Royals celebrate Salute to the Negro Leagues festivities on August 24

The Kansas City Royals will host the annual Salute to the Negro Leagues festivities at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday, August 24 when the Royals take on the Washington Nationals in an Interleague matchup at 6:10 p.m.

The Salute to the Negro Leagues celebration will be highlighted by a vintage Monarchs T-Shirt giveaway to the first 10,000 fans courtesy of Papa John's (photo attached). In addition, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick and select Negro Leagues alumni will be in attendance for the festivities.

On the field, both teams will don Negro Leagues jerseys provided by Sprint. The Royals and Nationals will be wearing uniforms inspired by the 1942 Kansas City Monarchs and Washington Homestead Grays, in what will be a rematch of the 1942 Negro League World Series. Select game-worn and autographed jerseys will be auctioned off online at www.royals.com/negroleagues and mlb.mlb.com/auction with all proceeds benefiting the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Also, some of the game-worn Monarchs hats will be available for auction at the Royals Authentics store at The K during the Washington Nationals series. 

Fans may purchase tickets to the Salute to the Negro Leagues game online at www.royals.com, by calling 1-800-6ROYALS, at area Hy-Vee stores or at the Kauffman Stadium Box Office. 

Prior to the celebration at Kauffman Stadium, select Royals will be featured guests at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum's Legends Luncheon on Friday, August 23. Outfielders Lorenzo Cain, Jarrod Dyson and Justin Maxwell will participate in the baseball discussion set for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bruce Watkins Cultural Heritage Center, located at 3700 Blue Parkway in Kansas City, Mo. Legends Luncheons, held monthly during the baseball season, bring together some of the game's biggest personalities who share insight and stories about their careers. The discussions are hosted by former Royals Willie Wilson and Al Fitzmorris with proceeds benefiting the NLBM. Space is limited. For tickets or more information, call the NLBM at (816) 221-1920 or visit www.nlbm.com. 

In addition, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum will host the inaugural Heart of America Hot Dog Festival from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday, August 17. The event will celebrate the historical connection between our national pastime and the hot dog and will feature legendary dogs from ballparks around the country. Other traditional ballpark fare, including brats, sausages, peanuts, popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones and ice cream, will be part of the festival that will be held on Buck O'Neil Way behind the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo. 

The Heart of America Hot Dog Festival is a family-friendly event that will include games, autograph sessions, trivia and live music headlined by legendary 1980s funk band Midnight Star and chart-topping smooth jazz bass player Julian Vaughn. Royals mascot Sluggerrr, the Kauffman Stadium Hot Dog Racers and other local mascots will also take part in the event. Festival guests will also have access to tour the NLBM.

Advance tickets, which include admission to the NLBM and a free Farmland hot dog and Pepsi product, are $10 for adults and $5 for kids under age 12. Children under five are free with an adult admission. Day of event tickets, which include admission to the NLBM, are $15 for adults and $10 for kids. TOP DOG VIP tickets that include museum admission for two, unlimited food and Pepsi products, reserved seating and two festival t-shirts are $100. Tickets may be purchased online at www.nlbm.com.  

For more information about the Legends Luncheons or Heart of America Hot Dog Festival, contact the NLBM at (816) 221-1920. Members of the media inquiring about the Salute to the Negro Leagues festivities may contact the Royals Publicity Department at (816) 921-8000.