Royals: Crown worthy or not? Best and worst KC jerseys

The Kansas City Royals regularly pay tribute to the Negro Leagues and one of their greatest franchises. Tributes includes wearing replicas of that club’s uniforms.

Kansas City is home to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, a tribute to the great African-American players whose skin color deprived them of an opportunity to play in the Major Leagues. Fittingly, the Kansas City Royals regularly honor the players who made up the leagues’ rosters; as part of their special “Salute to the Negro Leagues” games, the Royals wear replica uniforms of the Kansas City Monarchs, a team made famous by unforgettable greats like Buck O’Neil, Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell, and Ernie Banks.

While wearing the Monarchs’ uniforms are only one of the tributes paid to the team and its players by the Royals, they are the most visible; fans can purchase authentic versions of the same jerseys the Royals wear to honor the Monarchs.

The jerseys serve as reminders of a time of unjustifiable separation but celebrate, simultaneously, the talents, dedication and perseverance of hundreds of ballplayers who simply wanted to play the game they loved.

It would be difficult, indeed, to select one jersey as the best Monarchs jersey. Collectively, they all merit honorable mention for best Royals jerseys.