Royals Seek Nomination For Military Veteran Tribute
Veteran to Fill Buck O’Neil Legacy Seat for Armed Forces Day Festivities

KANSAS CITY, MO (August 14, 2012) – The Kansas City Royals are inviting fans to nominate veterans for the honor of sitting in the club’s Buck O’Neil Legacy Seat during the annual Armed Forces Day celebration presented by Budweiser and the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial.  The military-themed tribute is set for Saturday, September 15 prior to the Los Angeles Angels-Royals game at 6:10 p.m.

Since 2007, the club has paid tribute to the lasting impact O’Neil had on the game of baseball and the Kansas City area by filling “Buck’s seat” with a member of the community who embodies his vibrant spirit.  In conjunction with the Armed Forces Day celebration, the Royals are calling on fans to submit nominations for deserving veterans by visiting www.royals.com/buckseat.  A panel from the National World War I Museum will then select one lucky veteran as the honoree for Armed Forces Day.

The honoree, along with four guests, will enjoy the game from “Buck’s seat” behind home plate of Kauffman Stadium.  In addition, the veteran will be recognized during the Royals pregame ceremony and FOX Sports Kansas City telecast that evening.

The Royals invite fans throughout the Midwest to participate in the nomination process.  Nominations should include a description in 100 words or less of why the nominee should be honored as well as relevant contact information.  All nominations are due by Friday, August 31 at noon CDT.  The winner will be selected the following week.

Nomination forms are available online at www.royals.com/buckseat.  Completed nominations may be submitted online or mailed to: Kansas City Royals, Attn: Buck O’Neil Legacy Seat, One Royal Way, Kansas City, MO 64129.  For more information, fans may call (816) 921-8000.

In addition to saluting a worthy veteran in the Buck O’Neil Legacy Seat, Armed Forces Day will also include a special pregame ceremony, first pitch and more to honor our service men and women.  The first 20,000 fans will receive a camouflage KC cap courtesy of Sport Clips.  For event details, visit www.royals.com/armedforcesday. 

The history of African Americans in baseball may not be represented better anywhere in the world than it is in Kansas City with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. From Buck O’Neil to Josh Gibson, you can learn about a plethora of black baseball players that excelled before they were allowed to compete in the ‘Major Leagues’. However, I’m not sure we in Kansas City fully recognize how incredible the history of the black player in MLB has shaped Kansas City. Sure, we all idolize Frank White, and we remember Willie Wilson with affection, but hopefully this article will help some realize just how important the black player was to the golden age of the Kansas City Royals.

It is easy to forget, mostly because of how rare black players have become in Kansas City, and all of MLB. While the World Champion Royals featured a lineup that was 55% black, in 2011 the Royals played just 3 black players, and none of them for more than ¼ of the season. The decline of the presence of black players is not the focus of this article, however. No, to honor Black History Month I thought it would be appropriate to honor the best black players in Royals history. Some positions were easier (outfield) than others (catcher, pitcher) but that is probably more of a statement of our society than the players themselves. Without further ado, I present the Royals All-Time Greatest Black Players at each position:

Outfield

Amos Otis (42.3 WAR)- A.O. played 14 seasons for the club and to this day ranks second All-Time in WAR, runs, total bases, walks, stolen bases, and runs created. More surprising is that he’s third All-Time in home runs and RBI. He led the league with 52 SB in 1971 and twice led the league in doubles. Otis went 11/23 in the 1980 W World Series with 3 Home Runs and 7 RBIs.

Willie Wilson (35.7 WAR)- Wilson may possibly be the most underrated Royal of All-Time. Wilson, in 1980, had one of the greatest seasons of any Royal not named George Brett, leading the league in runs, hits and triples while stealing 81 bases and batting .326. That does not even cover Wilson’s incredible defensive skill. Per Baseball Reference, Wilson has the best Range Factor/9 innings in Major League history for a left fielder, the position he played most until 1983. Wilson ranks second all-time in Royals history for Defensive WAR and triples as well as holding the career and single season club records for stolen bases.

Jermaine Dye (10.3 WAR)- I really wanted to select Bo Jackson or Danny Tartabull for this final spot…until I realized that Tartabull was Puerto Rican and Jackson was a far inferior player to Dye. While he played 4½ seasons with the club, it was 1999-2000 that really separated Dye from the pack. In those two seasons, the right fielder hit 60 home runs and drove in 237 runs with an OPS+ of 127. He led the league in assists in 1999 and when the league stopped running on him in 2000, he won a gold glove. Bo may have been flashier, but Dye was the superior player.

Third Base

Terry Pendleton (-0.8 WAR)- Pendleton was a good, if not great major league player for 15 years. For the Royals he was a less than miserable below replacement level 3B/DH. But when George Brett, Kevin Seitzer and Joe Randa have taken up almost 50% of your franchise’s years at 3B, the choices aren’t too plentiful. As a tease for later in the article, there was one position that was much tougher than this one.

Shortstop

U.L.Washington (7.3 WAR)- Shortstop has been a dreadful position for the Royals for seemingly the eternity of the franchise. Save the sentimental vote for Freddie Patek, Washington may just be the best SS in the franchise’s history. Never much of a force offensively, Washington did finish third in the AL in triples in 1980. Sadly, he was traded before the Championship in 1985.

Second Base

Frank White (26.9 WAR)- White is the all-time leader in Defensive WAR and places in the top 10 in nearly every offensive category due to the fact that he played 18 seasons with the club. After 5 All Star Games and a 1980 ALCS MVP, his 3.8% in the 1996 Hall of Fame vote was a complete disgrace to the process.

First Base

John Mayberry (20.2 WAR)- In 1975 Mayberry finished second in the MVP voting to Fred Lynn despite besting him in home runs and RBIs. Sure, Lynn beat him in WAR but no one had even heard of that statistic in 1975. Mayberry also led the league in OPS+ in 1975…but no one had heard of that either.

Catcher

Okay, this is your chance to make me look foolish. I can’t find a single black player to ever play catcher for the Royals. So, unless someone proves me wrong, I’ll pick TJ Young, a catcher for the Kansas City Monarchs.

Pitcher

Tom “Flash” Gordon (15.8 WAR)- Gordon played on a lot of terrible teams, but went 17-9 with a 3.64 ERA in 1989, striking out 153 in 163 innings.

Player/Manager

Hal McRae (26.1 WAR) – McRae was an outstanding DH for the Royals and one of the greatest hitters in the organization’s history. What I’m not sure he gets enough credit for is his career as a manager. In 4 years with the Royals, McRae was 9 games over .500. Since that point no manager has come anywhere close to that mark.

So there you have it, an all-time black Kansas City Royals lineup. What struck me about this lineup is how great it is. Considering the 2012 Royals will have one starter that is black, and maybe a couple of role players, it is fairly astounding to look at this group. Sure, George Brett is the greatest Royal ever…but would the white team stack up to this one? No way would the Hispanic team. I guess it’s fitting that the home of the NLBM is also a glaring example of how strong the black presence used to be in baseball, and just how weak it is now.

Last week, the Kansas City Royals announced their schedule of promotions and giveaways for 2012. Items like a George Brett Mini Pine Tar Bat, a Royals All-Star Garden Gnome and a Buck O’Neil bobblehead are fantastic giveaways. What Royals fan doesn’t want a Royals Garden Gnome?

However, I can’t help but think the Royals are missing out on some great promotions for their long-suffering fans. The 2012 Royals promotions are set, but here are some promotions I believe would get “butts in the seats” at Kauffman Stadium in future years:

Eric Hosmer Amish Warrior Bobblehead Night: The first 20,000 fans get a bobblehead of the Royals first baseman in Amish livery and carrying a baseball bat. Fans who wear Amish clothing to the game have a chance to meet Eric Hosmer. One lucky female fan gets a candlelit Amish style dinner with Hosmer (the winner will have to help cook the dinner). One lucky male fan will get to hang out with Hosmer during an Amish barn raising (old-fashioned carpentry skills a plus).

Don Denkinger Bobblehead Night (vs. The St. Louis Cardinals): The first 10,000 Cardinals fans get a Cardinals version Don Denkinger bobblehead. When you press a button, Denkinger’s arms fly out and says, “Safe!” and “Get over ’85. You’ve won two World Series since then!” The Cardinals Denkinger bobblehead wears glasses.

The first 10,000 Royals Fans get a Royals version Don Denkinger bobblehead. When you press a button, Denkinger’s arms fly out and says, “Safe!” and “Todd Worrell’s foot was off the bag! Duh!” The Royals Denkinger bobblehead does not wear glasses.

Yuniesky Betancourt Voodoo Doll Night: The first 20,000 fans get a Yuinesky Betancourt Voodoo doll of their favorite Kansas City Royal. Voodoo pins will not be provided since fans would likely use them to stab the real Yuni Betancourt.

Marry A Kardashian Night: The first 10,000 adult male fans get to marry the Kardashian of their choice for 72 seconds, with a marriage license and divorce papers as proof of matrimony and divorce. The first 10,000 adult female fans get the booklet, “The Kardashian Way To Get And Keep A Man For 72 Days.” The Royals Player of the Game gets to marry the Kardashian of their choice for 72 minutes. God have mercy on their soul.

Salute To The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (vs. The San Francisco Giants): Come celebrate with the Royals as they pay tribute to the AAGPBL and their place in baseball history. Players from both teams will don the uniforms of Kalamazoo Lassies and the Grand Rapids Chicks. It’s a night of fun and Major League baseball players wearing skirts you don’t want to miss.

Downton Abbey Night At The K (vs. the Tampa Bay Rays): The hit PBS series Downton Abbey visits the K for a night of Edwardian excitement. The first 15,000 fans get a Lady Edith Crawley bobblehead. Robert, Earl of Grantham (played by Hugh Bonneville) will throw out the first pitch. Players on both teams will wear 1912 era baseball uniforms during the game. Between innings, Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham (played by Dame Maggie Smith), will deliver witty one-liners about the Royals and the Rays on the CrownVision. Fans who dress up as their favorite Downton Abbey characters have the chance to win Royals and Downton Abbey prizes. And during the 7th inning stretch, Carson the Butler (played by Jim Carter) will “sing” Take Me Out To The Ballgame. It’s a night of baseball and Downton Abbey at the K!

Bob Davis Drinking Game Mug: The first 20,000 fans get a 20 ounce Royals/Bob Davis mug to fill with the beverage of their choice. Whenever Royals announcer Bob Davis gets excited about a routine play like a ground ball or a called second strike, you take a drink. (The Kansas City Royals remind you to drink responsibly. Only play the Bob Davis drinking game for one inning per game for the sake of your health.)

Billy Butler Country Breakfast Night At The K: The first 20,000 fans get a limited edition copy of Billy Butler‘s book, “Are You Going To Eat That? Country Breakfast With Billy Butler.” The book has recipes of Billy Butler’s favorite breakfast time meals and gets the ringing endorsement of husky Royals players Jonathan Broxton and Jose Mijares.

Dollar Moose Tacos Night At The K: In honor of Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas, the Royals will feature one dollar moose tacos. Royals players Jeff Francour, Jonathan Broxton and Manager Ned Yost harvested the moose for the tacos so fans can enjoy one of Mike Moustakas‘ favorite delicacies.

Ladies’ Royals Powder Blue Tube Top: The first 10,000 female fans can support their favorite team (among other things) with a Royals powder blue tube top. Get your 70′s on and be the hit of People of Wal-Mart.com with this stylish and tasteful stretch Royals powder blue tube top (in the interest of equality, male cross-dressing fans may also get a tube top by request).

Pretty good ideas, if I say so myself. If anyone in the Royals promotions department reads this and likes what they see, let’s get together and we’ll do lunch. I’ll be waiting.

ROYALS CHARITIES DONATES $10,000 TO NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL MUSEUM’S
$100-FOR-100 CAMPAIGN
Royals Charities Grants Total More Than $100,000 to Area Organizations in Fall Grant Cycle

KANSAS CITY, MO (November 10, 2011) — Royals Charities, the charitable arm of the Kansas City Royals, is pleased to announce a donation of $10,000 to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in support of the $100-for-100 campaign as part of the Buck O’Neil Centennial Celebration. The NLBM launched the $100-for-100 campaign, which encourages fans to make a donation of $100, with the goal of raising $100,000 for the NLBM and the future Buck O’Neil Education & Research Center.

The late Buck O’Neil, a Kansas City and baseball legend, would be celebrating his 100th birthday on November 13. His stellar baseball career, from the Negro Leagues to the Majors, spanned seven decades and covered the full spectrum— player, manager, scout and barrier-breaking coach — to make him one of the leading authorities on the sport. But it was his tireless and passionate work to build the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) – along with a charismatic personality and compassionate spirit – that endeared him, to not only Kansas Citians, but a legion of fans worldwide.

In addition to the $100-for-100 campaign, the Buck O’Neil Centennial Celebration is set to include a number of special events as well as community and educational programming, including the special First Watch Proceeds Day and Buck’s Bash. The Royals encourage our fans to support the following events.

• First Watch Proceeds Day: First Watch restaurants have designated Friday, November 11 as “Buck O’Neil Day” and will again donate profits that day from all 10-area locations in memory of Buck O’Neil and support of the NLBM.
• Buck’s Bash: The Centennial Celebration concludes with the annual birthday bash planned for Saturday, November 12 at the NLBM and Gem Theater. The event, which begins at 6:30 p.m., will feature a cocktail party, tribute and concert.

For support the $100-for-100 campaign or to learn more information on the Centennial Celebration, please visit www.royals.com/buck100 orwww.nlbm.com.

Including the $10,000 donation to the NLBM, Royals Charities granted more than $100,000 to 18 area organizations through its fall grant cycle and has donated more than $600,000 to Kansas City area charities in 2011. In total, Royals Charities has donated over $5.2 million to Kansas City area charities since 2001.

Other agencies receiving grants in the 2011 fall cycle include:

The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation
Angel Flight Central
Assistance League of Kansas City
Child Protection Center
Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired
Connections to Success
DeLaSalle Education Center
Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City
Dream Factory
El Centro
Guadalupe Center (Family Support Center)
Immacolata Manor
Kids with Courage
Northland Early Education Center
Ronald McDonald House
Sheffield Place
Sunflower House

The Negro leagues first came alive for me when I read Buck O’Neil’s autobiography I Was Right On Time. Learning about and researching Negro leagues history has been a hobby of mine ever since. Remembering the greatness of the Negro leaguers in the face of oppression inspires me to stay clear-headed about how easy I have it. If those guys could organize their own successful leagues and play some of the best baseball ever seen despite horrific, institutionalized disadvantages and difficulties, well, then life can be pretty beautiful. The Negro leagues help me remember that. That reminder is preserved and taught best at Kansas City’s own Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

The museum has seemed rudderless at times since Buck’s charismatic leadership was lost with his death in 2006. There was the surprise appointment of Greg Baker, who had nothing to do with the museum previously, as the next president, and Buck’s right-hand man Bob Kendrick left. After Baker’s sudden departure, Kendrick is back and in charge, and there seems to be a renewed energy and optimism about the museum’s future.

We passed the fifth anniversary of Buck’s death on October 6th, and are coming up on the 100th anniversary of his birth on November 13th. The museum has been taking these anniversaries as an opportunity to celebrate Buck’s life and legacy and to ramp up support for the museum at a time when it is especially needed. Here are some of the ways you can help keep the lessons of the Negro leagues alive:

• Consider making a donation of $100 before November 13 as part of the $100 for 100th campaign and get a personalized plaque to be displayed permanently at the museum.

• Visit!

• Become a member with a donation of $25 or more.

• See the Right On Time exhibit, open now at the museum’s gallery space. The free exhibit features pictures, artwork, poetry and more inspired by the life of Buck.

• On Friday, November 11, area First Watch restaurants will donate 100% of their profits to the NLBM. (Click here to find locations.) Royals alumni will make appearances.

• The second annual Buck O’Neil 2.2 Mile Run/Walk will take place at 8:00 A.M. on Saturday, November 12. If you sign up by October 23, the cost is $25, and all proceeds benefit the museum.

• At 8:00 P.M. on November 12th will be a birthday celebration for Buck at the Gem Theater.

• Follow museum president Bob Kendrick on Twitter and like the museum’s Facebook page to stay up-to-date with museum activities.

This is my last post for I70 as a regular contributor, though I may still have an occasional post. Many thanks to Bill for asking me to join, and I wish him and the site the best. I will still be around the internets on Twitter and my own KC baseball blog. Thanks for reading. - Aaron

I am digging probably too deep into Royals history to see who the top three position players by Baseball Reference’s Wins Above Replacement (WAR) have been for every five year period in team history. Not just the nice round chunks like 2000—04 and 2005—09, but every consecutive five year stretch: 1969—73, 1970—74, 1971—75, and so on. I believe I am stealing the idea from Joe Posnanski, who once looked at the best player in all of baseball by rolling five year periods. Here I look at the only team that matters. It is a lot of numbers to wade through, but it yields some interesting results. Assuming you are a Royals fiend.

1969-73

16.2 WAR Amos Otis CF
10.2 WAR John Mayberry 1B
9.6 WAR Paul Schaal 3B

1970-74

20.6 Amos Otis CF
11.7 John Mayberry 1B
9.9 Freddie Patek SS

1971-75

18.7 Amos Otis CF
18.6 John Mayberry 1B
10.7 Freddie Patek SS

Amos Otis does not get enough love in Royals-land. Many current Royals fans did not see him play, plus he does not live in the area and seems to keep a low profile (though he is coming to town soon for the Buck O’Neil golf tournament). He was a special player, perhaps the second best position player in team history. All hail AO.

1972-76

19.7 John Mayberry 1B
16.9 Amos Otis CF
13.7 George Brett 3B

George’s death grip on these lists begins…

1973-77

21.3 George Brett 3B
16.4 Amos Otis CF
15.1 John Mayberry 1B

1974-78

26.6 George Brett 3B
19.8 Amos Otis CF
16.6 Hal McRae DH/LF

1975-79

34.5 George Brett 3B
19.0 Amos Otis CF
15.3 Darrell Porter C

1976-80

39.0 George Brett 3B
18.2 Amos Otis CF
17.3 Darrell Porter C

George’s ’76—’80 is the best five-year stretch in Royals history by WAR. Here are Brett’s seasons in more detail:

When the historic meeting to form the Negro National League took place in Kansas City in February, 1920, seven owners of teams collaborated with sportswriters, legal advisers and other influential community leaders. What they created was the premier league in which blacks would showcase their talents, generate economic opportunity, and eventually earn entrance to the segregated major leagues. At that meeting, every face in the group was black. Except for one.

Of course Negro league player and owner Andrew “Rube” Foster deserves much of the credit for bringing the parties together and rallying support with the power of his personality. Foster touted unity and sacrifice amongst the competing owners and insisted upon excellence both on and off the field. For his role in pre-integration baseball, Foster was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981.

But the one white man in the room that day, J.L. “Wilkie” Wilkinson, probably ranks second in influence for the formation and success of the Negro National League. The lone white owner in the league, Wilkinson was not just accepted into the ring. He commanded such respect from his black peers, in fact, that he was voted secretary of the league at its inception. Wilkinson was accorded such a position because he was known not just as a proponent of great baseball, but of the betterment of life for blacks.

And it was Wilkinson who founded and shepherded the legendary Kansas City Monarchs. Buck O’Neil, Satchel Paige, “Cool Papa” Bell… all the greats associated with the Monarchs owe a debt of gratitude to Wilkinson.

Understandably, most who dreamed of creating a Negro league to rival the “white leagues” of the time desired that 100% of league teams be owned by blacks. To preserve unity, promote prosperity of black business owners, and generate pride in the black community, white owners were not to be considered. But Wilkinson would be the exception.

Wilkinson had earned the respect and trust of whites and blacks from day one. As a young pitcher in Des Moines, IA, he was voted by his peers to manage a team that was left in the lurch by a dishonest manager. His desire for racial harmony led him to form the barnstorming All Nations team in 1912, which featured blacks, whites, Cubans, Native Americans, Mexicans, Asians, and even a female player.

The All Nations organization was more than just baseball, it was entertainment. When they rolled into town, often in their own private railroad car, they brought with them an orchestra and a wrestling team, tents, bleachers and fences. The players did everything from setting up, selling tickets and playing the instruments. This team was not just a novelty however – it produced several stars of the soon-to-be-created Negro National League and was purportedly capable of challenging major league teams of the era.

The All Nations moved in Kansas City in 1915 to access the larger black population and transportation center. World War I caused the All Nations, and many other organizations, to disband, and in 1920 Wilkinson was ready to own a new team when the Negro National League came calling.

Foster tried to pull the league together without Wilkinson, but no leader of suitable clout existed in Kansas City, which was viewed as a critical location for the league. A well-entrenched business leader and baseball man, Wilkinson brought instant credibility to his new team, the Kansas City Monarchs, which he pulled together from members of the defunct All Nations team and an army team from Arizona known as the 25^th Infantry Wreckers.

“Wilkie gets credit for being the outstanding baseball promoter in the country and a believer in winning teams,” wrote Fay Young, a sportswriter for the Chicago Defender.

Although some disliked that the white owner was earning a profit off the work of black teams, his own players didn’t seem to mind. While management of Negro league teams was often cut-throat and chaotic, Wilkinson modeled generosity. He once mortgaged his home to make the payroll of his team and was known for loaning money or advancing the salary of players during the off-season. The civic-minded owner scheduled numerous benefit events for organizations such as the Negro National Business League, the Red Cross, the NAACP, the Salvation Army, and a host of churches, hospitals and youth organizations.

Wilkinson astutely empowered black assistants to assume key leadership roles and to represent the franchise in public. He remained in the background while Dr. Howard Smith, superintendent of a Kansas City hospital, and the team’s secretary, Quincy J. Gilmore, took more visible roles.
The Monarchs quickly became a model franchise and the pride of Kansas City’s black community. Wilkinson did his best to make sure the team was professional and respectable. Eager to portray a gentlemanly image, Wilkinson bought each new player from small towns and rural areas a new suit of clothes.

Wilkinson was one of the best at developing potential players at semi-pro “farm clubs.” He revived his All Nations team to season promising youngsters, and he traveled with the Monarchs on barnstorming trips to watch for unsigned players. He spotted O’Neil while playing exhibition matches against a team called Winfield Welch’s Acme Giants of Shreveport, LA.

Everyone in Kansas City wanted to be a Monarch, and Wilkinson held open tryouts. The Monarchs also encouraged many of the semi-pro and community teams in Kansas City as a means not only to feed players to the Monarchs, but also to build pride amongst the black community and to give opportunity to aspiring ballplayers. Often barnstorming teams were sent out under the name “Monarchs” with several of these aspiring players as an opportunity for them to gain experience and to showcase their abilities. Wilkinson also trusted his players to recommend prospects they had met in their travels. He signed Jackie Robinson on the recommendation of one of his star players, Hilton Smith.

The Monarchs were not just one of the teams in the Negro National League. In many ways, they symbolize the game as it was played by blacks before integration. Because the league was formed in the city, and because the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is now located there, Kansas City proudly bears the memory of Negro League baseball.

Truly the team for which everyone wanted to play, the Monarchs fielded some of the greatest players in the Negro league era. Seven current Hall of Famers elected as Negro leaguers – Bell, Bill Foster, Paige, Bullet Joe Rogan, Smith, Turkey Stearnes and Willie Wells — played for Wilkinson’s Monarchs, as did Robinson and Ernie Banks who were voted in for their play in the integrated major leagues.

Wilkinson never got rich running the Monarchs, and finally sold the team in 1948, at age 74. He had little to show for his 50 years in baseball and died at age 90. But a 1986 Baseball Hall of Fame panel assigned to recognize key contributors to the Negro leagues made Wilkinson one of 17 special inductees. Thus Wilkinson will never be forgotten – the lone white man who helped create the Negro National League and piloted its most successful team, the Kansas City Monarchs.

Much of the information for this article was taken from Janet Bruce’s 1985 book The Kansas City Monarchs: Champions of Black Baseball. I would strongly recommend this book to any KC sports fan.

“This is outstanding” were the first words of Buck O’Neil on July 29, 2006 during his address at the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony for 17 other Negro League players and officials. It was truly an honor for him to be able to give the speech and represent his brothers and sisters being inducted on that day. We all know it should have been 18 people receiving that recognition, and while the 18th was still alive, to have that moment. Buck didn’t need the moment though, he had already accepted a lot of “shoulda-been’s” and “coulda-been’s” and it never stopped him from living. Not many of us can even imagine what that time was like for them in those days of civil unrest. Buck would occasionally talk about others players emotional pain but never his own. I am sure he had some, but he chose to look at the bright side and on a bad day, as it is during the baseball season, there is always tomorrow.

I have had on my shelf, a book I picked up at a rummage sale titled “THE Official ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BASEBALL, 1963 Edition” by Hy Turkin and S. C. Thompson. It’s a shame that I even had to wonder if the Negro League was even mentioned but I opened it up and hunted. Out of the 625 page book, I found one page that mentioned the Negro Leagues and some of it’s players, one page! Sure we are still learning to overcome that horrible time in our history, but it is amazing how that in 1963, 16 years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier we still didn’t get it. As a timeline reference, one year before this book was published, Buck O’Neil was named the first black in the major leagues to coach, for the Chicago Cubs. In the chapter on history, they do reference the Cubs in 1962 losing 100 games for the first time in their history, but do not mention the history they made by hiring Buck.

He had a way about him, that would allow people to forget about their troubles and make the person he was speaking with, the center of his attention. I saw him on several occasions at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and at Kauffman Stadium mingling with people and he was always smiling. My most memorable encounter with him was at a Royals game where he taught me a humbling lesson. One that I will never forget and one that I remember like it was just yesterday.

It happened at the ballpark in Kansas City and as he did until the last years of his life, Buck would sit in an isle seat just a few rows directly behind home plate at Kauffman Stadium. Always a beacon of smiles and happiness, he drew fans of all ages to him. A stadium usher would watch the isle above him and while play was under way, and only let people with seats in that section go down . Then in between innings they would let fans down the isle one at a time to speak to him or to get an autograph. Finally the 3rd out and she nodded her head at me. It was time for me to follow the steps down with my KC Monarchs cap in hand like I was a child taking my first hand written Christmas list to see Santa Claus. I lowered myself beside him and without a word as I must have assumed that speech was not necessary, silently I handed my cap to him. Buck looked up at me with a stern voice and said “Now you ASK me for that autograph young man”. Stern at the beginning and for a brief moment I was frightened. But in the same moment, something magical happened because before he finished that same sentence, and in a way that only Buck can do, he was smiling ear to ear.

I then nervously asked him “may I please have your autograph sir?” And still smiling he said “You sure can!” He signed his name and that Monarchs cap it is still a treasure of mine along with that memory. That evening I received the autograph souvenir and was taught a lesson on how to first give respect, then earn it for yourself. I was taught that in a manner that not many people are able to teach. This was a decent man, full of life and full of love for baseball and people most of all. But I imagine baseball fans held a special place in his heart like he holds in mine.

In the induction ceremony speech in 2006 he said, “I can’t hate a human being because my God never made anything ugly, but you can be ugly if you wanna boy, but God didn’t make you that way.” Then he asked the people there to hold hands and had them sing after him, “The greatest thing in all of my life, is loving you.” and closed with “Now I could talk another 10 minutes, but I’ve got to go to the bathroom” and like he always did he walked away with everyone smiling. God certainly did good work with Buck O’Neil.

Buck O’Neil played an instrumental role in getting others into the Baseball Hall of Fame and then what seemed like an insult to us, could not gather 9 out of the 12 votes required for his own induction. He was honored to simply have been asked to give the speech for his friends on their induction day at Cooperstown. How many of us could find that kind of grace and pride? While it did not affect him visibly, I would imagine he was pretty good about choosing the important things to worry about like if that pretty young lady over there had gotten her hug and smile yet.

We could all learn many lessons from Buck O’Neil. Like how to live a happy life, full of smiles, and perhaps, the most important lesson, is that life is… Outstanding!

“…1942 was my favorite year…the best team I ever played with. Someone once asked Newt Joseph who he would take with him if he could play in the majors, and Newt replied, ‘The whole Monarchs team.’ That’s the way I felt about the ’42 Monarchs. I do believe we could have given the New York Yankees a run for their money that year.” –Buck O’Neil, I Was Right On Time

The 1942 incarnation of the Kansas City Monarchs may have been the greatest Monarchs team of them all, and should be in the discussion for not just the best Negro Leagues teams but best teams in all of baseball. World War I was raging and beginning to rob the majors of players, but the Monarchs roster managed to stay largely untouched until 1943. The ’42 pitching staff was historically great, featuring Hall of Famers Satchel Paige and Hilton Smith, plus Booker McDaniels, Connie Johnson, Lefty LaMarque and Jack Matchett. Behind the plate was Joe Greene, probably the second best catcher in the Negro Leagues at the time after Josh Gibson. Infielders included Newt Allen, Herb Souell, Jesse Williams, Bonny Serrell and Buck O’Neil. In the outfield roamed Willie Simms and power hitters Ted Strong and Willard Brown. Managing the squad was backup catcher Frank Duncan, a Kansas City native and Monarchs mainstay. The Monarchs had won the previous three Negro American League pennants, but only got better in 1942.

Pitchers Smith, Matchett, McDaniels, LaMarque, Johnson & Paige

Preseason

The team convened for the 1942 campaign in Monroe, Louisiana in late March, and bounced around the south for all of April, playing exhibitions in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee. They met the mighty Homestead Grays for the first time in ’42 in a New Orleans doubleheader on April 26 that the teams split.

Regular Season

The season opened with a twin bill in Chicago’s Comiskey Park on May 10 versus the Chicago American Giants. Hilton Smith manned the mound for all nine innings of the first game for KC, while Chicago’s starter, Sug Cornelius, was chased in the second inning as the Monarchs rang up five runs. Smith allowed five hits and four runs—none of which were earned—and also went 3-for-5 at the plate as the Monarchs opened the year with a 7-4 victory. Satchel Paige got the call to start the seven-inning second game, and combined with Connie Johnson for a shutout victory.

The home opener came a week later with the Memphis Red Sox. From the Kansas City Call: “Under the auspices of the Monarch Boosters’ club, a mammoth inside the park parade started things off with a bang…Three bands, a drill team, and a mixed company of soldiers completed the units of the parade. Following the flag raising the game was on.” 10,000 Monarchs fans came out to Ruppert (later Municipal) Stadium, which was the largest crowd for a home opener in the league. Jack Matchett tossed a shutout in addition to his two hits. Paige again started the back end of the doubleheader, but Memphis ace Verdell Mathis got the better of him in a 4-1 victory for the Red Sox. The Kansas City Call ran a photo spread showing the integrated stands at the game with a caption calling out the white Kansas City Blues team for segregating the stands at their games at the same stadium.

Satchel Paige & Dizzy Dean

The next big game was an interracial exhibition at Chicago’s Wrigley Park against the “Dizzy Dean All-Stars” on May 24. According to historian Timothy M. Gay’s book Satch, Dizzy & Rapid Robert, “Most of Diz’s squad was made up of minor leaguers and major-league castoffs…The one genuine all-star was Cecil Travis.” A remarkable 30,000 souls turned out to watch. Dean had nothing left in his arm after throwing an obscene amount of innings between 1932-36. His name still drew fans though, and he sat down the first three Monarchs to start the game (perhaps with a bit of help from the hitters). Dizzy was done for the day. Satchel tossed six strong innings, followed by three equally strong frames from Hilton Smith. The Monarchs plated two in the eighth and enjoyed a 3-1 victory.

Kansas City continued steamrolling all comers. On June 9, Satchel and Booker McDaniels combined to no-hit a local squad in Dayton, Ohio, striking out a combined 16 and walking two. On June 18, the Monarchs faced the mighty Homestead Grays for the first time in the regular season. The game took place in Washington D.C.’s Griffith Stadium, home to the MLB Senators. The Monarchs dropped a heart-breaker, 1-2. The squads met again in Pittsburgh on July 21, and again lost by a single run, this time in the 11th inning.

In late July, MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Landis disingenuously stated there was nothing keeping major league teams from signing blacks, and it was up to the individual owners. It sent a charge through the world of black baseball that integration could be near. The Call ran a story with the headline “Great Possibilities Herald the Dawn Of New Baseball Era.” Behind the scenes, Landis continued to ensure integration would not happen in his lifetime.

August 13 brought another one-run loss to the Grays in D.C., though KC beat all nine of the other teams they faced on the eastern road trip. On August 16 was the East-West all-star game in Chicago’s Comiskey Park. Ted Strong, Willard Brown, Joe Greene, Buck O’Neil, Hilton Smith and Satchel Paige all represented the Monarchs on the West squad in a losing effort. The regular season came to a close at the end of August, and the Monarchs had waltzed to a fourth straight American League pennant with a winning percentage north of .700. Most years, this would have been the end of it, but the rival American and National Leagues had reached an agreement to stage a Negro World Series–the first one held since 1927. The Monarchs would face their nemesis from the NL, the Homestead Grays.

World Series

Game One: September 8, Washington D.C., Griffith Stadium

Buck wrote in his autobiography: “For a fan of black baseball, a Monarchs-Grays World Series was a dream come true, although we were definitely the underdogs. The Grays, who had not only Josh Gibson but Buck Leonard, Sam Bankhead, and Vic Harris, had beaten us all four times we played them that season, although they were all close games. Satchel had lost three one-run games to them, so he was hopping mad. And our young guys, Jesse Williams, Bonnie Serrell, and Herb Souell, didn’t know enough to be scared.” Satchel and Jack Matchett kept the Grays in check, and the Monarchs broke through late in the game to pull off an 8-0 victory.

Game Two: September 10, Pittsburgh, Forbes Field

This was the game in which Satchel intentionally loaded the bases to pitch to–and strike out–Josh Gibson. Hilton and Satchel both pitched, but the Monarchs needed a late-game comeback to escape with an 8-4 win.

Game Three: September 13, New York, Yankees Stadium

Satchel pitched yet again, and, combined with Matchett and slugging KC batters, the Monarchs found themselves one win away from a World Series title. Ted Strong and Willard Brown hit back-to-back homers to the short right field fence of Yankees Stadium.

Game Four: September 20, Kansas City, Ruppert Stadium

The Monarchs had the chance to win the crown in front of their home fans, but the Grays were not fighting fair in game four. Apparently not the most graceful losers, the Grays brought in ringers from the Newark Eagles, most notably starting pitcher Leon Day. Day pitched a “heckuva” game according to Buck, and beat Satchel 4-1. However, the Monarchs protested to the league, and the game was nullified. The Monarchs were still up 3-0 in the series, but the KC fans had been cheated in the only game that took place in KC.

Game Five: September 29, Philadelphia, Shibe Park

Game five was to be played on the 27th at Wrigley, but was canceled due to cold and rain, so it took place in cold Philadelphia instead.

Again quoting Buck: “Satchel was scheduled to start, but at game time he was nowhere to be found. We were trailing 5-2 in the fourth when Satchel finally showed up. Seems he had gotten one of his many speeding tickets…on his way to Philly. Nothing could stop us, not cops, not judges, not the weather, not Josh Gibson…Satchel shut down the Grays the rest of the way, while we rallied for seven runs, thanks in part to an inside-the-park homer and a triple by yours truly, who had three hits in all. What a thrill!”

Satchel had pitched in all five games. (His numbers from the four games that counted: 16.1 innings, eight hits, five runs, 18 strike outs and three walks.) The ’42 Monarchs were champions of black baseball, and had cemented their spot among the most legendary teams of all time.