·  Locating and interviewing former Negro League baseball players to document their 

      entire playing careers.

·   Collecting artifacts that relate to the history of black baseball in America.

·    Researching and preserving the history of Negro League baseball.

·    Conducting player reunions, museum exhibits, seminars and educational programs

      related to Negro League baseball. 

Our efforts have achieved significant results. Over the past sixteen years we have accomplished the following:

·   Located over 500 players whose whereabouts were previously unknown

       or undocumented.

·   Interviewed over 750 former players, managers, coaches, owners and other

       persons who were part of Negro League baseball. During these interviews and

       oral histories, we have been able to document the players' entire baseball careers.

·   Videotaped over 200 different player oral histories through the efforts of

       Dr. Bob Allen of Pennsylvania.

·   Amassed the largest collection of Negro League baseball artifacts in the country.

·   Conducted numerous player reunions, Negro League nights at Major and Minor

      League ballparks, educational programs, museum exhibits and temporary exhibits

      all across the country.

Museum Collection

The highlight of the Center for Negro League Baseball Research is its museum collection. The Center has amassed the largest collection of original artifacts related to Negro League baseball history in the country. A permanent Negro League exhibit of some of the highlights of this collection is on display at the Legends of the Game Museum at Ameriquest Field (home of the Texas Rangers - Major League Baseball team) in Arlington, Texas. This exhibit changes periodically to highlight a wide variety of artifacts related to the history of black baseball.  Click on the “Museum Collection” to view a more detailed listing of this collection.

Locating Former Players

Very few primary resources (newspaper accounts, articles, press releases, media guides, books and yearbooks) exist that document the entire history of black baseball in America. Most of the history can only be gathered by interviewing the players who played the game.

When we started this project in 1990, we were told that less than 275 players were still alive that played in the Negro Leagues. Through our research we have found over 700 additional players who were still alive and who had played in the Negro Leagues or at some other level of black baseball. We still continue to find “new” players on a regular basis. The primary problem in our research effort is that many of these players played at least 50 years ago and with each passing year, more players pass away. Through interviewing these aging players, we have significantly added to the body of knowledge related to black baseball history in America.

Reunions, Educational Programs and Museum Exhibits  

Over the past sixteen years we have conducted dozens of educational programs, players’ reunions, special event nights at Major and Minor League ball parks, museum exhibits and other events to commemorate Negro League baseball. Currently we have a small permanent Negro League museum exhibit at the Legends of the Game Museum at Ameriquest field in Arlington, Texas (Texas Rangers – Major League Baseball).

Need Information or Have Information

Should you have questions related to our research or have information related to Negro League baseball that you could share with us, please go to the “Contact Us” Page and email, write, fax or call us.