KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Baseball's Hall of Fame snub of Buck O'Neil could bring about national designation for the Negro Leagues Museum, KMBC's Kris Ketz reported.

A Senate committee approved a bill, granting national designation to the baseball museum.

Ketz reported that it is a big deal because in the end it is about money.

"You know, we want to make sure we always remain in a competitive situation no matter what might happen out there," Negro Leagues Museum Marketing Director Bob Kendrick said.

Like any nonprofit, the museum competes for public and private dollars. National recognition will make it easier to raise money, like the $15 million needed to turn the old Paseo YMCA into the Buck O'Neil Research and Education Center. It is a major expansion project of the museum.

Ketz reported that it is widely believed inside the museum that when the Hall of Fame did not call for O'Neil, lawmakers on Capitol Hill could not help but notice the outrage among fans and voters, making it easy to push the bill through committee and onto the Senate floor.

If public reaction is any indication, O'Neil is probably bigger than ever in the wake of last week's Hall of Fame decision.