What a shame that the Veterans Commitee or whomever it was who was responsible for getting all the old Negro league players enshrined into the Hall of Fame this past summer didn’t include Buck O’Neill. He should have been there enshrined with the rest. Buck was there. He gave a great speech, and seemed to enjoy himself.
Shame on you guys. You blew it. Now it’s too late. He’s died.
Screw your “rules” about eligibility, and whne the next chance might be. You must put him in there in 2007 as a pitiful attempt to rectify the mistake you made by not including him with all the others from earlier this summer. It won’t be good enough, but at least his plaque will be there with everyone else’s. As it should be. As it should have been this summer.
If you get a chance, go watch the Ken Burns Baseball series. Buck O’Neill talks a lot in that, and you get an idea as to how much this man had to offer. I said this a lot when he was alive; I would have paid good money to see him and the rest of the Negro league players play. I get the impression the on the field baseball part of their lives was a lot of fun. Induct Buck!
I’m also still miffed at the Rangers for not retiring Oates’ 26 while he was still alive, but I’d write forever on that one if I get started down that path.