Wilkinson's Park (Association Park)

About Wilkinson's Park (Association Park)

The Kansas City Monarchs' first home before they relocated to the new Muehlebach Field in 1923. Owned by J.L. Wilkinson — the white owner who founded the Monarchs in 1920 and built them into the Negro Leagues' western powerhouse — the park hosted the franchise's earliest seasons including Bullet Joe Rogan's Hall-of-Fame pitching debuts. After only three NNL seasons here, the team moved to the larger and more modern Muehlebach Field; Wilkinson's Park was demolished within the year. Despite the short tenure, this is where the Monarchs' identity was forged.

Fun facts

• J.L. Wilkinson, the Monarchs' founder, was one of the few white Negro League team owners — and one of the most respected, never extracting profits from the team for personal use.
• The Monarchs' first home — three years that established the franchise that would eventually send more players to MLB than any other Negro League team.
• Wilkinson also invented portable stadium lighting in the 1930s, allowing the Monarchs to barnstorm night games anywhere — a major innovation that predated MLB night baseball.
• Site now occupied by light industrial buildings near 20th & Olive in Kansas City.

More negro leagues ballparks

• Schorling's Park · Chicago, Illinois
• Stars Park · St. Louis, Missouri