Kendrick named to Hall of Fame's board of directors
Ken Kendrick has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Photo: WV News
May 14, 2020
Official National Baseball Hall of Fame Press Release
(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – Ken Kendrick has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, bringing the total number of directors to 17 for the nonprofit educational institution.
“Ken Kendrick has been an unwavering friend of the National Baseball Hall of Fame for years, and we are honored to welcome him to the Museum’s Board of Directors,” said Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman of the Board of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “As one of the original members of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ ownership group, Ken has helped build the organization from the ground up with a vision for baseball’s future and a love of its past. His knowledge of the game, and his dedication to the sport, will help guide the Museum’s ongoing mission to preserve history, honor excellence and connect generations.”
Kendrick has served as the Diamondbacks’ Managing General Partner since 2004, leading the franchise to three Postseason appearances and one National League Championship Series berth during that time. Kendrick has an active role in the day-to-day operations of the D-backs and is the organization's designated representative when Major League Baseball owners convene during the course of the year.
During his time as Managing General Partner, Kendrick has led the Diamondbacks’ efforts in hosting the All-Star Game at Chase Field in 2011, opening a state-of-the-art Spring Training facility in Salt River Fields at Talking Stick and becoming one of the largest philanthropic entities in the Phoenix area with charitable contributions topping $70 million since the organization’s inception.
A native of Princeton, W.Va., Kendrick is an alumnus of West Virginia University and sits on the Board of Directors for the WVU Foundation. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from WVU in 1965, Kendrick started his career with IBM. Three years later, he founded Datatel, Inc., which has become the worldwide leader in the development of computer software for the management of infrastructure technology for colleges, universities and foundations.
Kendrick also owns Bumble Bee Ranch, which is devoted to providing western lifestyle experiences to children's charities throughout Arizona. He is active in many philanthropic endeavors, beginning with his role as Chairman of the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation. As a prostate cancer survivor, Kendrick has made significant contributions over the years to fund research in that field and in 2013, the Cleveland Clinic created The Kendrick Family Chair for Prostate Cancer Research.
An avid baseball card collector his entire life, Kendrick owns the famed 1909 T206 Honus Wagner card that was once owned by hockey great Wayne Gretzky. The Wagner card and 34 other iconic and rare baseball cards in Kendrick's collection, titled "The D-backs Collection," were previously displayed at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and at the Phoenix Art Museum.
Kendrick and his wife Randy have two children, Cal and Catie, and make their home in Paradise Valley, Ariz.
In addition to Board Chairman Jane Forbes Clark, whose grandfather, Stephen C. Clark, founded the Hall of Fame, the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors also includes: Vice Chairman Joe Morgan, Treasurer Kevin Moore, Roberto Alomar, Paul Beeston, Bill DeWitt, Rob Manfred, Arte Moreno, Phil Niekro, Jerry Reinsdorf, Cal Ripken Jr., Brooks Robinson, Harvey Schiller, Ozzie Smith, Ed Stack and Thomas Tull. Complete bios on board members can be found at baseballhall.org/museum/board-of-directors.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an independent, not-for-profit educational institution, dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the historical development of baseball and its impact on our culture by collecting, preserving, exhibition and interpreting its collections for a global audience, as well as honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to our National Pastime.