Buck O'Neil has Died

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Posted By: Steve Dawson

ESPN just reported on their website that Buck passed away tonight


Rest in Peace Buck.



Steve

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Posted By: Gilbert Maines

We all lose.

Thank you, Sir. RIP

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Posted By: J Levine

Damn the Hall of Fame for not putting him in before he passed. He was a great baseball guy. I was lucky enough to spend a few different days with Buck over the years and loved every minute. I am very sad and the HOF should be ashamed. Damn.

Joshua

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

Thank you for the post.

And anyone who was ever on the selection committees who didn't support his elections... those folks should stay inside and hide their faces in shame, for a few days. 'tis a shame he was not inducted while living.

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Posted By: warshawlaw

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Posted By: john/z28jd

We could argue from now till eternity about whether the Hall of Fame made a mistake in inducting certain people or not but i think we can all agree that not putting Buck in before he passed away was their biggest mistake.Baseball lost one of its greatest men ever tonight

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Posted By: joe brennan

Shoulda been elected to the HOF while he was alive. Lived a great life and was a true ambassador of the game. He will be missed.

People said it was a million dollar wound. But the government must keep that money, cause I ain't never seen a penny of it.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

All of the Hall of Fame stuff aside I think Buck O'Neil would say that he lived a grand life. He didn't need the Hall of Fame to validate his worth to baseball. O'Neil was a hall of famer in the game of life.

RIP Buck.

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Posted By: jay behrens

Towards the end of my first incarnation in the hobby I always enjoyed the shows where He and Leon Day were signing. They were both great to talk to. I just wish my son had been old enough to remember meeting them. He was only a toddler at the time and those two always wanted to hold him and play with him. He will be missed.

Jay

I love pinatas. You get to beat the crap of something and get rewarded with candy.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

I think what Dan said is correct. Buck lived a great life and his worth was simply not measured by the head-scratching snub he received from the HOF. Now's the time to celebrate his life and not to discuss his rejection by the HOF. Thanks, Jay, for that anecdote.

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Posted By: Steve Dawson

Buck heard and saw the public's reaction to the HOF snub, and he undoubtedly knew he was in the fans' Hall of Fame, which to me is much more important than whether or not some writer thought he belonged.


Steve


edited to correct bad grammar

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Posted By: ramram

They were even trying to figure a way to push him through into the Royals Hall of Fame here in KC after the National snub but, alas, it was too late. He's held many official and unofficial roles with the Royals for many years. Outside of George Brett, I can't imagine a more noteworthy human to represent our meager Hall.

Rob M.

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Posted By: dennis

a sad day indeed. i knew nothing of him until the ken burns baseball pbs series. a true pioneer in baseball history who was more than willing to share his memories with all.

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Posted By: Ricky Y

Sad to hear the news. What a great ambassador he was to the game. He's in the Hall of Heaven now.

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

I saw Buck in Cooperstown this Summer. He appeared healthy, and gave a really good
speech at the Induction ceremonies. It's really sad, however, that his speech was not
for his own entry into the HOF.

We were all disappointed that he was not inducted.........but now, I for one, am more
than disappointed, I'm furious with the members of the Committee that slighted Buck.
They had to know that he was in poor health and would not live much longer.

This is a real SHAME on the HALL OF FAME, that they did not give this man this honor
while he was still alive.

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Posted By: Jon Canfield

"Shed no tears for Buck. I couldn't attend Sarasota High School. That hurt. I couldn't attend the University of Florida. That hurt. But not going into the Hall of Fame, that ain't going to hurt me that much, no. Before, I wouldn't even have a chance. But this time I had that chance. Just keep loving old Buck."

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Posted By: MVSNYC

ESPN reported that he fell just 1 vote short last month...one stinking vote...he should be in there! i can think of many players that he could easily replace...

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Posted By: Rhys

When I was 18 years old and getting ready to go to the Philippines for 2 years on an LDS mission, I set up at the old Boston Peabody card shows to try and raise some money for my endeaver. Buck O'Niell was signing autographs that day in 1995 and took an interrest in how young I was as a dealer with such old material. He spent at least 20 minutes talking to me about everything from Rube Foster, to Jackie Robinson to Ken Griffey Jr. It was the first time a professional athlete or celebrity had taken their time out to be a true gentleman and a nice guy that I had experienced in my life. I will take always remember that conversation and it explains why the Hall of Fame should be more about achievement than stats as very few baseball men have achieved as much as Buck did in the course of their life.

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Posted By: Patrick McMenemy

I also had the pleasure of talking to Buck O'Neil at one of the Peabody Shows, perhaps the same one. He was walking up and down the isles laughing and chatting with everyone.

We have lost a true gentleman of the game!

Patrick

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Posted By: steve f

Wish those two accusing dweebs with the doctored Wagner could see this tribute. They couldn't find a more color-blind group.

Mr. O'Neil, Thankyou for classin' up the sport.

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Posted By: Joe Drouillard

My wife and I were very impressed with Buck's speech at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony this year. He had everyone in the audience holding hands and singing the refrain "The greatest thing, I've ever done is lovin you." Sounds a bit hokey, but if you were there you would've seen a lot of folks wipeing a tear from their eye when he finished.

Sort of sums up his entire life. He's probably in a greater hall-of-fame than any of can imagine.

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Posted By: leon

I was just watching "This Week with George Stephanopolis" and one of the Memoriam's was Buck Oneil. It had him saying a few words and gave a very brief bio. That was nice....

edited for spelling

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Posted By: Chad

I can't thing of anything else to say. He should have been in the majors and he should have been the first black manager and a lot of other things he should have been able to do but he preservered and was a great man anyway. While it's sad the Hall opened its doors for Effa Manley and Alex Pompez instead of Buck, it must have been a great thrill that Andy Cooper, Willard Brown and Wilkinson and the others were elected and it must have been gratifying to know it never would have happened without him. The Negro Leagues are perhaps more a part of the American consciousness now than when they actually existed and white boys like me owe Buck a great debt of gratitude for helping to educate us. Thanks, Buck, we'll miss you.

--Chad

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Posted By: Bruce Babcock

Keith Olberman concluded his broadcast last night with a very nice piece on Buck. He was a class act, to say the least. Thanks to Ken Burns we can visit with Buck as often as we like.

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Posted By: dennis

i love when Buck talked about hearing the crack of the bat and running out to see who was hitting the ball and then years later he heard it again....great stuff