KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In what used to be one of the busiest entertainment districts Kansas City had to offer, you'll find deep-rooted history.
Nestled in between buildings sits the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum— filled with unheard stories lost in the past.
Bob Kendrick, the president of the museum, said he tells visitors that there’s nothing sad about those stories.
“Even though it is anchored against the backdrop of the ugliness of American segregation, a horrible chapter in this country's history, the story is what happened out of segregation. This wonderful story of triumph and conquest based on this simple principle: you won't let me play with you, I create a league of my own."
The leagues were established in 1920 by Kansas City, Missouri Hall of Famer Andrew "Rube" Foster.
Players with a passion to play baseball refused to take no for an answer. This would not only change the game but spark a movement in American history.
"It was with Negro Leagues Baseball that African-American players got their greatest opportunity… with traveling teams," Kendrick said.
While Arkansas did not have an official negro league team, the state did have one of the greatest semi-pro teams in the nation: the Arkansas Black Travelers.
Hot Springs also became a central location for spring training.
"They were coming down and taking advantage of the therapeutic waters of those hot springs. So, teams like the Kansas City Monarchs, Homestead Grays, frequently trained in Arkansas."
Plenty of legendary players came out of the Natural State like Reece "Goose" Tatum. Tatum was a first baseman who played for the Indianapolis Clowns amongst other teams.
However, the self-imposed color barrier that lasted six decades, would eventually come to an end.
"It wasn't until 1947 with Jackie Robinson's integration into baseball that black talent would forever change the makeup of the major leagues."
It was players like Robinson who paved the way for future players like Arvis Harper, one of the first black Arkansas Razorback baseball players.
"When Hank and I went in, we knew the situation was similar… and we knew because of Jackie Robinson, we knew the importance of our role,” Harper said of his experience
The North Little Rock native says he couldn't have imagined what was ahead of him.
"It was a challenge. There were a lot of people that didn't want us there."
As he’d walk into the outfield, instead of cheers, he’d hear racial slurs. “They would be throwing stuff out of the stands, and I'd look into the stands and they'd have these hangmen nooses.”
Still, he wouldn't let anyone stand in his way of becoming a Razorback.
In 1978, he was drafted to the Houston Astros.
"It's an opportunity. And that's all we ever wanted was an opportunity, and we got ours."