Buck O’Neil is just nine votes away from being enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. O’Neil, and 39 others who played in the Negro Leagues or before, will be considered for induction by a 12-member panel, which will vote in February. Any candidate who receives nine or more votes will be inducted.
O’Neil’s resume is long and current. He serves as the chairman of the Negro League’s Baseball Museum in Kansas City. He was also the first baseman, and later manager, of the Kansas City Monarchs. O’Neil, 94, was also a scout for the Cubs, signing Ernie Banks and Lou Brock to their first pro contracts. In 1962 he joined the Cubs’ coaching staff, becoming the first African-American coach in the major leagues.