Who Needs Cooperstown?

Buck O'Neil, who spend a lifetime honoring the sport of baseball, never lived to see himself inducted into the baseball hall of fame, see Hall of Shame?

It's also a shame that he missed this honor, Buck O'Neil awarded Medal of Freedom

The Negro Leagues player, historian and advocate was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a White House ceremony, less than three months after he died at age 94.

O'Neil missed election to the Hall of Fame by one vote in February, yet never lost his enthusiasm for the sport.

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Sitting in the audience, Bob Kendrick, director of marketing for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo., said he felt "a little melancholy" wishing Buck was there.

"He would have lit that room up," Kendrick said. "He had this amazing charisma unlike anybody I've ever encountered. We know that his spirit was there and Warren represented his brother very well."

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Kendrick said the honor "would have represented the pinnacle for him. He prided himself on being more than just a baseball player."

I'm only surprised that Rumsfeld didn't get one, like George Tenet and Tommy Franks (in 2004). Maybe next year.

Tags: News, Buck O'Neil, baseball