We could not finish our Black History Month series without mentioning our hometown hero, Mr. John Jordan “Buck” O'Neil, Jr.! Born November 13, 1911, in Carrabelle, FL Mr. O’Neil began his baseball career as a semi-professional playing for the Sarasota Tigers traveling throughout Florida. Due to segregation, he was not able to attend high school in his hometown however he was determined to further his education! Mr. O’Neil would go on to obtain his high school diploma after which he earned a baseball and football scholarship to Edward Waters College. After years of traveling with different teams, Mr. O’Neil joined the Kansas City Monarchs, one of the elite teams in the Negro Leagues, in 1938. By 1942, the team advanced to win the Negro World Series against the Homestead Grays. In 1944 O'Neil would enlist for a two-year stint in the U.S. Navy. Although he was honored to serve his country, he regretted missing time with the Monarchs where he would miss the chance to play with the grea...