Buck O'Neil

From BR Bullpen

Jump to: navigation, search

John Jordan O'Neil (Buck, Foots, Nancy)

  • Bats Right, Throws Right
  • Height 5' 10", Weight 190 lb.

Contents

[edit] Introduction

Buck O'Neil was a fixture in baseball circles from the 1930s until his death in 2006. He began his career in 1937 as a member of the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League. A first baseman, O'Neil hit .300/~.378/.402 in his career and was known primarily for his defense and contact hitting, lacking any semblance of the power expected from the position. He became most famous as a storyteller and spokesman for the Negro Leagues, especially after his appearance on Baseball by Ken Burns. He was an effective advocate for the Negro Leagues, though some Negro League veterans felt he stole too much attention from other living players who also could publicize the game. As a charismatic spokesperson, he had few equals.

[edit] Youth

O'Neil worked in the celery fields of Florida as a youth and moved to Sarasota when he was 12. He was at Edward Waters College for six years as a baseball player. O'Neil began his professional career with minor teams, the Miami Giants, New York Tigers and the Shreveport Acme Giants. He made his first appearance with a top black team at age 25, going 1-for-8 in two games with the Memphis Red Sox. He then moved to the lesser Zulu Cannibal Giants to finish the year, making more money and getting more playing time.

[edit] The early years with KC

In 1938, he moved to the Kansas City Monarchs, where he spent the remainder of his career. Recent research (only including a smaller sample of games than prior data) shows a .234/~.294/.298 line while John Holway listed him at .260 with 5 doubles (tied for third in the Negro American League and 7 steals (second to Willard Brown's 10).

1939 marked a .238/~.267/.347 season (recent research) or .240 with 2 homers (tied for second-most), 7 doubles (third-most) and 3 triples tied for the lead (as per Holway). In 1940, Holway lists him as having batted .342, second to Jesse Williams, with a league-best 5 doubles and 3 triples. Current data presents a .344/~.378/.473 line with 6 doubles and 3 triples, very similar results. O'Neil hit .269 with 2 doubles (4th), 3 doubles (tied for second) and 3 steals (tied for the lead) in 1941 (as per Holway) or .257/~.300/.336, according to recent research. He went 1 for 4 in an exhibition game on October 5 against Bob Feller and Ken Heintzelman. He hit .255 (Holway) or .269/~.289/.352 (recent research) in 1942. Surprisingly, despite his mediocre stats and lack of a starring track record, O'Neil was the leading vote-getter among position players for the East-West Game that year. He batted sixth in the first East-West Game of the year, going 0-for-4 with an error. In Game 2, he hit seventh and went 0-for-4 again, proving to be overmatched by the top black pitchers from the East. He hit .353 in the 1942 Negro World Series and was 1-for-4 in an exhibition against Dizzy Dean, Johnny Grodzicki and Al Piechota. In '43, he hit either .222 (Holway) or .338/~.384/.426 (current research) and was 0-for-2 with an RBI and a sacrifice bunt for the West in the East-West Game. His season was cut short as he entered the military that year.

[edit] Military service

From 1943 to 1945, O'Neil served his country as a member of the US Navy, working in a construction battalion.

[edit] Post-WWII career

In 1945-46, O'Neil hit .216 in the Cuban Winter League. '46 marked a drastic improvement though. With the major leagues and Mexican League having depleted the talent stock in the Negro Leagues, the 34-year-old O'Neil hit .350 (Holway) or .350/~.388/.497 (current research), winning the NAL batting championship, though he still failed to slug .500. He did show pop when it mattered most, though. Hitting .333 in the 1946 Negro World Series, O'Neil hit a game-winning homer in the seventh inning of Game 7 to give Kansas City a 3-2 win and the Series-title. He hit .333 in an exhibition series against white major leaguers in a scant 18 AB.

In the Cuban Winter League, he again fell flat in 1946-47 at .216 once more. Back in the Negro Leagues, his line was .305/~.379/.506 (current research) or .358 (Holway). He became the player-manager in 1948 and led the team to five pennants and two more Negro World Series. In '48, Buck hit .253/~.292/.321. The next season, his line was .330/~.330/.394 and played in his last East-West Game, going 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter. Overall, he went 0-for-11 in his four East-West Game appearances, entirely overwhelmed by the top black pitchers of the era. Then in 1950, he hit .253/~.340/.394. In '51, he batted .328 and slugged .396. In '53, his last known batting line was .476/~.476/.476 in 21 AB. Statistical data is very limited for the 1950s Negro Leagues, which had begun dying off. Talent levels were extremely low at that period as the good players headed to the majors, Mexico or the high minors.

[edit] Negro Leagues Career Statistics

Year Team League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB BA SLG
.
1937 Memphis Red Sox NAL 2 8 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 .125
1938 Kansas City Monarchs NAL 30 94 14 22 4 1 0 3 11 8 .234 .298
1939 Kansas City Monarchs NAL 29 101 12 24 4 2 1 9 4 4 .238 .347
1940 Kansas City Monarchs NAL 25 93 17 32 6 3 0 26 5 5 .344 .473
1941 Kansas City Monarchs NAL 29 113 16 29 5 2 0 12 6 7 .257 .336
1942 Kansas City Monarchs NAL 36 145 18 39 5 2 1 25 3 4 .269 .352
1943 Kansas City Monarchs NAL 19 68 12 23 3 0 1 9 1 5 .338 .426
1944
1945 		Military service
1946 Kansas City Monarchs NAL 58 197 36 69 11 6 2 27 12 12 .350 .497
1947 Kansas City Monarchs NAL 16 59 16 18 4 1 2 10 4 7 .305 .508
1948 Kansas City Monarchs NAL 42 162 14 41 6 1 1 -- 3 9 .253 .321
1949 Kansas City Monarchs NAL 45 109 17 36 4 0 1 14 6 0 .330 .394
1950 Kansas City Monarchs NAL 31 83 14 21 5 2 1 1 5 11 .253 .398 -
.
Total 12 seasons 362 1232 187 355 57 20 10 136 60 72 .288 .391
per 162 g 2.23 162 551 84 159 26 9 4 61 27 32

Source: Committee on African-American Baseball

[edit] Coaching and scouting career

After retiring as a player, O'Neil joined the Chicago Cubs as a scout. He is correctly credited with promoting the careers of Lou Brock, and Elston Howard, and erroneously credited with signing Ernie Banks, who joined the Cubs two years before O'Neil was hired.

In 1962, O'Neil was named a coach for the Cubs, becoming the first black coach in the major leagues. He remained with the Cubs as a coach through the 1965 season. O'Neil was not allowed to coach on the baselines during games, and was not included in the rotation of Cubs' College of Coaches, denying him a chance to manage the club.

Since 1988, O'Neil has been a scout for the Kansas City Royals, in his adopted hometown. He was instrumental in the construction of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City.

[edit] Hall of Fame committee work and chances

A long-time voice for the Negro Leagues on the Veterans Committee, O'Neil served as a committee member from 1981 to 2000. When the Hall allowed a single Negro Leaguer per year to be inducted 1995-2001, O'Neil's recommendations each year, aided by SABR's Negro League Committee, steered the Veterans Committee toward a single candidate each time, keeping the vote focused and assuring that seven players (Leon Day, Bill Foster, Willie Wells, Bullet Rogan, Smokey Joe Williams, Turkey Stearnes, and Hilton Smith) were inducted. O'Neil is cited as being heavily influential in the selection of Hilton Smith, who was his frequent roommate with the Monarchs.

O'Neil was thought by some sportswriters to be a favorite for election in the special Negro Leagues election held in February 2006, but he fell short of the needed votes in the secret ballot. There was considerable controversy following the announcement, much of it by Kansas City media and the Negro Leagues Museum. Much of the controversy has faded since O'Neil's death.

O'Neil was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

[edit] Further Reading

[edit] Sources

Retrieved from "http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Buck_O%27Neil"
Personal tools
   BB-Ref Home
   Bullpen Home
 
Advertisement