Inside Pitch - Bob Kendrick

Tim Wakefield is about to take them out for just the third time since the All-Star break this is there Herb Chambers still go to pregame show. Wakefield 114 with a 422 earned run average overall this year. In his first start after the break was a no decision but he allowed just a single run over seven innings against the White Sox however. Ten days later in Chicago Wakefield allowed four runs over six taking a loss lefthander Lenny DiNardo starts for Kansas City. DiNardo turned thirty on Saturday spent most of this year AAA. He made his Major League debut with the Red Sox back in 2004. After Boston grabbed the New York Mets as a rule five pick. He pitched and 43 games for Boston over parts of three seasons seven of them starts ending one and three with a knee area 553. Both of his big league starts this year came this month both against the Tigers 011 allowing six runs and ten in the third. Time now the inside pitch which is brought to you by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. To learn more about Harvard Pilgrim Health Care bits of Harvard pilgrim -- York. Here's Bob Kendrick the vice president of marketing at the Negro League Baseball museum with -- state Leo.

Well Bobby you have toward this. So many people through the Negro League museum including Theo Epstein Red Sox players coaches media people and now you're twentieth anniversary is coming affordable plans. Well we're we're remain the groundwork for what we wanted the face when. You -- For the museum of nature grassroots. To be around twenty years is an incredible milestone. And and we're still going strong. Grass growing things that we work moments twentieth anniversary celebration I think it was a great opportunity. You expose ourselves even more folks across the country. Solicit even greater support so that we can keep this museum points for all. But we'll start the twentieth anniversary in January of next year with the tenth anniversary about Madison -- with the number of Arafat. Who have been recipient of that if you -- sort of like we may have warm and cool Papa bell award for stolen bases. The way things are going right now is an apostle. With Carl Crawford from Tampa but we'll see how that all comes out well hopefully he'll come Kansas City and accept his cool bill -- who wins it again. I want to talk to -- Jacoby Ellsbury make him aware of that you've had so many did -- come here what is your reaction when. A Major League player or coach comes of the Negro League museum a black player -- player. And -- it that way it went and visited him I'd be but they they are now. It if you play in this game you work in this game you can. And here's a piece of baseball history that they probably -- for that you. Prior to coming through the leagues baseball museum and they are almost. No way it's wonderful story. -- Passion and love for the game that these athletes demonstrated that. You know you can appreciate you really can't appreciate that and -- before and Hispanic athlete. -- you walk into the hall. Off and see if people who made the foundation for you to have an opportunity. -- play this game and make him play. -- by the RBI program in urban programs began inner city -- back there playing the game. If they can never come here at the certainly yes I agree vehicle. Where you know I think I've Indians that's when -- And Kenny Williams brought the entire Chicago White Sox ten to visit the legal -- on them. And since that time he's been advocating this should be mandated stop. For every Major League Baseball team visiting Kansas City to play the cancer Royals he felt that -- but obviously can't mandate. Those kinds of things but we do believe that. Baseball players should stop -- because once you walk him he. You really do appreciate brokered you have. And I think if athletes work economy and and the game and getting firsthand account. How great these players were first full and then obviously the things that they had to do in this country just the latest change your whole. On on just how would you have to. You mentioned only about a 130 known Negro League players still alive you lost that. Your greatest. Spokesman mark O'Neal three years ago I was so life survived for the museum far. -- you know is a talent because book with like the face of the music. You know and he would always use your analogy of how great the monarchs were ones that it was with. Fat to play with mama always front page and care for the it was the same way with oatmeal and the Negro League Baseball that we can't replace them off field. It's not going to be one individual that can ever step it syllables that things. -- lot of folks to feel those shoes off working on. And like Ernie Banks and who and Jim mud cat grant. Who have been very supportive of practice. Are willing to step in talented and -- world we recruit others. To join them and become ambassadors for -- and feel -- you -- except for Japanese pitchers real lot about the globalization of baseball it all started really with a New Orleans right it surprisingly through a lot of baseball fans. Don't know. That it was indeed in the movies and whose professional baseball is going all the way back in nineteen. Four years before major leaguers ever set foot -- There was that -- team called Philadelphia rolled Giants who would go over to Japan and play 24 game exhibitions. Now he's playing baseball but I've not seen professional baseball until -- went up. Of course we'll go 2301. Element to the tour was so successful for years later major -- before they went over to Japan. Amazing and of course so -- in Latin America as well you've recently of some receive some wonderful gifts including it. Hundreds of baseballs from old Negro League players from an unlikely source absolutely. -- Some legendary Canadian rocker -- as their Canadian rock group writes these things and it's ours. Came to visit him a couple of years ago took it to a museum he's a big baseball fan. And you know what what -- Well the unbeknownst was also a huge sports memorabilia collector. And so when he collection of singles and autographed. Baseballs. After having here if you would pursue this. To donate to music while one option. His office calls us and serve and he has a few baseballs like he's. With us. We made -- turns out it was 200. -- came here Fulmer made the donation to the museum has fast purchase enough with 200. Baseball's please don't -- of one of the largest collections of -- sign an autograph. Baseballs in in the world. Thanks to the benevolence. Had dated rocker and as it was a year yeah it speaks to the fact that this story. It reaches and touches every single walk. And so we real. On a lot of supporters. And we just saw the baseball signed by the First Lady. Yeah absolutely. Much of Obama who was here. Mass no it's just before the election for historic election of Obama as the nation's first African American. -- as well have an American president. And we got an opportunity to walker through the museum was presented with the kids that monarch. Her she's there quite frankly. Iraq is not that mr. and it retorted that when you come here when it is volunteers. But is that he comes here to visit the negro leagues baseball museum and one of the big plans for the twentieth anniversary. Is that you. Another -- a Negro League players bringing the surviving players back to Kansas City. And -- about twentieth anniversary an event that we hope is being weren't enough by the White House that the president might come out to be part of that. Bob it's a wonderful shrine and we wish you continued success what we always appreciate having the Sox and I'm always seeing you guys. You know -- become a regular part of your visit to Stanford which we. Greatly appreciate the twos get the word out about this great museum and encourage people support systems and go on line. At www. In LBM dot com to consider becoming a member of the organization we need you. Joining thousands of people round world was supported the museum as a member of the things. Bob Kendrick the marketing director of the Negro League museum Marquez. Now back did you.

Thank you -- some -- of Red Sox radio received a gift certificate from blue cheer restaurant and bar located at 415 Hanover street in the North End. And now open at eleven Mount Vernon street in Winchester as well. We'll take our trip around the major leagues next this is the Herb Chambers Toyota pregame show on the WEEI Red Sox radio network.