Buck O’Neil: Negro League baseball player with the Kansas City Monarchs from 1939 – 1955. He also managed the Monarchs from 1951-1955. While Negro League statistics are notoriously unreliable his 12 season batting average (until 1950) was .398. After the Monarchs folded in 1955 he became a scout, first for the Cubs (where he was responsible for signing Lou Brock to his first contract) and then for the Kansas City Royals. O’Neil was prominently featured in Ken Burns’s documentary series “Baseball” talking about the Negro Leagues, and was a major promoter of the National Negro Baseball Museum in Kansas City and was honorary Chairman of the museum until his death. According to Wikipedia, “O’Neil was nominated to a special Hall ballot for Negro league players, managers, and executives in 2006, but received fewer than the necessary nine votes (out of twelve) to gain admission; however, 17 other Negro league figures were selected.” In 2007 a lifetime achievement award by the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown was named after Buck O’Neil and he was the first (posthumous) recipient. But he should still be in the Hall Of Fame.
He was a great baseball player. Unfortunately, his career preceded integration by Major League Baseball. His Wikipedia page says he died October 6, 2006; so, this strip might be to honor his memory. In 2008, the HOF honored him by creating the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award.
randayn over 9 years ago
On the other hand, Buck O’Neil does belong in the Hall of Fame.
cubswin2016 over 9 years ago
“I almost forgot, fellow babies… BOOGER!” Dr. Johnny Fever
snuster1 Premium Member over 9 years ago
. Buck has the stats and the time and the grace. Anyone who didn’t vote for him is definitely a BOOGER. Thanks Darby !!
aimlesscruzr over 9 years ago
He surely has more grace than most of today’s professional players across all sports…
bigrabbit over 9 years ago
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member over 9 years ago
Nice to see Bucky & Satchel on the same page.buh-dum-bum thwack!
bmckee over 9 years ago
Buck O’Neil: Negro League baseball player with the Kansas City Monarchs from 1939 – 1955. He also managed the Monarchs from 1951-1955. While Negro League statistics are notoriously unreliable his 12 season batting average (until 1950) was .398. After the Monarchs folded in 1955 he became a scout, first for the Cubs (where he was responsible for signing Lou Brock to his first contract) and then for the Kansas City Royals. O’Neil was prominently featured in Ken Burns’s documentary series “Baseball” talking about the Negro Leagues, and was a major promoter of the National Negro Baseball Museum in Kansas City and was honorary Chairman of the museum until his death. According to Wikipedia, “O’Neil was nominated to a special Hall ballot for Negro league players, managers, and executives in 2006, but received fewer than the necessary nine votes (out of twelve) to gain admission; however, 17 other Negro league figures were selected.” In 2007 a lifetime achievement award by the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown was named after Buck O’Neil and he was the first (posthumous) recipient. But he should still be in the Hall Of Fame.
mabrndt Premium Member over 9 years ago
He was a great baseball player. Unfortunately, his career preceded integration by Major League Baseball. His Wikipedia page says he died October 6, 2006; so, this strip might be to honor his memory. In 2008, the HOF honored him by creating the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award.