Robert C. "Bob" Motley
Born: March 11, 1923,Autaugaville,AL
Died: September 14, 2017,Kansas City,MO
Robert C. "Bob" Motley worked as an umpire in the Negro American League from 1947 to 1958. Motley also worked with the Pacific Coast League, which was one of three minor leagues playing at the Triple-A level. He was known for his animated style and served as umpire for games where greats like Willie Mays, Satchel Paige, Hank Aaron, Willard Jessie "Home Run" Brown, and Buck O'Neil played. During World War II, Motley enlisted in the Marine Corps. He was shot in battle on Okinawa and received a Purple Heart February 1, 1946. Motley was a founding member of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. He authored a memoir titled "Ruling Over Monarchs, Giants and Stars: Umpiring in the Negro Leagues and Beyond".
Sources: The Society for American Baseball Research, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, National Baseball Hall of Fame, Major League Baseball, Encyclopedia Britannica, National Public Radio, and the Library of Congress were the primary research sources for the biographical information contained in this exhibition label.
