Tom Baird

Thomas Younger Baird

• Born January 27, 1885 in Madison County, AR USA
• Died July 2, 1962 in Kansas City, KS USA

Biographical Information

Tom Baird was co-owner (along with J.L. Wilkinson) and vice-president of the Kansas City Monarchs from 1919 through 1947, and was sole owner of the club from 1948 until 1955, when he sold the club to black businessman Ted Rasberry.

One of the great ironies of Baird's association with the greatest franchise in the history of the Negro leagues is that he was apparently a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Baseball historian Tom Rives published documents in 2007 presenting evidence of Baird's ties to the KKK. The revelation was a surprise to many researchers, and it it probable that his partner J.L. Wilkinson never knew either.

Related Sites

• Tom Baird at the SABR Bio Project