# @thesoulofsanta on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CaiyafksP5K
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/11856261-thesoulofsanta-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/ff429b4ecd.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-03-01T01:56:25.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** The Soul of Santa "Do Good" Foundation (@TheSoulofSanta) — https://gondola.cc/TheSoulofSanta

## Caption

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 great Jackie Robinson.

In 1956 Mr. O’Neil was hired as a scout for the Chicago Cubs.  He is widely regarded as one of the greatest scouts of all time as he helped the team sign future Baseball Hall of Fame players such as Ernie Banks and Lou Brock.  Mr. O’Neil made history in 1962 by becoming the first African American coach in Major League Baseball however he eventually realized that the Cubs were not interested in making him a big-league manager and returned to scouting. 

Mr. O'Neil was the driving force behind the founding of the nlbmuseumkc here in Kansas City, Missouri, where he served as Chairman.  He also published his autobiography “I Was Right on Time: My Journey from the Negro Leagues to the Majors” in 1996.

He was beloved by all, and his legacy continues as we all work hard to better the community that Mr. O’Neil loved so dearly! britannica
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#blackexcellence #blackhistorymonth #bhm #blackhistory #black #blackunity #blacklivesmatter  #grammysnom #sourceawards #grammysweekend #blackhistory365 #mlkday #boycott #ihaveadream #kansascity #negroleagues #baseball #18thandvine

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## Tags

mlkday, grammysweekend, blackhistorymonth, kansascity, blackhistory, negroleagues, blacklivesmatter, baseball, blackunity, black, 18thandvine, blackexcellence, sourceawards, ihaveadream, blackhistory365, bhm, grammysnom, boycott

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