Wrapped With Heart: A Salute to Buck O’Neil & The Negro Leagues



The KC Streetcar and RideKC Teams Up to Salute the Negro Leagues with Customized Vehicle Wraps

On November 13, 2020, the KC Streetcar, along with RideKC Bus and RideKC Bike, teamed up with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) to celebrate Buck O’Neil’s 109th Birthday and the Centennial Anniversary of the Negro Leagues. All of Kansas City joined virtually as we “tipped our cap” in remembrance of the legendary O’Neil and commemorated the Centennial milestone in a big way when we rolled out an O’Neil-inspired Kansas City Monarchs Streetcar, a Buck O’Neil Streetcar Stop, aBarnstorming RideKC Bus, and a fleet of Negro Leagues Baseball bicycles. 



The event was held at Union Station KC Streetcar stop on the west side of Main Street and north of Pershing Road.  Due to Covid-19 precautions and limitations, this event was invite only and had limited in-person capacity, however it was live streamed at www.facebook.com/kcstreetcar.


Special guests included Frank White Jr., Jackson County Executive; Bob Kendrick, President of the NLBM; Mayor Quinton Lucas; City Councilmembers; Robbie Makinen, CEO of the KC Area Transportation Authority; Tom Gerend, Executive Director of the KC Streetcar Authority; Wrapped with Heart Sponsors; and KC Streetcar, RideKC Bus and Bike team members. 


This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the birth of the Negro Leagues as well as the 109th birthday of Kansas City Monarchs legend, John “Buck” O’Neil.  The NLBM launched a year-long centennial celebration in February 2020, but Covid-19 caused the cancellation of many of those plans. However, Kansas City is resilient and when we come together as a community, we can accomplish many things. The RideKC Transit team (KC Streetcar, Bus & Bike) have united to honor and celebrate the Negro Leagues and the treasure we have in the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum on O’Neil’s 109th Birthday. Together lets “Tip Our Caps” to the Negro Leagues. 


The Wrapped with Heart Campaign is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors and community partners: The Chamber’s Centurions Leadership Program; KC Streetcar Constructors; Pro Athlete; Lewis & Rice; JE Dunn; Port KC; HNTB; BMG Advisors; Global Prairie; and Negro League supporters near and far. A special thanks to Union Station for helping to host this event.