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O'Neil's Call To Cooperstown Completes Legacy

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Buck O'Neil was quite a man. Manager, player, executive, scout, O'Neil did it all in professional baseball. Back in 1962, the former Negro Leagues all-star became the first African-American MLB coach with the Chicago Cubs. Next up for his legendary career is induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York this coming July.

The connection between O'Neil and Cooperstown has Sarasota roots. Born in Carrabelle (FL), O'Neil's family migrated to Sarasota in 1920, when Buck was nine-years-old. It was while in Sarasota County that Buck's love for the game grew, and where he set off to begin his legendary career.

During Hall of Fame Induction Weekend (July 22-25), O'Neil once again will be sharing baseball's spotlight with the greats of the game. O'Neil, who was elected this past December to the Hall by the Early Baseball Era Committee (selected on 13 of 16 ballots 81.3% of the vote), will be joined by David Ortiz, Jim Kaat, Gil Hodges, Minnie Minoso, Tony Oliva, and Bud Fowler as the Class of 2022.

For those locally who will be making the trip to Cooperstown this summer in support of O'Neil, and have never visited the "Home of Baseball" in the tiny village located in New York's Otsego County, you're in for a treat.

When entering the Hall of Fame and Museum at 25 Main Street, you'll be greeted by a bronze statue of O'Neil, which was dedicated in 2008. The three floors of baseball history on display, along with the adjourning National Baseball Library, will take up several hours of your planned visit. O'Neil, in December 2006 was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush, the United States highest civilian honor.

O'Neil's career spanned eight decades. He is best remembered as a first baseman and later manager of the famed Kansas City Monarchs, the longest-running franchise in the history of baseball's Negro Leagues. Few who have contributed to baseball are as universally respected as O'Neil.

In 2008 the Hall of Fame established the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is presented by the Hall's board of directors not more than every three years to honor an individual whose extraordinary efforts enhanced baseball's positive impact on society, broadened the game's appeal, and whose character, integrity, and dignity are comparable to the qualities exhibited by O'Neil.

Located just off of I-75 (exit 205) is the Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex at Twin Lakes Park on Clark Road. Along with Ed Smith Stadium, the complex is part of the Baltimore Orioles Florida year-round home.

O'Neil passed on October 6, 2006, at age 94.

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