Baseball Players." Hear Al Holt explain why it was always his dream to play for the Black Barons and what it was like to see a 17-year-old rookie named Willie Mays join the team in 1948, in addition to his disappointment in the decline of the Negro Leagues and Industrial League teams contrasted with his joy over the Negro Leagues now being recognized as part of the Major Leagues since 2020.And Bob, Cam and Al look ahead to the Negro Leagues tribute set to take place at the historic Rickwood Field in June 2024! Read Cam Perron's book "Comeback Season: My Unlikely Story of Friendship with the Greatest Living Negro League Baseball Players" - BOOKSOUPFollow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.comSee and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 31, 202358 min

Ep 74LaTroy Hawkins | "I want to be remembered by how I treated people, and not the stats on the back of my baseball card."

You could call him the modern day Satchel Paige - A man who played three sports and pitched for 12 teams over 21 years, on his way to becoming one of just 16 men to ever pitch in over 1,000 games. And along the way, he enjoyed every minute of it.LaTroy Hawkins sits down with Bob Kendrick at Play Ball Park in Seattle to discuss his admiration for Negro Leagues baseball, and how Buck O'Neil deserves credit for every ounce of greatness of the last 70 years of baseball. Hear about the rocky start to LaTroy's career, the keys to his historic longevity, the lessons he learned along the way about how to treat people with dignity and respect, the work he's doing today to bring baseball to every young Black kid who wants it, where the game is headed, how to protect where it's been, a few words about his Godson - reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes II - and so much more. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.comSee and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 24, 202335 min

Ep 73Willie Horton | How The Negro Leagues Helped Make The Game Global

4x All-Star and 1968 World Series Champion Willie Horton joins Bob Kendrick in front of a live audience at Play Ball Park in Seattle, to discuss his experience of visiting the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, having a breakout season while playing in Puerto Rico early in his career, and how his good friend Buck O’Neil tried to sign him to the Chicago Cubs when he was only thirteen years old as a Spanish player.Hear how Willie dealt with being one of the early black players with the Tigers, plus his memories of the 1968 World Championship team, why he thinks Bob Gibson could have done what Shohei Ohtani is doing now, and so much more.Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.comSee and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 17, 202338 min

Ep 72Basketball Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens | "I Played Stickball with Willie Mays"

Lenny Wilkens scored 17,772 points as an NBA player, and won 1,332 regular season games as an NBA coach. He has two gold medals, and he's in the Basketball Hall of Fame three times. And still, he reminds you... his first love was baseball. Hear the story of young Lenny Wilkens watching Jackie Robinson's rookie season from the Ebbets Field bleachers in 1947, and the firsthand accounts of how he changed America. Hear Lenny's accounts of playing stickball with Willie Mays, and what roles the first wave of Black stars in the Major Leagues had in the community. The Civil Rights movement, the Dream Team, the incredible stories of a 45-year Hall of Fame career and the man who lived it - all with Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.comSee and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 10, 202358 min

Ep 71Sam Allen and Pedro Sierra | Former Negro Leaguers Tell Their Stories

When they speak, we listen. Former Negro Leaguers Sam Allen and Pedro Sierra join Bob Kendrick at All-Star Week in Seattle to tell their stories of triumph over adversity, in front of a live audience. Hear stories of long bus rides and hot beef stew while Sam Allen traveled with the Memphis Red Sox. Hear Pedro Sierra's first reactions to prejudice in the United States, after leaving his native Cuba to play in the Negro Leagues. Hear about former Negro-Leaguer-turned-Country-Music icon Charley Pride, Dapper Dizzy Dismukes, Ted Rasberry, and a skinny Indianapolis Clown named Henry Aaron. And hear firsthand, how Jackie Robinson changed two lives forever in 1947. Do not miss this very special conversation, with two of the last remaining storytellers of an unforgettable generation. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.comSee and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 3, 202330 min

Ep 70Derek Jeter | "It's Not Just Baseball History."

"You need to know your past. You need to understand the trials and tribulations that, not only Jackie Robinson went through, but this is U.S. history. It's not just baseball history." Hall of Famer Derek Jeter sits down with Bob Kendrick for an exclusive one-on-one session, discussing everything from his first steps on a baseball field to the importance of Negro Leagues history, and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Hear The Captain discuss his first meetings with Buck O'Neil, his first steps through the museum, his enshrinement in both the Hall of Fame and Monument Park, his reverence for Dave Winfield, and so much more throughout twenty years in the big leagues. Hear why Derek is so proud of his post-playing career as an executive with the Marlins, and why the game NEEDS more disruptors in front offices. Hear all about Derek's work with his foundation, his lessons from his father, and his struggles on a basketball court. Plus, don't miss an in-depth discussion on bringing Black participation back to baseball at all levels. And so much more. Learn more about the Turn 2 Foundation - Turn 2Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.comSee and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jul 27, 202356 min

Ep 69Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson | The Players Alliance, Recorded at All-Star Week in Seattle

How do you truly change the game? Through action. Action OFF the field, and action ON the field. Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson, directors of The Players Alliance, join Bob Kendrick in front of a live audience at Play Ball Park in Seattle, to discuss how they carry the spirit of the Negro Leagues into the next generation of baseball stars, and what The Players Alliance is doing to bring baseball to EVERYONE. Hear their take on leadership in baseball, and the mentors that got them to All-Star heights, the lessons they learned from Buck O'Neil and the stars of the Negro Leagues, and how Major League Baseball's HBCU showcase at All-Star Week can light the way to what baseball needs to look like in the future. PLUS, one VERY special surprise (35:04) for Bob, courtesy of the Players Alliance. To learn more about the work of The Players Alliance, visit PlayersAlliance.OrgFollow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jul 20, 202337 min

Ep 68Mike Cameron | A True Game Changer, Recorded at All-Star Week in Seattle

He's a former All-Star, a three-time Gold Glover, the father of a big leaguer, one of only 22 men in history with 250 homers and 250 steals, and now... he's officially a Game Changer. Mike Cameron joins Bob Kendrick during All-Star Week in Seattle to talk about receiving 2023's prestigious "Game Changer" honors from The Players Alliance, the work of The Players Alliance in strengthening baseball in Black communities, winning the Pop Lloyd award from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, instilling the history of the Negro Leagues in his son, his lessons of mentorship, respect, and leadership, the lore of Willie Mays, Henry Aaron, and Buck O'Neil, the story of his four-home-run game, his career beside the one and only Ichiro, and so much more. To learn more about the work of The Players Alliance, visit PlayersAlliance.OrgFollow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jul 13, 202358 min

Black Diamonds Returns JULY 13

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The award-winning podcast of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum returns JULY 13, following Major League Baseball's All-Star break. And if you're in Seattle for the All-Star Game, come see Bob and Black Diamonds LIVE at Play Ball Park, Sunday JULY 9. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 8, 20231 min

Ep 67Reggie Jackson | Are We Any Closer to Diversity in Baseball?

Hall of Famer - and son of a Negro Leagues infielder - Reggie Jackson joins Bob Kendrick for a candid, in-depth conversation about race and baseball, and the question of whether we're truly any closer to diversity in the game than we were when Reggie retired. Hear Reggie's commentary on the lack of Black managers and executives in the game today, and how we need more than just one Dana Brown running player personnel before we can start celebrating. Hear Reggie's reaction to Glen Kuiper's racial slur and subsequent apology, and why he's having a much harder time forgiving than Bob is. And hear Reggie's wealth of stories, from growing up amidst our nation's civil unrest, and his father passing on the wisdom of the Negro Leaguers, to meeting Jackie Robinson, his conversations with Jim Brown, and a home run that nearly left Kansas City entirely. Watch the new documentary "Reggie" on Prime VideoFollow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 1, 202346 min

Ep 66Marquis Grissom | The Story of Sam "The Jet" Jethroe

How fast was Sam "The Jet" Jethroe? He was the fastest man in the Negro Leagues. He was the fastest man in the National League. And when you put him on the track with an Olympian? He was the fastest man on that track too. Bob Kendrick tells the story of the Jet's journey from a championship with the Cleveland Buckeyes, to becoming the first Black player to take the field for the Braves and capturing the NL Rookie of the Year in 1950. Plus, Bob sits down with a man who followed in the Jet's footsteps and didn't even realize it - from Montreal, to the Braves, with two NL stolen base titles along the way - the great Marquis Grissom. The two discuss the importance of telling these stories of Black baseball to future generations, Sam Jethroe's role in paving the way for Marquis in the Braves' organization, his relationship with Henry Aaron, his rise from rags to riches, the art of the stolen base and learning from Otis Nixon and Tim Raines in Montreal, why the city of Montreal remains so important in Black baseball history, stories on top of stories on top of stories, and a nod to this summer's Hall of Fame inductee, Fred McGriff. Interviews with Sam Jethroe appear courtesy of the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 25, 202347 min

Ep 65Rosilyn Stearnes-Brown | The Legend of Turkey Stearnes

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What if we told you the greatest baseball player the city of Detroit has ever known, NEVER played a game for the Tigers? Bob Kendrick tells the story of Hall of Famer Norman "Turkey" Stearnes, the five-tool legend of the Detroit Stars who could hit, slug, field, run, throw, and even sing, like no one baseball had ever seen. Hear how "The Gobbler" got his name, how Satchel Paige showed him as much respect as anyone who had ever stepped in the batter's box, how he had the power of Josh Gibson before Josh Gibson ever hit his first home run, and how he never became bitter, despite having to work winters in the auto factories owned by the same man who banned him from the Detroit Tigers due to the color of his skin. Plus, hear from Norman Stearnes' own daughter, Rosilyn Stearnes-Brown, as she tells stories of the man who the fans called "Turkey", but she just called "Dad". Read Rosilyn Stearnes-Brown's "Fans Called Him "Turkey," I Called Him Dad" - McFarland BooksFollow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 18, 202345 min

Ep 64W. Kamau Bell | How to Define Blackness in Baseball, Plus a Conversation About Glen Kuiper

What does it mean to forgive, but never forget? Bob Kendrick addresses the racial slur used, and apology given, by A's broadcaster Glen Kuiper, and why he himself has chosen the path of forgiveness, while using the moment to remember the triumph over adversity of Negro Leagues baseball. Bob also takes a moment to remember his dear friend and a member of the Black Aces, the late Vida Blue, before writer, documentarian, and comedian W. Kamau Bell joins Bob for a nuanced discussion of how Blackness has been defined through the history of baseball, on the heels of Bell's HBOMax documentary "1000% Me", examining mixed race identity. Where was the line drawn for light-skinned stars like Charlie Grant or John Donaldson? And why? Did the first ever Black Major Leaguer KNOW that he was Black? And how did Blackness evolve in baseball past a skin tone, and into an entire style of play? Laugh and learn with Bob and W. Kamau Bell, as they walk through American history. Stream W. Kamau Bell's "1000% Me" - HBOMaxFollow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 11, 202353 min

Ep 63Ray Mackey, Rich Westcott | The Story of Raleigh "Biz" Mackey

Meet the man responsible for both the skills of Roy Campanella, and the rise of baseball in Japan. Oh, and he also happened to have his own Hall of Fame resume ON the field. Bob Kendrick, Rich Westcott, and Ray Mackey discuss the life, career, and lasting legacy of Ray's Great Uncle, the legendary Raleigh "Biz" Mackey. Hear about Raleigh's humble beginnings in Texas and his rise to become a traveling superstar, his multiple Negro Leagues championships two decades apart, his unparalleled ability behind the plate, his invaluable mentorship off the field, and the feats he accomplished on the other side of the world that have STILL not been replicated to this day. But first, join Bob for a VERY special announcement from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, right off the top. Support the Biz Mackey Family Foundation - bizmackey.orgRead Rich Westcott's "Biz Mackey, A Giant Behind the Plate" - AmazonFollow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 4, 202354 min

Ep 62Wes Singletary | The Story of John Henry "Pop" Lloyd

Babe Ruth considered him the greatest player who had ever lived. Derek Jeter called him 'me, but with more power'. Bob Kendrick and Dr. Wes Singletary tell the story of John Henry "Pop" Lloyd, a Hall of Fame shortstop and the favorite son of Palatka, Florida. Hear about Pop's humble beginnings and meteoric rise through the Negro Leagues, his playing career that extended into his mid-40's, and his legacy that lasts far beyond. And most importantly, learn about the gentlemanly reputation, both in the game and elsewhere, that truly earned the man the nickname "Pop". Read Dr. Wes Singletary's "The Right Time: John Henry 'Pop' Lloyd and Black Baseball" - AmazonFollow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apr 27, 202337 min

Ep 61Cito Gaston | Breaking Barriers as a Black Manager, and Life with Henry Aaron

Why was there a 45-year gap between the first Black man to play in a World Series, and the first Black man to manage in a World Series? Former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston sits down with Bob Kendrick for a wide-ranging discussion about being that first man, breaking barriers as the first Black manager to win a World Series (and doing it twice), the importance of his matchup against Frank Robinson in 1989 as the first two Black managers to go face-to-face, his friendship with Dave Roberts and Dusty Baker and the emotions of seeing them each raise a trophy, the current state of the game for Black leadership, the lessons he learned as Henry Aaron's roommate, his idolization of the greats of the Negro Leagues, and one of the greatest joys of any baseball conversation - Rickey Henderson stories. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apr 20, 202350 min

Ep 60Jackie Robinson vs. Paul Robeson vs. The United States of America

In the Summer of 1949, the United States government called on Jackie Robinson to testify in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee against famed actor and activist Paul Robeson, for his ties to the Communist Party. In defending his country, Jackie would be forced to attack a fellow prominent Black voice, fighting the same fight he was - the ultimate no-win situation. But with this platform, he made his voice louder than ever. Authors Jonathan Eig and Michael G. Long join Bob Kendrick to tell the complex story of Jackie Robinson and his activism beyond the baseball field - the one the history books largely ignore - with the voices of Buck O'Neil and Jackie Robinson. Read Jonathan Eig's "Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season" - AmazonRed Michael G. Long's "Call Him Jack: The Story of Jackie Robinson, Black Freedom Fighter" - AmazonFollow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apr 13, 20231h 2m

Ep 59Dusty Baker | The Story of Vicious Vic Harris

Is the greatest manager in baseball history STILL not in the Hall of Fame? Bob Kendrick takes a look at "Vicious" Vic Harris, and the greatest minds of the Negro Leagues. Then Astros Manager Dusty Baker joins Bob to talk about his journey "from carrying Satchel Paige's fishing poles to lifting up a championship trophy", joining Dave Roberts and Cito Gaston as the only Black managers to win a World Series, the hunger to tie Cito with trophy number two, why he wasn't allowed to play quarterback in high school, Willie Stargell, Henry Aaron, and why Yordan Alvarez is the modern-day Mule Suttles. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apr 6, 202350 min

Ep 58Ramone Russell | Bringing the Negro Leagues to MLB: The Show 23

Imagine, stepping into the shoes of Satchel Paige to face Josh Gibson in the 1942 Negro Leagues World Series. With the bases loaded. And with every fielder on your side kneeling around the pitcher's mound. Starting this week, you can. Bob Kendrick sits down with Sony's Ramone Russell to tell the story of how the two of them have brought the Negro Leagues to life in this year's edition of MLB: The Show, and why it's already bringing baseball history, and American history, to a new generation like never before. Hear how the stadiums, the crowds, the uniforms, the windups, the swings, the slides, and most importantly, the stories were all recreated in living color, and how it all amounts to the most exciting year in the history of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezFollow Ramone Russell on Twitter - @Ramone_RussellTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mar 30, 202350 min

Black Diamonds Returns for 2023

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Black Diamonds is back! Bob Kendrick's award-winning series returns with all-new episodes starting March 30th. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.com Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mar 23, 20232 min

Ep 57Holiday Special Part Two | Joe Carter, Lee Smith, Kenny Lofton, Bo Porter, and Dave Stewart at the Buck O'Neil Gala

Bob Kendrick and Joe Posnanski sit down with their closest friends at the "Thanks a Million, Buck" Hall of Fame Gala in Kansas City, for a night of laughter, storytelling, and celebration of the legend himself, Buck O'Neil. Hear Kenny Lofton on why he's proud to embody the style of the Negro Leagues, Bo Porter on continuing Buck O'Neil's legacy in a Major League dugout, and Dave Stewart on carrying Jackie Robinson's spirit as a rookie with the Dodgers. And hear Joe Carter and Lee Smith tell stories of being scouted and signed by Buck O'Neil, heeding his words to this day, and going head-to-head against each other on the diamond, and on the golf course. Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprezTo support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.comVisit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 15, 202234 min