Mack Lawrence Kuykendall, born February 4, 1943, was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American “Bonus Baby” in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. When signed to the Chicago Cubs, Mack received the highest Bonus that had ever been paid to a “Negro” baseball player straight out of high school, this making him a Major League Baseball Bonus Baby. Kuykendall received the second highest bonus ever paid to a player by the Chicago Cubs when he signed his Major League Contract in September of 1960, at the age of 17. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108515042/mack-kuykendall/ In 1960 The Chicago Cubs violated the “Bonus Rule” set forth by Major League Baseball when they sent Kuykendall straight to the minor leagues without allowing him to remain on the 25 man Major League roster for at least two full seasons. This was in direct violation of Major League Baseball’s “Bonus Rule” which was put in place by Major League Baseball in 1947. The rule was put into place to stop a practice referred to as “stashing”, which many of the wealthiest ball teams participated in until the “Bonus Rule” was put into place to stop them. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/Bonus_Babies.shtml#:~:text=The%20Bonus%20Rule%3A&text=If%20the%20player%20did%20remain,free%20agent%20draft%20was%20introduced. After receiving a Bonus of what was said to be approximately 100,000.00, Mack was sent directly to the Minor Leagues, where he remained for the next 9 years. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108525956/the-baltimore-sun/
Mack Kuykendall was born in Anadarko, Oklahoma, to Lawrence and Navanna Kuykendall and the oldest of three children. https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc392348/ Upon signing with the Chicago Cubs Mack was a 17 year old graduating high school senior. He had played 3 high school American Legion Seasons before joining the pros as a 6’3, 210 pound pitcher. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108526871/macks-performance/ Kuykendall was sought after by several Major League Baseball teams from around the country. He as ultimately scouted and signed by Major League Baseball’s first African American Scout, Buck O’Neil on September 12th of 1960. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108519366/mack-kuykendall-lawton-paper-1960/ Dispite his gainful play on the Cubs Minor League teams, his career was essentially buried by the Cubs when he was never allowed to be brought up or to be traded to another team for six years. Kuykendall remained in the minor leagues for 9 years, playing 6 years with the Chicago Cubs and his final 3 years with the Los Angeles Angels. He was taken to Major League Baseball Spring Training every season and competed among the best, yet he was never allowed to play on a Major League Roster during his entire career after receiving his enormous bonus at 17 years old. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108526499/mack-get-first-baseman-glove/ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108524654/coach-about-mack-kuykendall/