Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Hall of Famers push drive for Buck O’Neil Center
From The Kansas City Kansan
They came from coast-to-coast and border-to-border to give a helping hand to one of Kansas City’s legends this week.
Baseball Hall of Famers Robin Roberts, Ozzie Smith, Joe Morgan and Lou Brock showed up. Ex-Brooklyn Dodger great Don Newcombe and Willie Wilson flew in from the East Coast, Amos Otis came from his home in Las Vegas, former Arkansas basketball coach Nolan Richardson made the trip from Dallas.
Boxer Riddick Bowe was hand and country and western singer Charley Pride even showed up - all to take part in a reception at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum prior to the 2006 Buck O’Neil Golf Classic at Shoal Creek Tuesday.
Unfortunately, Buck couldn’t make it. At 94 years of age, the years are catching up with Buck and he’s run into some health problems of late.
This year’s event was made a little more special because Buck was not voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by a special committee judging the merits of more than 30 former Negro League players, managers and administrators.
That exclusion has made for a more determined effort than ever that Buck’s name be forever enshrined for his efforts on behalf of the many Negro League players who were denied the opportunity to play in the major leagues by establishing the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center.
Read the article
The Kansas City Kansan
They came from coast-to-coast and border-to-border to give a helping hand to one of Kansas City’s legends this week.
Baseball Hall of Famers Robin Roberts, Ozzie Smith, Joe Morgan and Lou Brock showed up. Ex-Brooklyn Dodger great Don Newcombe and Willie Wilson flew in from the East Coast, Amos Otis came from his home in Las Vegas, former Arkansas basketball coach Nolan Richardson made the trip from Dallas.
Boxer Riddick Bowe was hand and country and western singer Charley Pride even showed up - all to take part in a reception at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum prior to the 2006 Buck O’Neil Golf Classic at Shoal Creek Tuesday.
Unfortunately, Buck couldn’t make it. At 94 years of age, the years are catching up with Buck and he’s run into some health problems of late.
This year’s event was made a little more special because Buck was not voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by a special committee judging the merits of more than 30 former Negro League players, managers and administrators.
That exclusion has made for a more determined effort than ever that Buck’s name be forever enshrined for his efforts on behalf of the many Negro League players who were denied the opportunity to play in the major leagues by establishing the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center.
Read the article
The Kansas City Kansan
# posted by Dave Sichak @ 9:04 PM 
