Baird, T. Y. (Thomas Younger), 1885?-1962.

Thomas Younger Baird was born circa 1885 in Arkansas. After an injury while working at the Rock Island Railroad ended his own career as a semi-professional athlete in Kansas City, Kansas, Baird ran a billiard parlor and worked as a sports promoter. In 1919, with J.L. Wilkinson, Baird organized the Kansas City Monarchs; in 1947 Baird bought out Wilkinson to become the team's sole owner. Before becoming the Monarchs' sole owner, Baird also worked as booking agents for both that team and the House of David team. While 1940s racial integration contributed to a decline in Negro League baseball, Baird was able to keep the Monarchs going for almost another decade by recruiting and training new talent; during the team's last ten years they sold 38 players, the majority of which went to major league teams. In 1956, Baird sold the team. During Baird's time with the Monarchs, the team had a number of achievements including sending the first African American to the major league (Jackie Robinson), winning nine pennants and five Negro League World Series.

Within a month of selling the Monarchs, the Kansas City Athletics signed Baird as a scout. The following year he became business manager for the Harlem All-Stars. In 1960, the veteran bowling proprietor, along with his son-in-law Milford Wickstrom, built a 16 lane bowling center in Wyandotte County. Baird also held the Stratton-Baird Recreation Center in Kansas City, KS since 1943.

Baird and wife Francis had two daughters, Harriet and Doris. T. Y. Baird died on July 3, 1962.

From the guide to the T. Y. Baird papers, 1913-1992, (University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kansas Collection)