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Topekan Dink Mothell set to take his place in Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Were it not for Topekan Dink Mothell, a lot of Negro League baseball history would have been forgotten, according to historian Phil Dixon.
Topeka baseball legend Dink Mothell will be inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame on July 18. [Kansas Sports Hall of Fame]
The late Carroll Ray Mothell was one of the top players of his era, a versatile position player for 15 years when Black men were denied entry to the Major Leagues. But what he contributed to the memory of the game in terms of photos and memorabilia is as significant as what he did on the field, Dixon said.
“I can safely say there would be no (Negro Leagues baseball) museum in Kansas City if it were not for Mr. Mothell. It was his photo collection that started it,” Dixon said. “Nobody was paying attention before that.”
In 1980, Dixon was a 23-year-old sports fan with an interest in pre-integration baseball, but without access to much history of the Negro Leagues, because there just wasn’t much out there. But when Dixon moved to Topeka for a job that year, he was told that a Negro League legend was living right here in the Capital City. Dixon jumped at the chance to meet the 82-year-old Mothell. The men spent several hours talking, and Mothell showed Dixon some mementos and photos from his career.
After that initial meeting, Dixon left town for a few days. When he returned, he learned that Mothell had passed away. But Dixon was shocked to find that, prior to his death, Mothell told his caretaker to give all his photos and memorabilia to Dixon. A decade later, Dixon used much of Mothell’s items to help found the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. Mothell’s photos also made up much of Dixon’s award-winning 1992 book, The Negro Baseball Leagues, a Photographic History.
“(Mothell) was a photo guy. He would bring all his photos back and kept them together in Topeka,” Dixon said. “Since then, I’ve interviewed other guys who had photos, but nothing like his. His were the beginning. You need images to show people’s faces. So having those photos brought the history to life.”
Mothell didn’t gain the fame and fortune during his playing days that a star baseball player would today. But since his passing in 1980, he has finally been accorded some of the recognition he failed to receive in his lifetime. He was ranked No. 50 on the Topeka Capital-Journal’s Top 100 Athletes from Shawnee County in 2011. And in 2012, he was inducted into the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame.
Mothell will add another honor on July 18 when he is enshrined in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. He and five other Negro Leaguers from Kansas will be inducted in conjunction with a modern-day Kansas City Monarchs game at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kan.
“I’m so thankful that Mr. Mothell continues to get recognition because of how easily he could have been forgotten,” Dixon said of the Topeka native’s many posthumous honors.
Born in Topeka on Aug. 13, 1897, Mothell was schooled through the eighth grade, then cut his teeth with the Topeka Giants before moving on to the newly-established Negro National League in 1920. He spent the majority of his career with the first iteration of the Kansas City Monarchs, one of the most successful teams of the era.
Harley Douglas steps down as Washburn University baseball coach
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Harley Douglas stepped down Monday after 12 seasons as Washburn University baseball coach, with former Ichabod player and current assistant coach Connor Crimmins being named the interim head coach.
Harley Douglas stepped down Monday as Washburn's baseball coach after 12 seasons and 305 victories. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"Coach Douglas stepped into a challenging situation following the passing of Coach Steve Anson, and we are grateful for his leadership during that transition," said Washburn director of athletics Loren Ferré in a Washburn release. "As a former Ichabod student-athlete, he invested deeply in our baseball program and played an important role in the recent improvements to Falley Field and Anson Stadium.
"We thank Harley for his contributions to Washburn Baseball."
Douglas took over as Washburn's head coach after three seasons as an assistant coach to Anson. He went 305-272 as Washburn's head coach, leading the Ichabods to their only NCAA regional appearance in 2022.
The Ichabods posted a 21-30 overall record and a 17-19 MIAA mark over the 2026 campaign after compiling four straight winning seasons (123-90).
"Wearing Washburn across my chest has been nothing short of one of the most amazing opportunities in my coaching and playing career," Douglas said in Washburn's release. "I hold this university in the very highest regard and always will.
"I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to coach at Washburn for more than 15 years and to work with so many outstanding student-athletes. This has been a difficult decision, and one I've wrestled with for the past several weeks. I know it's time to focus on being more present for my family – my wife, my children and now our grandchildren. It's time to hang up the baseball hat and focus on my role as a husband, father and grandpa."
Douglas coached a total of 81 All-MIAA selections, including one MIAA Player and Pitcher of the Year and five MIAA first team selections. He has also coached two MLB draftees -- David Gauntt, who was selected by the Miami Marlins during the 2016 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, and Casey Steward, who went to the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2023 draft.
Darting Basketball Academy crowns MVPs for seventh season of 3 on 3 Summer League
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Darting Basketball Academy is wrapping up Year No. 7 of its 3 on 3 Summer League this week at Shawnee Heights, drawing 205 participants and culminating with the crowning of Most Valuable Players in seven divisions.
On Monday night Cash Menke received the MVP award in the 8-9-year-old boys division, while Owen Pearson was the 10-11 boys winner and Noah Gunderson was the MVP in the 12-13 boys division.
Tatum Ewald and Jacienna Lane were the girls MVPs in the 9-11 and 12-13-year-old divisions, with Ewald a repeat winner.
DBA 3 on 3 Summer League 8-9 boys MVP Cash Menke (left) and 10-11 boys MVP Owen Pearson (right) pose with Kerry Darting for a picture after receiving their awards Monday night at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
DBA 3 on 3 Summer League 9-11 girls MVP Tatum Ewald poses with Kerry Darting for a picture after receiving her award Monday night at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
DBA 3 on 3 Summer League 12-13 girls MVP Jacienna Lane poses with Kerry Darting for a picture after receiving her award Monday night at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
DBA 3 on 3 Summer League 12-13 boys MVP Noah Gunderson poses with Kerry Darting for a picture after receiving his award Monday night at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The high school division will finish up on Wednesday.
Kerry Darting said that the 3 on 3 league continues to be one of DBA's most successul programs, with the program using two gyms the past two summers.
