The Kansas City, Kan., Police Memorial Service on Wednesday, May 16, in front of City Hall included a 21-gun salute in honor of those who died in the line of duty. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert). For more photos, see http://www.wyandottedailynews.com/component/content/article/41-top-headlines/11789-police-remember-those-who-died-in-the-line-of-duty.
Some 60 tractors participated in a fundraising cruise Saturday, May 5. The 35-mile drive started and ended at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs. More than $11,000 was raised to benefit the Ag Hall. Joe Steineger Jr. and his friend Ruthelene Scherer, above, both of Kansas City, Kan., helped organize the event and rode in the lead tractor. Stops included Grinter Place, Cabela’s and Wyandotte County Lake. (Submitted photo) See http://www.wyandottedailynews.com/news/11699-tractor-cruise-
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Wyandotte Daily News
Jackie Robinson, Frank White to be honored by KCK RBI program
Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:36
Sharon Robinson, left, daughter of baseball hero Jackie Robinson, met with Cle Ross, right, the executive director of Kansas City, Kan., RBI program, about the "reverse retire" program. (Submitted photo)
Two baseball heroes are being honored in a new way by the Kansas City, Kan., RBI program.
The local youth league recently became the first in the nation to “reverse retire” the numbers of Jackie Robinson and Frank White.
Robinson, an African-American who broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier 65 year ago, and Frank White, a long-time Kansas City Royals second baseman who is now a first-base coach for the Kansas City T-Bones, are symbols for youth to pattern themselves after, according to Cle Ross, executive director of the KCK RBI program.
The numbers of Robinson and White have been retired at the major league level as an honor to the players.
By wearing their numbers, youth in the KCK RBI program will learn about the lives of the two baseball heroes. Ross said the goal is for each youth in the program to wear the numbers at least once. At the end of the season they will write essays about what the players mean to them, Ross said.
Those wearing Robinson’s number will write about Robinson, and a similar essay contest will be held with Frank White, eight-time Gold Glove winner, as the topic. The essays will be judged by the Frank White family, David James, RBI director for Major League Baseball, and Ross.
“I hope youth will learn that Jackie and Frank were more than just baseball players, they were gentleman and scholars off the field as well and that is what we want our kids in KCK RBI to be -- Major League citizens on and off the field,” Ross said.
The goals also are important to White, who wants youth to know about the history of African-Americans in baseball.
“This is a great honor and experience,” White said. “To be honored by your community is the best honor you can achieve. It means that you have made a difference and are still making a difference in people’s lives. My number was retired by the Royals because of my accomplishments on the field and is only seen by the fans that attend the games.
“Having my number retired by KCK RBI reaches young people who have never seen me play or have met me,” White said. “They will have an opportunity to research me and Jackie Robinson and it is my hope that they will feel a sense of pride, and that their parents will began discussions on African-Americans in baseball and how the game changed when we were allowed to participate. KCK RBI has done a great job in getting our kids playing baseball. The percentages are low in the Major Leagues and it is my hope that our young players continue to love and play this great game and create a better balance of African-American participation. I want them to look at the history of The Royals and know that when we were winning that at times there were six and sometimes seven African-Americans on the field. They need to know.”
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