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Professional baseball

Family Feud Over Dan Bankhead Memorabilia Tarnishes Baseball History

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A long-standing feud between William Bankhead and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum has turned ugly over the ownership of his father, Dan Bankhead's, memorabilia. Dan Bankhead was the first black pitcher in the major leagues and one of five men to integrate the sport in 1947. William Bankhead claims that his brother, Daniel, stole the memorabilia and sold it to the museum. However, the museum's directors deny any involvement and claim that the Bankhead brothers never reached an agreement. The dispute has left the museum's curator, Raymond Doswell, "befuddled" and has raised questions about the handling of the memorabilia.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dan Bankhead was the first black pitcher in the major leagues and one of five men to integrate the sport in 1947.
  • William Bankhead claims that his brother, Daniel, stole the memorabilia and sold it to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
  • The museum's directors, including executive director Don Motley and curator Raymond Doswell, deny any involvement and claim that the Bankhead brothers never reached an agreement.
  • William Bankhead has a reputation for winning civil rights suits, having won all 89 cases since 1996 before a New York federal court.
  • The dispute has left the museum's curator, Raymond Doswell, "befuddled" and has raised questions about the handling of the memorabilia.
  • The value of the memorabilia is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, with William Bankhead offering to auction it to pay for his 95-year-old mother's medical expenses.
  • The museum's marketing director, Bob Kendrick, offered William Bankhead $500,000 to settle the dispute, but later reneged on the offer.
  • A detective, Greg Cherry, is preparing to make an arrest in connection with the case.

Sources:

  • [Motley, Don. Director, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Interview by Charles Emerick, August 2022.]
  • [Doswell, Raymond. Curator, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Interview by Charles Emerick, August 2022.]
  • [Bankhead, William. Paralegal and owner of Saint Ann's Advocates. Interview by Charles Emerick, August 2022.]
  • [Negro League Baseball Players Association Web site. Message board post from Bankhead, William. August 2022.]

Statistics:

  • Dan Bankhead played three seasons for the Brooklyn Dodgers, including 52 games.
  • William Bankhead has won all 89 civil rights suits since 1996 before a New York federal court.
  • The estimated value of the memorabilia is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
  • The museum's marketing director, Bob Kendrick, offered William Bankhead $500,000 to settle the dispute.
  • The detective, Greg Cherry, is preparing to make an arrest in connection with the case.

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