History

Owen Friend

Dick Sanders

Preserving Kansas Baseball’s Rich History – The Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame

Honoring baseball achievement in Kansas and by Kansans, the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame traces its roots to 1933 and the Kansas Baseball Association.  In 1939, the Association elected its inaugural Hall of Fame class, which included two members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Walter Johnson and Fred Clarke, as well as former major leaguer Frank Isbell.

Ed Chaney, a Wichita area baseball scout, was the long-time head of the Kansas Baseball Association.  After his passing, the organization a group of Hall of Fame members – Owen Friend, Dick Sanders, Daryl Spencer, Arnold “Jug” Thesenga and Andy Teter – assumed responsibility for the organization.

Friend served as president from 1978 to 2007 and the Kansas Baseball Association reorganized as the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame.  For the first time, the Hall of Fame had a physical exhibit, curated by Paul Savage within his Wichita Sports Hall of Fame.  The exhibit featured pictures and memorabilia from Hall of Fame members.

After Friend’s death in 2007, Sanders served as president.  Under Sanders’ leadership, the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and created a board of advisors.

After Sanders’ death in 2021, Kevin Jenks became president.  Jenks is President and CEO of the Greater Wichita Sports Commission.