Up To Date

How Effa Manley Became 'Baseball's Leading Lady'

By Steve Kraske,

Published March 9, 2021 at 6:23 PM CST

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Effa Manley made history for her ownership of a professional baseball team and her induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Effa Manley's achievements as the first woman to own a professional baseball team led to her becoming the first woman to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Effa Manley turned her love of baseball into owning the Newark Eagles of the Negro Leagues and managing them to the league's 1946 championship. With the entry of Jackie Robinson into Major League Baseball the following year, the Negro Leagues were doomed. Even after selling her team, though, Manley continued to be a voice advocating for Black players and owners.

Andrea Williams, author of "Baseball’s Leading Lady: Effa Manley and the Rise and Fall of the Negro Leagues"

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Up To Date Podcast women history Black History baseball Major League Baseball Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

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.

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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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