Kansas City Monarchs

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Negro Leagues we honor the Kansas City Monarchs and a few of the famous faces that played in Kansas City.

African-Americans began to play baseball in the late 1800s on military teams, college teams, and company teams. The black players formed their own units, “barnstorming” around the country to play anyone who would challenge them.

In 1920, an organized league structure was formed in a meeting held at the Paseo YMCA in Kansas City, Mo., Midwestern team owners joined to form the Negro National League. Soon, rival leagues formed in Eastern and Southern states, bringing the thrills and innovative play of black baseball to major urban centers and rural country sides in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. The Leagues maintained a high level of professional skill and became centerpieces for economic development in many black communities.

For more information on the Negros Leagues visit https://nlbm.com/

Support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum by purchasing a limited edition Buck O'Neil Singing Bobblehead. This special edition Buck O'Neil bobblehead commemorates the Manager of the 1953 Kansas City Monarchs, the year the team won the Negro American League title. Highlighting his heartfelt passion for baseball, the bobblehead plays Buck's classic rendition of Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

Royals Charities created the bobblehead to benefit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in honor of their Centennial Celebration, which commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the Negro Leagues.

A limited quantity of the collectible bobbleheads will be available for purchase online and at the Royals Team Store located at Kauffman Stadium while supplies last.

Please provide your current mailing address at time of purchase. For any questions, please email [email protected].

Thank you for your support of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and Royals Charities. To learn more, visit nlbm.com or royals.com/royalscharities.

Audio copyright The Baseball Film Project, Inc., provided with the permission of PBS and Ken Burns.