Buck O'Neil, an All-Star first baseman and manager with the Kansas City Monarchs, died Friday in Kansas City, Mo. His name isn't familiar?
O'Neil, in his 16-year career, twice led the Negro American League in batting and eventually became the first black coach in major league baseball.
From the latimes.com story by Lonnie White:
O'Neil helped create the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo. — he considered it the crowning achievement of his life — and always made time to talk about his life in baseball and the legacy of many of those who played in an era when baseball was racially segregated.
"I think we are the cause of the changes. Some of the changes that have been made were because of us," O'Neil said in Burns' documentary. "We did our duty. We did the groundwork for the Jackie Robinsons, the Willie Mayses, and the guys that are playing now. So why feel sorry for me? We did our part in our generation, and we turned it over to another generation, and it's still changing — which is the way it should be."
photo from the Buck O'Neil collection, appears on latimes.com
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