Comments on: Remembering Buck O’Neil, Seven Years Later

By: manolibre48

manolibre48 — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 02:31:09 +0000

Stupid us would be more appropriate. How many ‘great’ and ‘normal’ people do we let slide out of our lives thinking “I’ll get around to it”? But, they know how you really feel about them. They know.

By: manolibre48

manolibre48 — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 02:26:01 +0000

Wonderful article and great comments. As I read through them, two thoughts came to me over and over: 1) Every comment is respectful (how unusual these days!), and, 2) Who are the ‘haters’ that would dislike the article or the comments here? Makes me realize there really are people out there without souls.

By: IdahoMariner

IdahoMariner — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 04:39:01 +0000

yeah, me too.

man, paul, great story. thanks for sharing it.

By: wmw3629

wmw3629 — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 03:18:45 +0000

These ridiculous “voters”-(how pathetic are these losers)? Yeah, vote Buck and Santo in only after they die. Deny them what they deserved and waited on for so many years. Did any of these jack offs even ever watch a baseball game?

By: thoughtday

thoughtday — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:54:09 +0000

I had the privilege of meeting Mr. O’Neil on two different occasions and I have to say that he was the kindest and gentlest human being that I have ever met. It was a sad day for all when he passed.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 18:33:13 +0000

Jeesh Paul! I made it all the way through Joe’s article with no waterworks.
Then I read your post and I am now blowing my nose. Thanks for sharing!

By: hasbeen5

hasbeen5 — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:27:01 +0000

Great read Joe, as is anything you write about Buck. I read Soul of Baseball a year or so after it was published, and it’s what brought me back to being a die hard baseball fan. After reaching my competitive limits, I was bitter about not being able to play anymore. Reading about Buck’s enthusiasm and passion reminded me of the great stuff I was missing and reminded me just how much I loved the game.

By: mgflolox

mgflolox — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:29:01 +0000

Strictly as a ballplayer, from what I can gather, Buck was along the lines of a Keith Hernandez/Mark Grace quality of player. Damn good-championship quality, if not quite Hall of Fame level. As a human being, he towers so far above HOF standards, he is most assuredly inner circle. Shame he isn’t alive to see what I believe will be his eventual induction, he is a more than worthy candidate.

By: cowboyzshininstar

cowboyzshininstar — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:00:35 +0000

Amazing piece Joe. Glad to read a story with some substance. That has somewhat subsided in the sports world. I’m really glad you did this story.

By: indaburg

indaburg — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 05:07:45 +0000

Exactly what Raysfan1 said. I got through Joe’s piece intact, but now I’m teary. Great story.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 05:04:33 +0000

No apologies needed whatsoever. I step aside happily when the subject is an encounter with the great Buck O’Neill and is written so beautifully. Paul, that was exquisite.

By: abaird2012

abaird2012 — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 05:00:22 +0000

Wonderful story from Joe, and I think this should be “Comment of the Year.”

Sorry, Gator.

By: indaburg

indaburg — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 05:00:05 +0000

I saved reading this for tonight because I had a feeling this was something special. I was right. Thanks, Joe.

This is beautiful.

By: The Vegaquarian Times

The Vegaquarian Times — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:45:27 +0000

One of my biggest regrets as a baseball fan is not getting my butt up to see Buck at the NLBM. I live in St. Louis, and would always tell my friends about it and how Buck would often be there and talk to fans. I would drive up to see Royals games, but took it for granted that Buck would always be there. Stupid me.

By: krmcelhinney

krmcelhinney — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:17:52 +0000

Joe,

I had the pleasure to meet Buck years ago at an NAIA convention in Kansas City. He was sitting by himself and I walked up, introduced myself, and had the good sense to listen to him for about twenty minutes. What a gentleman. One of the highlights of my life. To this day I still marvel at the size of the mans generosity, kindness and how big his hands were.

By: raysfan1

raysfan1 — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 03:30:29 +0000

I was real proud of myself, getting through Poz’ article dry-eyed despite my admiration of Buck O’Neil and despite how well, as always, he wrote the piece. Then I read your comment, and blew my streak. Awesome story, Mr White. Thank you.

By: churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged

churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 03:17:33 +0000

For me, it was the lingering question in the back of my head.

How could this man, who went through so many bad things, be so happy all the time?

By: stex52

stex52 — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 02:01:23 +0000

As I try to age with dignity (what other choice do we have?), one thing that brings a little joy is the glimpse of a soul at peace. There aren’t that many.

By: Paul White

Paul White — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 01:33:53 +0000

About ten years ago about it was announced that before the annual Negro Leagues Day game at Kauffman Stadium in KC, several former Negro Leaguers would be outside signing autographs, Buck O’Neil included. I decided immediately that I would be bringing my son, who was 7 or 8 at the time. My sole purpose was to get him Buck O’Neil’s autograph. We were not, and are not, autograph hounds or collectors, but that was one I felt my son should have, if only so I could talk to him about Buck, his life, and the path he took in baseball.

It turned out to be a murderously hot day, hot enough that I wondered if they would cancel the autograph session rather than subject those elderly men to the heat. They didn’t cancel, but it was clear that it was a chore for the gentlemen to sit and sign. Even though some people were stopping to chat with the players and asking for photographs, I told my son that we would only get one autograph, no photos, no chatting, just move on as quickly as possible to shorten their day a little bit. He was fine with that, and there was no question that the one autograph we would stand in line for would be Buck’s. The line snaked slowly up to him, and Buck was clearly fading. As we got closer it was clear that it was taking him a lot of energy to just hold the ball and sign his name. No more chit chat, not even lifting his head. Very un-Buck-like. Behind us, they cut off the line earlier than planned so they could get out of the heat sooner.

Finally it was my son’s turn, and Buck, with his head still hanging, reached out his hand for the ball we had brought. My son handed it to him, and Buck, seeing it was a child’s hand giving him the ball, looked up. He smiled his famous smile, and asked my son, “How you doin’ Home Run?”

“I’m fine Mr. O’Neil.”

“You look like a ballplayer, Home Run. Do you play ball?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Well, Home Run,” Buck said, as he signed out his name with a bit more flair and handed it back to my son, “How about you hit a home run for ol’ Buck the next game you play?”

“I’ll try my best, Mr. O’Neil. Thank you for the autograph.”

“You’re welcome, Home Run. I like a man who always tries his best.”

He smiled his Buck smile at my son again, and gave a little wink, too.

My son still has that ball, and still occasionally talks about how he got it. And then we chat a bit about Buck, and the Negro Leagues. And with an assist from the late, great Buck O’Neil, I get a chance to do a little parenting by reminding him that Buck always liked a man who tries his best. So Buck gave me something that day, too. Even though we never spoke at all.

By: gallaghedj311

gallaghedj311 — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 01:33:08 +0000

Got me teary eyed Joe. Wonderful article. Thank u for educating this 30 year old guy on this amazing man. Solid read…

By: paperlions

paperlions — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 01:23:04 +0000

I’ve only read Soul of Baseball once, it took me longer than it should have….I’m not sure how to express why….but after pretty much every chapter, I just felt like I needed time to appreciate the story and the man it was about…each story just wore me out.

By: dontcallmepete

dontcallmepete — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 01:10:32 +0000

If I could live one day in the manner in which he lived his life I’d consider myself blessed. Thanks Joe.

By: deepflakes

deepflakes — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:47:04 +0000

Got to meet him once — just a class act.

By: fanofevilempire

fanofevilempire — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:46:07 +0000

what they need is a committee to review the idiots on the Veterans Committee.

two good reads today Joe, keep it up.

By: churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged

churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:36:44 +0000

Like OG above, I really have no desire to see the MLB HoF (along with the steroids/writers BS, but I digress). However, I’m definitely planning a trip to the NLBM when my son is a little older. Men who honestly seemed to enjoy the game in the face of all that adversity. Stunning, absolutely stunning…

By: churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged

churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:34:06 +0000

It’s the words:

His favorite song.

The greatest thing … in all my life … is loving you.

I know it’s coming, having read Soul of Baseball numerous times, yet I can’t stop the waterworks.

By: stex52

stex52 — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:55:49 +0000

Make it one more.

By: crankyfrankie

crankyfrankie — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:40:22 +0000

I admit I am torn. Disappointed in the HOF for not putting him in but wanting to see the place before I go. I also plan on visiting the NLBM before I go. Thanks for the well written piece.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:25:52 +0000

The failure of the Veteran’s Committee to vote Buck O’Neill into the Hall of Fame is probably the biggest thing among several issues that make that place of less than no interest to me anymore. I’ve said this before on this blog several times, but this seems like a good occasion to say it again. As far as the committee members who had some hemorrhoidal rationale for not seeing “the whole thing,” I wouldn’t piss on their heads if their hair was burning.

By: pa9erfan

pa9erfan — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:19:58 +0000

i’ve read the book and been to the nlbm in kc… mlbhof should check themselves, dam shame mr.o’neil is not inducted….