Black Diamonds

What if we told you the greatest baseball player the city of Detroit has ever known, NEVER played a game for the Tigers?

Bob Kendrick tells the story of Hall of Famer Norman "Turkey" Stearnes, the five-tool legend of the Detroit Stars who could hit, slug, field, run, throw, and even sing, like no one baseball had ever seen. Hear how "The Gobbler" got his name, how Satchel Paige showed him as much respect as anyone who had ever stepped in the batter's box, how he had the power of Josh Gibson before Josh Gibson ever hit his first home run, and how he never became bitter, despite having to work winters in the auto factories owned by the same man who banned him from the Detroit Tigers due to the color of his skin.

Plus,  hear from Norman Stearnes' own daughter, Rosilyn Stearnes-Brown, as she tells stories of the man who the fans called "Turkey", but she just called "Dad".

Read Rosilyn Stearnes-Brown's "Fans Called Him "Turkey," I Called Him Dad" - McFarland Books

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.com

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez

Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future

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What does it mean to forgive, but never forget? Bob Kendrick addresses the racial slur used, and apology given, by A's broadcaster Glen Kuiper, and why he himself has chosen the path of forgiveness, while using the moment to remember the triumph over adversity of Negro Leagues baseball.

Bob also takes a moment to remember his dear friend and a member of the Black Aces, the late Vida Blue, before writer, documentarian, and comedian W. Kamau Bell joins Bob for a nuanced discussion of how Blackness has been defined through the history of baseball, on the heels of Bell's HBOMax documentary "1000% Me", examining mixed race identity. Where was the line drawn for light-skinned stars like Charlie Grant or John Donaldson? And why? Did the first ever Black Major Leaguer KNOW that he was Black? And how did Blackness evolve in baseball past a skin tone, and into an entire style of play? Laugh and learn with Bob and W. Kamau Bell, as they walk through American history.

Stream W. Kamau Bell's "1000% Me" - HBOMax

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.com

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez

Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future

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Meet the man responsible for both the skills of Roy Campanella, and the rise of baseball in Japan. Oh, and he also happened to have his own Hall of Fame resume ON the field. Bob Kendrick, Rich Westcott, and Ray Mackey discuss the life, career, and lasting legacy of Ray's Great Uncle, the legendary Raleigh "Biz" Mackey.  

Hear about Raleigh's humble beginnings in Texas and his rise to become a traveling superstar, his multiple Negro Leagues championships two decades apart, his unparalleled ability behind the plate, his invaluable mentorship off the field, and the feats he accomplished on the other side of the world that have STILL not been replicated to this day.

But first, join Bob for a VERY special announcement from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, right off the top.

Support the Biz Mackey Family Foundation - bizmackey.org

Read Rich Westcott's "Biz Mackey, A Giant Behind the Plate" - Amazon

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.com

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez

Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future

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Babe Ruth considered him the greatest player who had ever lived. Derek Jeter called him 'me, but with more power'.  

Bob Kendrick and Dr. Wes Singletary tell the story of John Henry "Pop" Lloyd, a Hall of Fame shortstop and the favorite son of Palatka, Florida. Hear about Pop's humble beginnings and meteoric rise through the Negro Leagues, his playing career that extended into his mid-40's, and his legacy that lasts far beyond. And most importantly, learn about the gentlemanly reputation, both in the game and elsewhere, that truly earned the man the nickname "Pop".

Read  Dr. Wes Singletary's "The Right Time: John Henry 'Pop' Lloyd and Black Baseball" - Amazon

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.com

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez

Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future

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Why was there a 45-year gap between the first Black man to play in a World Series, and the first Black man to manage in a World Series?  

Former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston sits down with Bob Kendrick for a wide-ranging discussion about being that first man, breaking barriers as the first Black manager to win a World Series (and doing it twice), the importance of his matchup against Frank Robinson in 1989 as the first two Black managers to go face-to-face, his friendship with Dave Roberts and Dusty Baker and the emotions of seeing them each raise a trophy, the current state of the game for Black leadership, the lessons he learned as Henry Aaron's roommate, his idolization of the greats of the Negro Leagues, and one of the greatest joys of any baseball conversation - Rickey Henderson stories.

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.com

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez

Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future

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In the Summer of 1949, the United States government called on Jackie Robinson to testify in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee against famed actor and activist Paul Robeson, for his ties to the Communist Party. In defending his country, Jackie would be forced to attack a fellow prominent Black voice, fighting the same fight he was - the ultimate no-win situation. But with this platform, he made his voice louder than ever.

Authors Jonathan Eig and Michael G. Long join Bob Kendrick to tell the complex story of Jackie Robinson and his activism beyond the baseball field -  the one the history books largely ignore - with the voices of Buck O'Neil and Jackie Robinson.

Read Jonathan Eig's "Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season" - Amazon

Red Michael G. Long's "Call Him Jack: The Story of Jackie Robinson, Black Freedom Fighter" - Amazon

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.com

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez

Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future

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Is the greatest manager in baseball history STILL not in the Hall of Fame? Bob Kendrick takes a look at "Vicious" Vic Harris, and the greatest minds of the Negro Leagues. Then Astros Manager Dusty Baker joins Bob to talk about his journey "from carrying Satchel Paige's fishing poles to lifting up a championship trophy", joining Dave Roberts and Cito Gaston as the only Black managers to win a World Series, the hunger to tie Cito with trophy number two, why he wasn't allowed to play quarterback in high school, Willie Stargell, Henry Aaron, and why Yordan Alvarez is the modern-day Mule Suttles.

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.com

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez

Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future

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Imagine, stepping into the shoes of Satchel Paige to face Josh Gibson in the 1942 Negro Leagues World Series. With the bases loaded. And with every fielder on your side kneeling around the pitcher's mound.  

Starting this week, you can. Bob Kendrick sits down with Sony's Ramone Russell to tell the story of how the two of them have brought the Negro Leagues to life in this year's edition of MLB: The Show, and why it's already bringing baseball history, and American history, to a new generation like never before. Hear how the stadiums, the crowds, the uniforms, the windups, the swings, the slides, and most importantly, the stories were all recreated in living color, and how it all amounts to the most exciting year in the history of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprez

Follow Ramone Russell on Twitter - @Ramone_Russell

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.com

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez

Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future

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Black Diamonds is back! Bob Kendrick's award-winning series returns with all-new episodes starting March 30th.

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.com

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez

Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bob Kendrick and Joe Posnanski sit down with their closest friends at the "Thanks a Million, Buck" Hall of Fame Gala in Kansas City, for a night of laughter, storytelling, and celebration of the legend himself, Buck O'Neil. Hear Kenny Lofton on why he's proud to embody the style of the Negro Leagues, Bo Porter on continuing Buck O'Neil's legacy in a Major League dugout, and Dave Stewart on carrying Jackie Robinson's spirit as a rookie with the Dodgers. And hear Joe Carter and Lee Smith tell stories of being scouted and signed by Buck O'Neil, heeding his words to this day, and going head-to-head against each other on the diamond, and on the golf course.

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and preserve the legacy of Buck O'Neil, please visit ThanksAMillionBuck.com

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter/X - @nlbmprez

Follow Bob Kendrick on Instagram - @nlbmprez

To support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit Donate | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City - NLBM.com

See and Support the Dream of the NEW Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - Pitch for the Future

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.