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Buck O'Neal has never expressed any pain or regret for not being elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Until the end, he urged those who love him and support him to do the same.
Now, long after a near miss that made many people wonder if he would succeed, they can rejoice.
O'Neal is a champion of black golfers. He has an immortal honor during his eight-year career on and off the court. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday along with Jill Hodges, Minnie Minoso and three others. .
Former Minnesota Twins teammates Tony Oliva and Jim Carter were also elected by two veterans committees along with Bud Fowler.
"Celebrate," said Bob Kendrick, chairman of the Black League Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, which O'Neill helped create.
"Although we are all sorry that Buck is not here, you can't help but be happy for everyone who continues to beat Buck O'Neal," he said.
Oliva and Carter, 83, are the only new members alive. Long-time batsman Dick Allen, who died last December, had one vote less than the election.
The six newcomers will be worshipped in Cooperstown, New York on July 24, 2022, along with any new members elected by the American Baseball Writers Association. The first-time candidates David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez joined the voting of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling. The voting results will be held on January 25. Announced.
In previous Hall elections, the new members reflected various achievements.
This is the first time that O'Neill, Minhoso and Fowler have the opportunity to build a hall according to the new rules in recognition of the contribution of the Black League. Last December, when Major League Baseball stated that it was “correcting the long-term negligence in the history of the game” and reclassified the black league as a major league, the statistics of approximately 3,400 players were added to the Major League Baseball record In the book.
O'Neal is a two-time All-Star first baseman in the Black League and the first black coach in the national or American league. He became the ultimate ambassador of the sport until his death in 2006 at the age of 94, and he has received a life-size statue in the Hall of Fame.
Although O'Neal has devoted a lot of his life to this game, many casual fans were not completely familiar with him before watching the nine-part Ken Burns documentary "Baseball" which was first broadcast on PBS in 1994.
There, O’Neill’s elegance, wit, and vivid storytelling brought the era of Black League stars Thatcher Page, Josh Gibson, and cool dad Bell back to life, as well as the era of more black players whose names have long been forgotten. .
Kendrick said it was too bad that O'Neill would not attend the inauguration in Cooperstown, "but you know his spirit will fill the valley," he said.
O'Neal played in the Black League for 10 years and helped the Kansas City Monarchs win the championship as a player and manager. His stats are not gorgeous-his career average batting rate is 0.258 and 9 home runs.
But the significance of John Jordan O’Neal to baseball can never be measured by numbers alone.
O'Neal is the coach of the Chicago Cubs and enjoys a prolific career as a scout.
His influence is still visible.
In addition to his statue in Cooperstown, the Board of Directors of Hall regularly awards the Buck O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award to a man who "for his extraordinary efforts enhanced the positive impact of baseball on society...and his character, integrity and Dignity" reflects the person shown through O'Neill.
In 2006, when the Black League Special Committee held a meeting to study candidates for the Hall of Fame, O'Neill seemed to be immersed in the praise he received for his work. The team did elect 17 new members, but O'Neal was not among them and almost missed it.
O'Neal was selected to speak on Inauguration Day on behalf of these 17 newcomers, all of whom are deceased. In terms of his nature, he did not utter a word of self-blame or self-pity for his destiny being left out.
Two months later, O'Neill died in Kansas City.
Before becoming the first black player of the Chicago White Sox in 1951, Mignoso was selected twice in the All-Star Game of the Black League. "Cuban Comet" was born in Havana and was selected to the All-Star Game seven times during the White Sox and Indians.
The Saturnino Orestes Armas Miñoso on the field is not small at all. He hit more than 0.300 in 8 games between Cleveland and Chicago, led AL in stolen bases 3 times, reached double-digit home runs each season, and won three gold gloves in the left field.
Mignoso ended in 1964, or so it seems. In 1976, at the age of 50, he returned to the White Sox-1 of 8 shots-and played twice in 1980, allowing him to play professional football for five years.
The White Sox retired his No. 9 player in 1983, and he remained in close contact with the organization and its players until his death in 2015.
Fowler was born in 1858 and is generally considered the first black professional baseball player. Pitchers and second basemen helped create the popular Page Fence Giants barnstorming team.
Hodges, along with Jackie Robinson, Duksnyder, Roy Campanella and Peveris, became the latest Brooklyn Dodgers star to stand out from the "Summer Boys" who won the pennant.
Eight-time All-Star, with 370 home runs and three first base King Glover, Hodges consolidated his legacy when he managed the 1969 "Miracle Metropolis" World Series championship. It was an amazing Beat the favored Baltimore in five games.
When Hodges suffered a heart attack during spring training in 1972 and died at the age of 47, he was still the manager of the Mets.
His daughter Irene said she was with her 95-year-old mother when the vote was announced.
"She just thumped her chest and said that I was very happy for Jill. My father is a great manager and a great player, but the most important thing is that he is a great father," she posted on the Mets. Said in a statement.
Oliva is the three-time American League batting champion of the Twins. His career was interrupted by knee problems.
"I have been looking for that phone," Oliva said on the MLB network. "I have so many people working hard for me. They said I should be elected 40 years ago. Living to tell people means a lot to me."
Carter has a record of 283-237 in 25 seasons and has won the Golden Glove Award 16 times.
"I never thought I was the first pitcher," he said. "I have no dominant power. I am durable and reliable. I am grateful that they have chosen to reward reliability."
O'Neill and Fowler were selected by the early committee. Hodges, Miñoso, Oliva and Kaat were selected by the Golden Day Committee.
A group of 16 members met in Orlando, Florida. The election announcement was originally scheduled to be held at the same time as the Major League Winter Meeting, but it was cancelled due to the suspension of the MLB.
With 12 votes (75%), Minhosso got 14 votes, O'Neal got 13 votes, Hodges, Oliva, Carter and Fowler each got 12 votes, and Allen got 11 votes.
Oliva has been selected to the All-Stars 8 times and has a batting rate of 0.304 in 15 seasons. All of them are twins. The Cuban-born outfielder is known for scoring batting and was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1964.
Carter was named to the All-Star three times, won 20 wins three times, and pitched in four years. He brought the Twins to the 1965 World Series and won a ring as a substitute for the Cardinals in 1982.
Kaat became a long-term broadcaster after finishing the game. During this year’s playoffs, he stated in a TV broadcast of a game on MLB Network that the team should try to "fill a 40-acre field" with a player who looks like White Sox infielder Yoán Moncada, he is a Cuban , He apologized for this.
These words reminded some viewers of the unfulfilled promise of the US government that slaves released after the Civil War would get 40 acres of land and a mule.
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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