For O'Neil, baseball represented a lifelong joy. "Nowadays, whenever us Negro leaguers put on the old uniforms for autograph-signings and such, you can just see the years peel away," he wrote in his memoirs. "I've seen men lose 50 years in just a few hours. Baseball is better than sex. It is better than music, although I do believe jazz comes in a close second. It does fill you up."
Crap, maybe my favorite player of all time and I never even heard of him until he was past 60. Can't think of anyone else I would have loved to have sat with and just talked baseball.
What a truly lovely man. I just purchased Fay Vincent's book, The Only Game in Town, and it arrived in the mail yesterday. I very much wanted to read the Buck O'Neil interview and I did so last night. He will be missed but he left so much of himself to Ken Burns and others that the example of his life will be available to future generations. RIP Buck and thank you.
I wish he got the vote for the hall of fame. I know it meant a lot to him. He has been the best ambassador baseball has had for awhile. Buck is the definition of class. Thanks for all you did Buck. RIP
Here is another link to an interview Buck O'Neil did in conjunction with the "Baseball" documentary.
http://tinyurl.com/frldk
Unfortunately, it does not have the story about the time Paige pitched against Josh Gibson but if you ever get a chance to see it on the documentary, you will really enjoy it.
I too give my best to his family and friends, baseball lost a great ambassador to the game.
I had the opportunity to meet Buck a few times and he was one of those people who was as nice off camera as on it. Probably nicer. One of the great experiences of my life was going to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis with him one time. It's in the Lorraine Motel, the building where MLK got shot and also where the Monarchs used to stay when they visited Memphis. He reminisced about the fun times and then got real quiet as we looked at the balcony where King got shot. Just seeing the look in his eyes... there was so much life, so much wisdom, in that face.
And now, I can't talk to you all anymore. I'm 94 and I've got to go to the bathroom! (That was the line he ended all his speeches with.)
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Question: should I be spooked that this happened on the very day that the A's finally managed to avoid the "Curse of the Buck"?
catfishstew.baseballtoaster.com/archives/156201.html
Rest in peace, Mr. O'Neil.
God Bless, Buck.
Stan from Tacoma
https://bronxbanter.baseballtoaster.com/archives/2918.html
And here is the Kansas City Star obit with more background and photos.
www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/special_packages/oneil/15700214.htm
requiescat in pace
http://tinyurl.com/frldk
Unfortunately, it does not have the story about the time Paige pitched against Josh Gibson but if you ever get a chance to see it on the documentary, you will really enjoy it.
I too give my best to his family and friends, baseball lost a great ambassador to the game.
Can you give this a more permanent place on the sidebar, so it isn't cast off to the unseen right away, maybe?
I probably won't post anything more until late night. It should be back on the sidebar now.
And now, I can't talk to you all anymore. I'm 94 and I've got to go to the bathroom! (That was the line he ended all his speeches with.)
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.