Buck O'Neil to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

[Mattingly]

May his soul forever rest very peacefully, but he'll receive this posthumously. Here's a page on his wonderful life and times:

John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/special_packages/oneil/)


STAR FILE PHOTO
Buck O'Neil, a Kansas City legend for his career with
the Kansas City Monarchs baseball team in the
Negro Leagues, posed for this photo before his 91st
birthday. O'Neil's birthday wish was to set a one-
month attendance record at the Negro Leagues
Baseball Museum, where this portrait was taken.

From the KC Star:

O’Neil to be awarded Presidential Medal (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/16187247.htm)

WASHINGTON | Kansas City icon Buck O’Neil will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, the White House announced Thursday.

O’Neil, the longtime Kansas City Monarch who worked tirelessly to ensure the Negro Leagues never would be forgotten, will be among 10 awardees at a White House ceremony next week.

According to the press release, “John `Buck’ O’Neil represented excellence and determination both on and off the baseball field. He was a talented player and manager in the Negro Leagues, became Major League Baseball’s first African-American coach, and was a co-founder of and inspiration for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.”

The Medal of Freedom was established by President Truman in 1945 to recognize service in time of war. President Kennedy re-introduced it as a civilian award in 1963.

[KCGHOST]

O'Neil received the award posthumously this morning in a ceremony led by President Bush.

May the members of the Negro League committee who thought Buck unworthy rot in the place of eternal fire.

[Dogdaze]

O'Neil received the award posthumously this morning in a ceremony led by President Bush.

May the members of the Negro League committee who thought Buck unworthy rot in the place of eternal fire.

I'm very glad to see they are recognizing this great man. He worked hard for the Negro Leagues to be remembered and and honored as they should be.
Buck was not only a good ball player, manager, coach and scout but also a great humanitarian and an excellent ambassador for the game.

It was a travesty of justice that he wasn't inducted in the HOF. :mad:

He was a just a great and wonderful man, well deserving of this award.

Rest in peace Buck, you will be missed.

[Brian McKenna]

I'm very glad to see they are recognizing this great man. He worked hard for the Negro Leagues to be remembered and and honored as they should be.
Buck was not only a good ball player, manager, coach and scout but also a great humanitarian and an excellent ambassador for the game.


Fully agree - a pleasure to follow the man's career and cause.

HOF worthy - unfortunately not but a great character of the greatest of all games.

[Dogdaze]

Fully agree - a pleasure to follow the man's career and cause.

HOF worthy - unfortunately not but a great character of the greatest of all games.

Not HOF worthy? You've got to be kidding!

He had better stats then some players elected previously, he managed in the NEL and won 4 championships, he was the first African American coach in the majors and was a good scout discovering Lou Brock amoung others.

But mostly he is HOF worthy for his work on the Negro Leagues being remembered and honored, and being a great ambassabor for the game.

If they can elect Effa Manley, certainly Buck is more worthy then her!

[jim miller]

I had the great fortune to have met Buck O'Neil several times. Have a personal photo of him at a Negro League exhibition at the Pink Palace
museum a few years back. Absolutely one of the nicest people of the
face of the earth. Had the greatest smile, firmest handshake and genuine
warmth of anybody I ever met. Such a shame he didn't get in HOF before
he died. His contributions to the game were enormous. Look up the
statistics for Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby. They won't blow you away
but there is no question they belong. My closest friend is Joe B Scott who
played against Buck when Buck was playing in Kansas City. Buck also
managed the Memphis Red Sox while Joe was playing there. Joe Scott
will be 87 in October and he too is a great representative of the Negro
Leagues. Joe is in constant demand for autograph signings. When we go
to ballgames together in St. Louis, Chicago, Atlanta, etc., the lines form
around his seat and he signs willingly and always takes the time to counsel
the children telling them to work hard in school and mind their parents. He, too is a great guy.

[PJ-34]

Good for him. A nice story and I'm glad you got to meet him in person. I have a stupid question for you, are you THEY Jim Miller?