Buck O’Neil needs no introduction to Kansas Citians. He was a first basemen for the Kansas City Monarchs from 1938 to 1949, with two interrupted seasons (1944 and 1945), when he served in the US Navy during World War II. He managed the Monarchs from 1948 to 1955, winning two Negro Leagues championships. He also played full-time in 1951 and part-time in other seasons while managing. In 1962, the Chicago Cubs hired him as a coach, making him the first African-American coach in Major League Baseball, 17 years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier for players.

O’Neil was instrumental in establishing the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) in Kansas City in 1990. I was fortunate to meet him during a visit to the museum some years later. Although I was just another visitor, he treated me like I was a good friend. To this day, I consider him one of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.

On a personal note, I was extremely disappointed that Buck O’Neil was not inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in a 2006 special election. At a time when baseball was struggling with a tainted image, they (shamefully, in my opinion) snubbed one of the greatest ambassadors of the game.

My admiration for Buck O’Neil is the inspiration for this painting, which is based on a photograph of him during his managerial years with the Monarchs. This piece was created using only palette knives and three Gamblin paint colors: ivory black, titanium white, and torrit grey.

This original oil painting on a cradled birch panel measures 12” tall by 9'“ wide. It sells in a black box frame and ready to hang. Free shipping in the U.S.