It is long past time that Major League Baseball made a significant change that would alter the course of the sport for the better. MLB owners should name Bob Kendrick as Commissioner. Kendrick is President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, a well-respected man, and a tireless ambassador for the sport of baseball. He would be an exceptional choice to lead MLB into the future.
“This guy is exactly what baseball needs right now,” wrote Owen Poindexter, Senior Writer for Front Office Sports in March 2022 in The Chapter of MLB History That Can Save Its Future. “He’s a spot of sunshine during dark days for my favorite sport.”
This could happen as early as 2029, Manfred’s recently announced retirement date (ESPN). A number of people have mentioned Kendrick as a possible replacement for Manfred.
Where do we vote for @MLB commissioner? I can see no better choice than @nlbmprez Bob Kendrick. He understands the game as good as anyone and I dare somebody to challenge him. pic.twitter.com/4AqlmK2frB
— empty M (@empty_emm) March 31, 2023
We need someone like a Bob Kendrick running America's pastime. Besides a petition, what else do we need to do to get @nlbmprez to be the Commissioner of MLB? Well, besides asking if he'd be Commissioner of course. 🙃😝https://t.co/dWKZ3opz6U
— John (@johnsouth33) March 6, 2022
If you listen to Kendrick talk about baseball, you feel his passion for the game. Not just for Negro League baseball, but baseball as an American pastime. Kendrick has done a spectacular job with the museum in Kansas City. It is no big stretch to imagine what he could do to promote baseball as a whole as the Commissioner.
“The work that Kendrick has done over the years to champion, document, highlight and grow the history of the Negro Leagues is unparalleled in sports. It’s impossible to overstate how important he is to the sport, never mind Black baseball…,” wrote ESPN’s Clinton Yates on Andscape.com. “He’s the most brilliant and charismatic person in baseball.”
It is clear that Kendrick would work hard to promote baseball. He seems to never stop working.
“In my world, you never get to rest on your laurels,’’ Kendrick said,” in this Jerry Crasnick story on MLBPlayers.com, the website for the Major League Baseball Players Association. Kendrick was referring to his tireless efforts at promoting the NLBM, however, it speaks to who and what Bob Kendrick is all about – a tireless promoter of baseball.
“Bob Kendrick is a class act. It is always a pleasure to work with him. He is a true professional and a leader as it shows in his work,” wrote Kathy Hanis of Entertainment Plus PR & Talent, on Kendrick’s LinkedIn page.
From Ryan Whirty in 2011 in Baseball America, after Kendrick became the Negro Leagues Museum’s president: "He's going to get a high approval rating just walking through the front door (of the museum)," said Kansas City Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, who has supported the museum for many years. "That's the esteem he's held in."
Kendrick is the perfect choice for the position of Commissioner of Baseball. He is exactly what Major League Baseball needs to help the sport to grow and thrive.
I am 100% in favor of Bob Kendrick becoming the new Commissioner of Baseball. Not one atom in my body is joking. @nlbmprez pic.twitter.com/KflSoaoqzQ
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) June 16, 2020
Any day spent in @nlbmprez’s orbit is a good day. For those passing through KC this year, the @NLBMuseumKC has a great new exhibit celebrating the history of the KC Monarchs. pic.twitter.com/tcuW3gG30R
— Anthony Castrovince (@castrovince) August 6, 2024
It was an absolute joy to spend an afternoon with @nlbmprez at the @NLBMuseumKC . What a wealth of knowledge and a fabulous story teller!
— Steve Wade (@hokie522) August 10, 2024
And as a bonus, 2 former MLB players were in our group. pic.twitter.com/QAmngIHTpn
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Larry Manch is an author, teacher, guitar player, freelance writer, and columnist. He has written 24 books; available in paperback and e-book on Amazon.com.
Follow @LTM_Author
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