AP: Former Negro League star Buck O'Neil dies at 94. Details to come

[Human Torch]

MSNBC breaking headline: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

[Pirate Smile]

1. Awwwww. Goodbye Buck.

:(

[Botany]

2. Buck made the world better by just being Buck.

Than you Ken Burns for introducing me to Buck.
His voice always made me feel good about the world.




Now put him into the Hall of Fame where he belongs.

[Suich]

7. Thanks for the pic, Botany.

He was a pretty special guy...

:cry:

[Human Torch]

27. Olbermann's piece on Buck and the Hall of Fame was heartbreaking...

...not just because Buck was overlooked for the honor, but because of the way that he kept his humor and dignity intact in the midst of what had to be a major disappointment. He was gracious and refused to express anger or resentment toward being snubbed. Today's players handle even minor issues in a much different manner. I think it's a safe bet to say that K.O. will have a segment on Monday's "Countdown" in tribute.

:patriot:

[Janice325]

3. Oh, noooo!

I'm so glad to have learned about him and seen him on Keith Olbermann's Countdown.
RIP, Buck. You were a great man, and will be missed.
:cry:

[originalpckelly]

4. Poor Buck...

he didn't get in to the hall of fame. Keith will be really depressed on Monday. We will all miss Buck. :cry:

[jaysunb]

5. RIP

I hope the Hall and sports writers will finally " do the right thing."

[Patsy Stone]

6. RIP, Buck.

Gone to join the All-Star team.

[Berry Cool]

8. Another fine person gone.

I too am glad Keith introduced me and his viewers to him before it was too late.

Those who did not vote him into the HOF should be ashamed of themselves.

[Lindsay]

9. Rest in peace, Buck.

You've earned it.

[roguevalley]

10. awwww. Keith will give him beautiful words. He's on the best team

in heaven. Bless his gracious heart.

[Duppers]

21. didn't Keith lobby to get him in the Hall of Fame?

Buck had a heart of gold. May he RIP.

[roguevalley]

28. he tried. Buck rather focused on the players he helped. He was a

class act, a gentleman and a national treasure.

[ComerPerro]

11. KC is not gonna be a happy place tomorrow

[ComerPerro]

12. bit of a bio here

http://www.nlbpa.com/o_neil__john_jordan_-_buck.html

In 1942, O'Neil led the Monarchs to a Negro American League title and faced the Homestead Grays in the Negro World Series. Buck hit a robust .353, as the Monarchs swept the Grays in four games. His Grays' counterpart Buck Leonard recalled, "He would find the gap in the outfield and hit it there. He was one of the best ball players I have ever seen." O'Neil won batting titles in 1940 and 1946, blasting out averages of .345 and .350, respectively.


O'Neil succeeded Frank Duncan, in 1948, as manager of the Kansas City Monarchs. He continued to manage the Monarchs until 1955. This ex-Navy man guided the Monarchs to league titles in 1948, 1950, 1951 and 1953. In 1956, O'Neil was hired by the Chicago Cubs as a scout. Perhaps his greatest achievement came in 1962, when he became the first African-American coach in the Major Leagues with the Cubs. As a scout he discovered superstars like Lou Brock and Joe Carter. After 33 years as a Cubbie, he returned home, in 1988, to scout for the Kansas City Royals.

[Jcrowley]

13. K & R

In 1907 Cuba opened up its integrated Cuban Professional League to foreign players. Many American ball players made their way to Cuba during the winter months. Cuban teams were allotted only a few slots for foreign players so only the best would be selected to play. The opportunity to earn extra money, the relaxed playing schedule and the respect given to a ball player by Cubans, no matter his race or nationality, brought many Negro League stars to Cuba. Here are a some of the American Negro League Stars to play in Cuba:

• Tully McAdoo, Played in the Cuban League in 1915-16.
• Dan McClellan, Pitched for Havana in 1907.
• Bob McClure, Played in Cuba in 1926-27.

• Booker McDaniels , Played for Marianao in the Cuban League in 1944.

• Terris McDuffie , Pitched 8 seasons in Cuba winning 37 games and losing 43.

• Henry McHenry, Played in the Cuban League in 1930-45.
• Buck Miller, Pitched against Babe Ruth in Cuba.

• Henry Miller , Played in the Cuban League in 1948-49.

• Percy Miller, Played in the Cuban League in 1924-25.
• Sam Mongin, Played in the Cuban League in 1908-09.
• Bill Monroe, Batted .333 for Foster's Club Fe in 1907-08.

• Dobie Moore , Had a .356 lifetime batting average in Cuba.

• Squire Moore, Played in the Cuban League in 1924-25.

• Barney Morris , Won 13 games for Cienfuegos in 1939-40.

• Harold Morris, Played in Cuba in 1923-24.
• Dink Mothel, Played in the Cuban League in 1930-31.

• Don Newcombe , Played in the Cuban League in 1946-47.

• Buck O'Neill , Played for Almendares in the Cuban League in 1946-47.

• Satchel Paige , Pitched in Cuba one season for Marianao.






RIP Buck

[SheilaT]

23. Have your read the book

"Havana Heat" by Darryl Brock? It's about Luther "Dummy" Taylor's year playing in Cuba around 1911. I'm not that much of a baseball fan, nor a fan of baseball books, but this one, along with Brock's earlier "If I Never Get Back" are both extraordinary.

I'm going to have to reread "Havana Heat" to see if Buck Owen is mentioned. Luther Taylor is a local Olathe, Kansas boy. Olathe is today a suburb of Kansas City, MO, although a hundred years ago the twenty or so mile separating the two would have been significant.

[Catherine Vincent]

14. Aww. :(

Rest in peace, Mr. Buck. I only know about you through Keith Olbermann's show. He seemed to have such a kind heart. He is what you call "good people".

[Janice325]

15. I hope Keith makes this his number one story Monday night

on Countdown.
k&r

[SaveElmer]

16. Crap...RIP Buck...

Too bad the ignoramuses voting on the HoF couldn't have inducted you while you were still with us!!!

[DinahMoeHum]

17. He was that cherished icon in baseball called a LOREMASTER.

I first heard of him (shame on me) through Ken Burns' documentary series "Baseball"

Oh, the stories that he told. His observations alone were worth the price of staying up late
to watch all the episodes.

Farewell, friend.

:toast:

[fooj]

18. RIP. You will be missed.

[REP]

19. A Truly Nice Guy, A Class Act and One Hell of a Ball Player!

Buck O'Neil was one of the people who made me proud of my home town.

[Rhiannon12866]

20. K&R from me, too.

Keith Olbermann took up his cause that he should have been in the Hall of Fame. He probably will be, now. Too little, too late...;(

[Greylyn58]

22. RIP Buck

You will be truly missed sir. Now you truly are an "All-Star".

Hope the voters will finally do the right thing and vote him into the Hall of Fame.

[SheilaT]

24. So sad.

I knew that Buck had been in the hospital recently, and realized from what little was being said that this was probably the end. I'm sad I never got a chance to meet him. He seems to have been a man of enormous dignity, witness his behavior after being so outrageously excluded from the Baseball Hall of Fame.

If we all behaved with a fraction of Buck's dignity and humanity, the world would be a far better place.

on edit:
I do hope his passing is a banner headline in the Kansas City Star tomorrow morning.

[theHandpuppet]

25. Aw, man. We just lost a national treasure.

See ya in the sweet field of dreams, Buck.

[malaise]

26. RIP Buck O'Neil

How many other Negro League players are still alive?