John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil was someone I had never heard about until that steamy July afternoon, but someone I will never forget. He was an above-average player, but not good enough to enter the Hall of Fame when the committee made a special election of 17 individuals from the Negro Leagues in 2006. It was widely thought that Buck would be included on this list of people because of the impact he had on the game off of the field, and that he was a shoo-in to be enshrined with the other immortals of America's pasttime.
Buck's Hall of Fame story doesn't end with him being excluded however. When he found out he didn't make it he immediately asked who got in (which is a natural feeling). Then he heard that those 17 individuals from the Negro Leagues had all deceased, and he asked if he could represent them in Cooperstown. Not because he wanted a piece of their glory, but because he wanted those who made it through some of the worst times America to be properly honored. His speech from that day is below, and hearing him speak automatically brings me back to that day all those years ago, listening to Buck talk to us, and singing his favorite song...
Kyler, I had the privilege to be in attendance in Cooperstown in 2006 at the HOF ceremony you posted video of above. To say that in a short weekend Buck O'Neil impacted me would be an understatement. In fact, we had the blessing of being able to attend the Sunday morning worship service for the members and families, at which Lou Brock and his wife Jackie were leading. Present at the service was none other than Mr. O'Neil who was asked by Lou to stand up front and share his heart. He spoke with passion about his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and it was a moment I too will not soon forget. My only regret was not taking a photograph with him at the Otesaga Hotel and as we were on our way to the airport for our return flight home, Kimmy and I shared about how we were bummed that we did not get a photograph with him. Well, you can imagine our delight as we approached our gate at the Albany airport, only to find Buck awaiting the same plane! We didn't let another opportunity slip away and we were able to take the picture to remember our time and the impact Buck had on the two of us. It was only a couple short months later that Buck went to be with the Lord and Savior he spoke so fondly of on that Sunday morning. Thanks for sharing this story, his memory continues to be counted as one of my most memorable times surrounding baseball...
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