We remember Buck O'Neill (1911-2006)

The great Buck O’Neill was born in Florida on this day in 1911.  He died in 2006.

Casual baseball fans were introduced to the late Buck O’Neill in Ken Burns’ baseball series. Buck related so many stories of the old Negro Leagues.

“O’Neil had a career batting average of .288, including four .300-plus seasons at the plate. In 1946 the first baseman led the league in hitting with a .353 average and followed that in 1947 with a career-best .358 mark.

He also posted averages of .345 in 1940 and .330 in 1949. He played in four East-West All-Star games in three different seasons and two Negro League World Series.
World War II tour in the U.S. Navy from 1943–1945 briefly interrupted his playing career.
O’Neil was named manager of the Monarchs in 1948 after Frank Duncan’s retirement, and continued to play first base as well as a regular through 1951, dropping to part time status afterward.

He managed the Monarchs from 1948 through 1954 during the declining years of the Negro Leagues, winning two and a half league titles during that time.”