The baseball Hall of Fame continues to mystify rational thinkers. This is about perhaps baseball’s greatest living historian, ambassador and builder, John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil. At age 94 (give or take a couple of years), Buck O’Neil has seen it all and truly lived to tell it. His memory is one of a kind. His charm and wit are sharp. His great line at 94, “Good black don’t crack” is all you need to know about Buck when it comes to pride and perseverance. O’Neil would be able to tell you why Josh Gibson should be mentioned in the same sentence with Babe Ruth. He saw them both play and knew them both on and off the field.
Buck has forgotten more in 75 years of being in the game than most will ever know. Knowing the Negro Leagues as well as the Majors is the element of Buck O’Neil that you cannot put a price on. His desire to keep the memories of the Negro Leagues alive with the Negro League Hall of fame in Kansas City should be reason enough for him to be part of Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
When the induction ceremonies take place in Cooperstown this summer, they will honor all of the new members from the Negro Leagues, which is great. One problem. The only person living who could give you the facts about all of these inductees? Buck O’Neil. Why he is still on the outside looking in is the great mystery. Let’s hope he gets to see age 95 and beyond, not for a ceremony, but to continue to spread the word of the game that has forgotten one of its favorite sons.
Here comes the Missouri Valley
In case you have not noticed, the Missouri Valley Conference Basktball Tournament hits town on Friday. This tournament has a lot of significance to the St. Louis area, as many of St. Louis’ best basketball players whom Missouri and Saint Louis University passed on have found a successful home in the Valley. Pick a year, and there will be a player that you will find from the St. Louis area that had an impact on his team or the conference. Just look at what Jennings grad Darren Brooks did at his stay at SIU. This will be a fun tournament that runs through the weekend. Don’t miss it.
Mizzou to use search firm
As the Missouri Tigers look for a new coach for the basketball team, smart money says that Athletic Director Mike Alden will not do the search by himself. Claibs’ Call is saying they will use a search firm to weed out the candidates and make sure there are no skeletons in the closets and do the initial interviews. The name Bob Bodine will play a significant role in the search. Stay tuned here if you want to know the real deal in Columbia.
Staying tuned
There are about to be some significant radio changes in the sports radio business that will be welcomed by many of my readers. More to come soon. Take my word for it – they will be all good for everyone involved.