Baseball Legend Buck O'Neil Turns 94

By Laura Ziegler

Kansas City, Missouri – Buck O'Neil's career began as a fast and hard hitting first baseman for the famed Kansas City Monarchs, one of the flagship teams of the Negro Leagues. He went on the become one of the first scouts for the majors, recruiting such greats as Lou Brock and Ernie Banks. He later became the first coach for a major league team when the Chicago Cubs hired him in 1962.
Over the last several years he has devoted his energy to building the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, and has become a tireless ambassador-travelling to baseball parks and schools nationwide spreading the story of the Negro Leagues.
The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown has created a special committee to look at the contributions of black players and will nominate a list later this year. Many believe the Hall of Fame is empty without Buck O'Neil.
Laura Ziegler has this profile.