On the day a very good, but not exceptional player was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame for the 2nd straight year, I wanted to start a monthly series of articles about players that were lost in the shuffle, but were worthy of inclusion in that most elite of clubs.
Over the coming year I may also include a few people that are still on the ballot, but have not been elected yet.
Lets start with what may be the most heinous exclusion ever,
John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil.
O'Neil won the Negro League batting title twice. He hit .292 for his Negro league career from 1937 through 1951. Negro league stats are not very reliable from 1952 - 1955, but O'Neil did continue to play as a reserve for those 4 season. Beginning in 1948, Buck was a player manager for 8 seasons over his19 year career (15 seasons in the Negro Leagues) that was interrupted by three years of military service starting late in 1943.
After his playing career was over, O'Neil became a scout for the Chicago Cubs and then the 1st African American coach in Major league Baseball in 1962.
As a player O'Neil was a borderline HOF player, much like Andre Dawson and Jim Rice. Great for a few seasons and average for a long time. But Buck did so much more than Dawson or Rice. He managed the teams he played on for 8 seasons. After moving to the scouting side of the game in 1956 he was considered one of the best scouts in baseball. And he broke a color barrier of his own in 1962.
It is the sum of his contribution that should see Buck inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Except the Hall made some incredibly stupid rule that Negro League players can no longer be considered for inclusion.
Its a travesty that this man is not enshrined in the HOF.
He is truly a player worth remembering.
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