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A 1920 Meeting At The Paseo YMCA Gave Black Baseball A League Of Its Own

By Brian Ellison,

Published July 10, 2020 at 4:26 PM CDT

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Baseball player Buck O'Neil in his Kansas City Monarchs uniform. — John "Buck" O'Neil played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro National League. He lived most of his life in Kansas City and went on to become one of baseball's greatest ambassadors.

One hundred years after the Negro National League was established, a Kansas City museum is finding ways to mark the anniversary amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The restrictions caused by the coronavirus have not stopped the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum from marking the 100th anniversary of the league that had the likes of Satchel Paige and Jackie Robinson in its ranks. Its "Tipping Your Cap" campaign has U.S presidents, sports greats and everyday fans doffing their hats in honor of the National Negro League.

Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

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Brian Ellison

As a host and contributor at KCUR, I seek to create a more informed citizenry and richer community. I want to enlighten and inspire our audience by delivering the information they need with accuracy and urgency, clarifying what’s complicated and teasing out the complexities of what seems simple. I work to craft conversations that reveal realities in our midst and model civil discourse in a divided world. Follow me on Twitter @ptsbrian or email me at brian@kcur.org.

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Grace Cole

Grace Cole is an intern for KCUR's Up To Date.

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Danie Alexander

As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.

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