KANSAS CITY, Mo – The Kansas City T-Bones of the American Independent Association are renaming the Kansas City Monarchs after the team that played in the Black Leagues.
The Black Leagues Baseball Museum signed a licensing agreement with MaxFun Entertainment of Mark Brandmeyer, owner of the minor league team.
The original monarchs were founded in 1920 and won the first Black League World Series in 1924. The team played in the Black National League from 1920 to 1931 and in the Black American League from 1937 to 1961, with independent periods from 1932 to 1936 and from 1962 to 1965.
“This exciting partnership celebrates Kansas City’s rich baseball heritage and becomes a major extension of the work we’re doing to educate the public about the history of the Black Leagues,” the president of the Black Leagues Museum said Thursday. Baseball, Bob Kendrick. “We are thrilled that the proud legacy of the great monarchs of Kansas City can return to the countryside and we look forward to sharing our story through a myriad of opportunities through this historic alliance.”
A museum satellite exhibit is planned to travel with the team, which intends to establish a Monarchs youth academy for baseball and softball.