Mariners Cement Steelheads Legacy with Historic Donations to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick, and Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson. (Photo: Seattle Mariners)
History isn’t just something you read about in textbooks—it’s something you carry with you, honor, and actively invest in. On May 23, 2026 , ahead of their matchup against the Kansas City Royals , the Seattle Mariners and shortstop J.P. Crawford did exactly that by bringing a crucial piece of Pacific Northwest history straight to the heart of the Negro Leagues' national legacy.
In a pre-game ceremony, Crawford and the Mariners officially donated a game-worn and autographed Seattle Steelheads uniform to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) in Kansas City. On hand to accept the artifact was NLBM President Bob Kendrick, a man who has spent decades keeping the vibrant, triumphant, and complex stories of Black baseball pioneers alive.
While the uniform donation serves as a beautiful symbolic bridge between Seattle and Kansas City, the Mariners paired this moment with substantial financial action to ensure the legacy of Black baseball continues to thrive at both the national and grassroots levels.
Preserving National History: The Mariners Care Foundation contributed a $25,000 donation to the NLBM, specifically earmarked to support the Buck O'Neil Education and Research Center. This center serves as a vital hub for preserving archives, teaching future generations, and honoring the legacy of the late, great Buck O'Neil.
Investing in Local Youth: This national donation builds upon the Mariners' earlier commitment of $500,000 to the Steelheads Community Fund. This localized fund is actively working to advance Black-led baseball and softball organizations, alongside vital community initiatives throughout the Pacific Northwest.
For those following along here at Converge Media, you know that the story of the 1946 Seattle Steelheads runs deep in our city's cultural veins. The Steelheads represented a localized hub for Black athletic excellence during an era of rigid segregation, playing in the brief but highly impactful West Coast Negro Baseball League.
Earlier this season, the Mariners took a groundbreaking step by becoming the first Major League Baseball team to integrate a historic Negro Leagues uniform into their regular jersey rotation. Known affectionately to fans as "Steelheads Sundays," the team regularly takes the field at T-Mobile Park wearing these iconic uniforms.
This isn't just a retro fashion statement or a one-time gimmick; it's a structural commitment to equity, representation, and education. By embedding the Steelheads identity into the fabric of the 2026 season, the Mariners are forcing the baseball world to remember that Black baseball history is baseball history. Bob Kendrick himself has frequently noted that the Negro Leagues are an inspirational story of economic empowerment and civil rights—not just adversity. Bringing Seattle's specific chapter of that story to his museum ensures our local pioneers are celebrated on the grandest stage possible.
Moments like this remind us of the power of sports to heal, educate, and unify. Through the joint efforts of the Mariners organization, J.P. Crawford, and Bob Kendrick, the legacy of the 1946 Steelheads is safely secured in the halls of Kansas City for millions of visitors to appreciate.
Stay tuned to Converge Media as we continue to follow the real-world impact of the Steelheads Community Fund and celebrate the preservation of our local sports heroes!
