Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Adds Bob Motley Statue

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum of Kansas City announced a new umpire exhibit to feature the late Bob Motley, according to a statement put out by NLBM president Bob Kendrick.

Motley, who passed away on September 15, helped create the museum following a 12-year Negro Leagues umpiring career, as well as stops in college baseball (including the College World Series) and Minor League Baseball's Pacific Coast League.

Kendrick made the following announcement regarding Motley's impending honor at the NLBM:

Bob Motley is truly an American hero. From the baseball field to the battlefield, he served with tremendous pride, dedication and passion. While his passing leaves a void in our hearts; he leaves us a lasting legacy that will play on forever at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. 

In November, Motley will once again call balls and strikes when his life-size statue is added to the Field of Legends at the NLBM. It will proudly be the centerpiece of a new display dedicated to African-American umpires in his honor.

The Field of Legends features a mock baseball diamond with 12 life-sized bronze sculptures of Negro League players Buck O'Neil, Satchel Paige, Rube Foster, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Pop Lloyd, Judy Johnson, Ray Dandridge, Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston, Leon Day, Martin Dihigo, and, soon, Bob Motley.