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KC Chiefs: Three alternate mascot names we could live with

By Kelly Thompson

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – APRIL 11: (L-R) David Robinson, actor Chadwick Boseman, actor Harrison Ford and producer Thomas Tull present a jersey used in the film to the president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Bob Kendrick attend the special screening at AMC Barrywoods on April 11, 2013 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – APRIL 11: (L-R) David Robinson, actor Chadwick Boseman, actor Harrison Ford and producer Thomas Tull present a jersey used in the film to the president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Bob Kendrick attend the special screening at AMC Barrywoods on April 11, 2013 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images) /

#1 – Kansas City Monarchs

In 1920, the Kansas City Monarchs were founded as a professional baseball team as part of the Negro Leagues. JL Wilkinson founded the All-Nations baseball club in 1920, and used the tour of that league around the country to recruit players to the Monarchs. The team played from 1920-1965 (thought the Negro Leagues ended in 1961, the Monarchs continued playing). They were the preeminent franchise is the league. They were the longest tenured team as well.

During their run, the team won 12 league championships and 2 World Series titles including the first Negro League championship game in 1924. In all, 13 baseball Hall of Famers played for the Monarchs during their history, including notable players like Satchel Paige, Ernie Banks, and Jackie Robinson.

Noted above, Kansas City legend Buck O’Neil was also a prominent member of the franchise, though he is (regrettably) not in the Hall of Fame.

Naming the Kansas City football team after the former Negro Leagues championship team would be a nod towards the history, importance, and impact of the Monarchs—not only on Kansas City but on baseball and American history as well. Negro League history is integral to understanding how professional sports came to be integrated, and the Monarchs were a cornerstone franchise in that narrative. Using the Monarchs name would bring prominence and publicity to to the original franchise, an important chapter in baseball history, and the Negro League Baseball Museum, which is also in K.C.

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