Like the great Winston Wolfe, I’m here to solve problems and I’ll occasionally use this site to throw out observations and suggestions for fixing those things that are "broken" in our sports and entertainment worlds. To quote "The Wolf", "Get it straight buster - I'm not here to say please, I'm here to tell you what to do and if self-preservation is an instinct you possess you'd better fucking do it and do it quick. I'm here to help - if my help's not appreciated then lotsa luck, gentlemen."

After reading Kevin Kaduk’s excellent piece on baseball’s Negro Leagues Museum over at Big League Stew, I felt compelled to join in the fray and throw out my two cents for anyone that cared.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is currently located in the heart of Kansas City’s historical 18^th and Vine section next to the American Jazz Museum. In the BLS piece, ‘Duk reminisced about his visits there:

The thought occurred to me that there weren't many museums set up better for teaching one subject […]

It's a day that remains hard to beat, one I'd recommend to anyone visiting KC […]

Yet when I look back at that visit — or any of my four or five other trips — one of the nagging memories is how devoid the museum was of other visitors.

And that's why it comes as no surprise to read yet another story on how the Negro Leagues Museum is in financial trouble and facing an uncertain future. Part of the quagmire is based on a decrease in donations due to the recession, but a lot of the situation is based on the infighting among the museum's leaders […]

So what to do about the museum — the only one of its kind — before it's too late?

Well, I’m glad you asked…even though I’ve never been to the Negro Leagues Museum (or even Kansas City for that matter), please indulge my thoughts on the matter.

I think it is imperative for the Negro Leagues Museum and MLB to partner together and create a traveling exhibit for everyone to get a glimpse of what the Museum holds. They could travel to major and minor league games across the country and set up in concourses and parking lots.  How many tailgating areas at most ballparks are taken up by a stage with some bad cover band on it? Wouldn’t that be a good spot at the ballpark to generate interest? And if MLB does right and promotes the hell out of it for the summer, fans would know to add time into their day at the ballpark around a visit.

I appreciate the history of the Negro Leagues in Kansas City, but as ‘Duk points out KC is "not a magnet for tourists." Maybe it’s because I’m on the East Coast here in Pennsylvania, but I’m not planning a trip to Kansas City any time soon. But if I ever found myself there, I would absolutely go - - however the shareholders and curators can’t wait for the business trips and conventions to bring in rabid baseball fans.

If the powers that be are dead set against moving the Museum out of Kansas City, then I believe they need to approach and work with the Royals on a long-term solution. Either they need to incorporate the Museum into the current architecture of Kauffman Stadium or build on an annex attached to the baseball complex. That way if I’m one of the 20,000 fans attending a game, I would plan a trip to see the Museum on my visit or the next time I come to a game.

But as ‘Duk (among many others) points out, financially and organizationally the Negro Leagues Museum is probably better off if they would move to another city. If you were to ignore the logistical and honorable issues of moving out of KC, which city should be chosen? Here is an outsider’s top five suggestions:

Memphis

• Already generates plenty of tourists and visitors as a hub between the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Deep South
• History of two teams (the Eclipse and the Eurekas) in the first Negro league, the Southern League of Base Ballists back in 1885
• The Memphis Red Sox were part of the Negro American League for all 14 years of its existence (1937-1950)
• City steeped with strong ties to the African-American community

Baltimore

• The Baltimore Black Sox were a storied franchise in many different incarnations of the Negro leagues
• Could potentially be positioned near the Babe Ruth Museum only a few blocks away from Camden Yards and the thriving Inner Harbor area
• Part of the high-population I-95 corridor (DC, Philly, NYC)

Pittsburgh

• Rich tradition in the Negro Leagues with the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the legendary Homestead Grays (a mere 7 miles away)
• Native Yinzer Walter S. Brown helped found and lead the National Colored Base Ball League in 1887 which contained the Pittsburgh Keystones as one of their six teams
• Viability in a hollow downtown area would be a huge question mark for a city that doesn’t have many people planning family vacations to visit
• Very little crossover with those coming to see the Andy Warhol Museum

Chicago

• The Giants were a fixture on the city’s South Side in many different versions of the Negro leagues
• The Midwest roots of the Museum would stay intact (albeit 8 hours away by car)
• Obvious increase in tourism for the visitors to the Second City
• However, moving to a big city isn’t the panacea that many would have you believe as the failure of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex in NYC proved

Cooperstown
As ‘Duk suggests:

Bringing the museum to Cooperstown would increase foot traffic and donations. More importantly, it would expose more baseball-minded folks to the Negro Leagues beyond the usual fare about Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige and Cool Papa Bell.

(And I should say here that I envision the museum not being absorbed by the existing Hall of Fame — which already includes Negro Leagues members and associated exhibits — but remaining autonomous in a specially built wing or in its own building. The Negro Leagues deserve more than being turned into a simple sidebar.) […]

So why not move it to the one place where everyone arrives with baseball on the brain?

Something needs to be done and done quickly...this Museum means too much to the great game of baseball to let it flounder and die because of mismanagement and a poor business plan. I suggest the caretakers look at the situation with an unflinching and honest eye and decide what is best for all fans.