Storied: 22 Stories about the Negro Leagues.
In association with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
22 Stories about the Negro Leagues.
Retold by Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
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What is Storied?
22 Stories about the Negro Leagues. Retold by Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Join us for a fascinating recount of Black America’s journey toward equality through the game of baseball. We’ll release a new chapter each week depicting the greatest stories you’ve never heard before!
Chapter 1:Chicken Wire
“You are now deemed worthy to walk out onto the field with 10 of the baddest brothers to ever play this game.” Fighting through the mire of segregation, some of the game’s greatest players make-up the backdrop as Bob Kendrick explains the historical impact of chicken wire and why it is so prominent throughout the Museum.
Chapter 2:Jackie Robinson
“They did everything imaginable to try and break Jackie, but Jackie wouldn’t break.” He wasn’t even the most talented player on his own Kansas City Monarchs team, Bob explains why Jackie Robinson was the perfect man to break Major League Baseball’s color barrier.
Chapter 3:Night Game
“J.L.Wilkinson, owner of the Kansas City Monarchs, literally mortgaged everything he had to pioneer night baseball.” Join Bob as he describes how Wilkinson’s gamble paid off in a major way amongst the working class.
Chapter 4:Martin Dihigo
“El Maestro” is the only baseball player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 5 different countries. He played every position. He hit. He pitched. He did it all. Martin Dihigo is the most complete baseball player that ever lived.
Chapter 5:Geddy Lee
“I can’t say that I was a big Rush fan before… But I’m a Rush fan now!” Learn the story behind why Rush’s lead singer, Geddy Lee, a “White, Canadian Rocker” donated & dedicated 400 Negro League autographed baseballs to the NLBM.
Chapter 6:Integration
“Even when they say it’s not about the money… It’s always about the money!” Join Bob as he details why the Negro Leagues’ financial success ultimately caused a delay in baseball’s integration.
Chapter 7:Josh Gibson
The legend of Josh Gibson’s power and athleticism led people to start referring to Babe Ruth as the ‘White Josh Gibson.’ The career .359 hitter reportedly hit a ball completely out of Yankee Stadium and another over 600 feet at the historic Polo Grounds. If baseball ever had a GOAT, it was none other than Josh Gibson.
Chapter 8:The Street Hotel
“Wherever you had successful black baseball, you had thriving black economies.” Bob talks about the iconic Street Hotel and how it became the hottest place to stay in downtown Kansas City.
Chapter 9:Satchel Paige
Leroy “Satchel” Paige brought a full arsenal to the bump. He had charisma, longevity, and most importantly, stuff. There was no one like the ageless wonder. In this episode, Bob tells an unforgettable story about the time Satchel Paige and Buck O’Neil played in the Denver Post Tournament. You won’t wanna miss this!
Chapter 10:Buck O’Neil
“You can indeed get further in this life with love, [rather] than hate.” A great baseball player and better man. Buck O’Neil personified grace, love and joy in every aspect of life.
Chapter 11:Philadelphia Royal Giants in Japan
“Believe it or not, it was a touring team of Negro Leaguers that introduced professional baseball to the Japanese.” Although Babe Ruth and his team of All-Stars are often credited with the internationalization of professional baseball as a result of their tours, the Philadelphia Royal Giants (a Negro League team) toured through Japan many years prior. Take a listen.
Chapter 12:Bob Motley
We take a detour from the history of the NLB’s greatest players to take a look at the man that governed their games. Bob Motley, legendary NLB umpire, brought a show-stopping flair to the diamond. And you’ll never believe which icon of baseball he threw out of a game...
Chapter 13:Oscar Charleston
“He had the defensive abilities of Tris Speak, the tenacity of Ty Cobb, and the bat of Babe Ruth.” Join Bob as he breaks down the player Buck O’Neil said was the best he’d ever seen.
Chapter 14:The House of David
“I tell people all the time you can’t make this stuff up, it’s too good.” The great Satchel Paige donned a whig and fake red beard as he played with the all-white House of David team during the 1934 Denver Post Tournament. Needless to say, Satchel put on a show as his team won the tournament and the $7,500 prize money.
Chapter 15:Cool Papa Bell
"So fast that he could walk in a room, turn off the lights, get in bed, pull-up the covers, before the room got dark." Even the ‘fastest man in the world’ (Jesse Owens) refused to race the legendary, Cool Papa Bell.
Chapter 16:Rube Foster
“The greatest baseball mind this sport has ever seen.” Rube Foster redefined the way baseball was thought of. He secretly taught Hall of Fame pitcher, Christy Matthewson, how to throw a screwball. And the teams he managed, oh boy, his teams played more aggressively than any baseball team to ever came before them.
Chapter 17:Global Baseball
“They weren’t black baseball players, they were just baseball players.” Treated as second-class citizens in America, many Negro Leagues’ players went over to spanish-speaking countries and were treated like heroes.
Chapter 18:Henry “Hank” Aaron
Henry “Hank” Aaron is one of the most prolific baseball players in history, but did you know he began his career in the Negro Leagues? Join Bob for a fascinating recount of how The Hammer’s legend began.
Chapter 19:Satchel Paige (part 2)
“The catcher set the target. He hit the target. He didn’t miss.” Satchel Paige, blessed with pinpoint accuracy, made pitching look effortless. Enjoy the latest episode where Bob talks about how the timeless wonder would warm-up before a game.
Chapter 20:JL Wilkinson
“He didn’t have a prejudiced bone in his body.” J.L. Wilkinson, a diminutive white man from Algona, Iowa became the only white owner in the Negro Leagues behind the testimony of Buck O’Neil. The rest was history as Wilkinson and the Kansas City Monarchs went on to become the NLB’s most decorated franchise.
Chapter 21:Monte Irvin
“Monte Irvin was a tremendous player, but more importantly, Monte Irvin was a tremendous human being.” Learn the story behind the man many thought would, and should be the first black player to break the MLB color barrier.
Chapter 22:The Women of the Negro Leagues
“Tony Stone. Connie Morgan. Mamie “Peanut” Johnson. Pioneers.” The Negro Leagues gave power to some of the most influential women in baseball history. These women that had an impact on the game in ways we didn’t even realize. Enjoy this powerful final chapter of Storied.