[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 24 (Wednesday, March 1, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H477-H478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING BUCK O'NEIL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to first yield 1 minute to my 
colleague from Kansas (Mr. Moore).
  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed this week that 
Buck O'Neil of Kansas City was not inducted into the Hall of Fame of 
baseball.
  Buck O'Neil was in the Negro Baseball League as a player and a 
manager for more than 17 years. Buck taught the people of the Kansas 
City metropolitan region about the importance of determination and 
resolve, sometimes in the face of hostility. Buck taught us about 
baseball; but more importantly, Buck taught us about life.
  He is a wonderful role model, and I thank him for his contributions 
to baseball, to the Kansas City metropolitan region, and to the United 
States of America.
  Buck O'Neil, you are a great American and a gentle man. You will 
always be a charter member of the Kansas City Hall of Fame.
  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, this week Kansas City and our entire 
metropolitan area celebrated our hometown hero, Buck O'Neil, a Hall of 
Famer in our hearts. It is clear that the baseball Hall of Fame has 
made a terrible, shameful error in not inducting Buck on this ballot. 
As one of the Hall's own officials said, ``The Hall of Fame is not 
complete without Buck O'Neil.''
  Buck is the reason 17 members of the Negro Leagues will be inducted 
this summer. Without his national visibility as an ambassador of the 
Negro Leagues, they would not have this honor. Without his efforts, 
very few would know the intimate details of segregated baseball in the 
United States during the 1930s, 1940s, and even into the 1950s.
  Buck, the classy man that he is, will never complain about not being 
elected to the Hall. In fact, when told by reporters that he had not 
made it, he smiled and said, ``That's the way the cookie crumbles.'' 
And so, on behalf of a community in tears, and a 94-year-old baseball 
legend, I will stand and complain.
  The omission of Buck O'Neil was wrongheaded and an insult to Buck, 
the Negro Leagues, and baseball fans everywhere. Buck O'Neil is a man 
who has done more than anyone to popularize and keep alive the history 
of the Negro Leagues. The fact that he was not voted into baseball's 
Hall of Fame is a wrong that only Major League Baseball can make right, 
and I hope they will make it right next year.
  This humble man, who is careful not to slight, has, in fact, been 
slighted, apparently by a single vote, by a group who looked 
shortsightedly at his batting average, but not at what he has done for 
the game of baseball. There is one thing for sure: Buck's exploits on 
the baseball diamond were not steroid-aided. At a time when the game of 
baseball is in search of credibility,

[[Page H478]]

there is a need for a living symbol of all that is good and wholesome 
about the sport. Who better than Buck O'Neil?
  Think about the few people who would come to a baseball stadium and 
get excited about the opportunity to be near Buck O'Neil. If given an 
opportunity, Buck O'Neil could be one of the greatest ambassadors in 
the history of Major League Baseball.
  It is rare that an entire community rallies around a single person; 
but our community loves Buck, what he stands for and his indomitable 
spirit. Once again, Buck O'Neil is teaching us that disappointments are 
to be cremated, not embalmed.
  Buck's baseball career spans seven decades and has helped make him a 
foremost authority on baseball history and one of the game's greatest 
advocates.
  I have never met a man who loves baseball and his community more than 
Buck O'Neil; but more than that, Buck loves life. And for that inspired 
love, Buck is adored by all those who know him and all who have heard 
him.
  Literally hundreds of thousands of people have been touched by Buck's 
kind smile. He has traveled the country teaching children and adults 
about the Negro Leagues, baseball and life in general. Many of you may 
know his voice as the one in Ken Burns's documentary on baseball. We 
know him as the man you can find sitting behind home plate at Kansas 
City Royals baseball games talking to everyone who stops by to say 
hello.
  As Kansas City's mayor, I was inspired by O'Neil to revitalize 18th 
and Vine, the historical center for black culture and life in Kansas 
City from the late 1800s to the 1960s. It was the hub of activity for 
African American homeowners, businesses, jazz and baseball enthusiasts. 
One block from the district stands the Paseo YMCA building, which was 
built as a black YMCA in 1914. It served as a temporary home for 
baseball players, railroad workers, and others making the transition to 
big-city life.
  Mr. Speaker, I intend to introduce a resolution calling for the 
commissioner of baseball to give a special recognition to Buck O'Neil 
at the All Star Game. I will nominate through a bill Buck O'Neil for 
the Congressional Gold Medal.
  This week Kansas City and our entire community celebrates our 
hometown hero, Buck O'Neil--a Hall-of-Famer in our hearts. It is clear 
the Baseball Hall of Fame has made a terrible shameful error in not 
inducting Buck on this ballot. As one of the Hall's own officials said, 
``The Hall of Fame is not complete without Buck O'Neil.''
  Buck is the reason 17 members of the Negro League's will be inducted 
this summer. Without his national visibility as an ambassador of the 
Negro Leagues, they would not have this honor. Without his efforts, 
very few would know the intimate details of segregated baseball in the 
U.S. during the 1930's, 40's and even into the 1950's.
  Buck, the classy man that he is, will never complain about not being 
elected to the Hall. In fact, when told he had not made it, he smiled 
and said, ``that's the way the cookie crumbles.'' And so, on behalf of 
a community in tears, and a 94 year old baseball legend, I will stand 
and complain. The omission of Buck O'Neil was wrong-headed and an 
insult to Buck and baseball fans everywhere. Buck O'Neil is a man who 
has done more than anyone to popularize and keep alive the history of 
the Negro Leagues. The fact that he was not voted into Baseball's Hall 
of Fame is a wrong that only Major League baseball can make right. and 
I hope they make it right next year.
  This humble man who is careful not to slight anyone has been 
slighted--apparently by a single vote--by a group who looked 
shortsightedly at his batting average, but not at what he has done for 
the game of baseball. There is one thing for sure, Buck's exploits on 
the field were not steroid aided. At a time when the game has become an 
American past-time in search of credibility, there is a need for a 
living symbol of all that is good and wholesome about the sport. Who 
better than Buck O'Neil?
  Think about the fan appeal of Buck O'Neil, a bitterless black 
baseball legend visiting each major league ballpark during the upcoming 
season. He could attract African American youngsters back to the game, 
and in doing so, keep the game going for another generation.
  It is rare that an entire community rallies around a single person, 
but our City loves Buck, what he stands for, and his indomitable 
spirit. Once again, Buck O'Neil is teaching us that disappointments are 
to be cremated, not embalmed.
  Buck's baseball career spans seven decades and has helped make him a 
foremost authority on baseball history and one of the game's greatest 
advocates.
  Buck Joined the Kansas City Monarchs in 1938. He left the team to 
serve in the U.S. Navy in World War II. When he returned from the 
Philippines in 1943, Buck played and managed with the Monarchs until 
1955. As a manager, Buck guided the team to five pennants and two Negro 
World Series titles. As the major leagues' first African-American 
coach, Buck signed Ernie Banks and Lou Brock to their first minor-
league contracts with the Cubs.
  I have never met a man who loves baseball and his community more than 
Buck O'Neil. But, more than that, Buck loves life. And for that 
inspired love, Buck is adored by all those who know him and all who 
have heard of him. Literally hundreds of thousands of people have been 
touched by Buck's kind smile.
  He has traveled the country teaching children and adults about the 
Negro Leagues, baseball, and life. Many of you probably know him as the 
voice and face of Ken Burn's documentary on baseball. We know him as 
the man you can find sitting behind home plate at Kansas City Royals 
games talking to everyone who sops by to say hello.

  As Kansas City's mayor, I was inspired by O'Neil to revitalize 18th & 
Vine--the historical center for black culture and life in Kansas City 
from the late 1800s-1960s. It was the hub of activity for African-
American homeowners, business, jazz, and baseball enthusiasts. One 
block from the district stands the Paseo YMCA building, which was built 
as a black YMCA in 1914. It served as a temporary home for baseball 
players, railroad workers, and others making the transition to big city 
life in the Midwest. It was there that the Negro National League was 
founded in 1920.
  The 18th and Vine Historic District is now home to the Negro Leagues 
Baseball Museum, where Buck O'Neil serves as Board Chairman. I have 
introduced House Concurrent Resolution 227, which would designate the 
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum as America's National Negro Leagues 
Baseball Museum. It is the least I can do for Buck and all those great 
players who played magnificently and in many cases incomparably on 
segregated fields where their peerless talents were hidden from the 
nation.
  Buck, a long time member of the Bethel AME church in Kansas City, has 
never been bitter about what happened to him and all the other Negro 
Leagues players, about the exclusion they felt. He acted out the 
beliefs of his faith. He has preached a superb sermon with his life. 
The best sermons are lived and not preached. His reaction to the news 
that he had not made it into the Hall was a Sunday school lesson in 
humility and love.
  Buck O'Neil represents some of our most noble values: determination, 
dignity, humility and excellence. He is a pioneer and a trailblazer 
throughout his life and illustrious career and demonstrates in his 
everyday actions that determination is the pathway to success.
  Buck has said that all that matters to him is that he is in our 
Kansas City Hall of Fame, the Hall of Fame of those who know and care 
for him. On behalf of the millions of people who live around Kansas 
City I can say with absolute certainty--you are a Hall-of-Famer to us, 
Buck.

                          ____________________