Up To Date

Major League Baseball's Inclusion Of The Negro Leagues Is Long Overdue

By Steve Kraske,

Published December 21, 2020 at 3:49 PM CST

Ways To Subscribe

The Kansas City Monarchs — Some players from the Kansas City Monarchs (pictured above in 1921) are among the more than 3,400 players now recognized by Major League Baseball.

MLB's decision recognizes seven Negro organizations as major leaguers.

Major League Baseball's inclusion of these players and their achievements is a step in the right direction. What was behind the decision that the MLB called "an oversight" and does it paint the full picture of the Negro Leagues?

Phil Dixon, historian, author and co-founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Tags

Up To Date Podcast Negro Leagues Negro Leagues Baseball Museum baseball history Kansas City Missouri (KCMO)MLB segregation Monarchs Talk Show

Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

See stories by Steve Kraske

Chris Young

Chris Young is an Assistant Producer for KCUR’s Up To Date. Contact him at chrisy@kcur.org.

See stories by Chris Young

Mackenzie Martin

Mackenzie Martin is a senior podcast producer at KCUR Studios and host of the podcast, A People's History of Kansas City. Contact her at mackenzie@kcur.org.

See stories by Mackenzie Martin