TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

O'Neil Honored, Will Get Statue At Cooperstown

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 25, 2007

BOSTON - Buck O'Neil got his spot in the Hall of Fame with a Lifetime Achievement Award created in his memory.

One of the game's most beloved ambassadors, O'Neil was posthumously honored Wednesday by the Hall before the World Series opener between Colorado and Boston.

'His impact on the game has been enormous,' Commissioner Bud Selig said. 'He's now in Cooperstown where he belongs.'

O'Neil, a Negro Leagues star and the first black coach in the majors, fell two votes shy of induction to the Hall of Fame during a special election in February 2006.

Many fans were stunned. They were sure he would finally be rewarded for a lifetime of service and dedication to baseball, not to mention his standout career as a Negro Leagues player.

Months after missing out, O'Neil died at age 94.

Now, a statue of O'Neil will be placed inside the museum, and the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to a worthy recipient no more than every three years.

'I don't think this is necessarily trying to right a wrong. I think we're just trying to honor a person,' said former Cincinnati Reds star Joe Morgan, vice chairman of the Hall of Fame.

BEST WISHES: Red Sox manager Terry Francona has been swamped with good wishes from his Boston brethren during the postseason.
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick e-mailed him twice. Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo of Boston College, ranked second in the nation in football, called.
DeFilippo is quite a booster.

'We can't start a series without him calling,' Francona said. 'He's got a lot of stuff going on himself but he takes the time. It's nice. It's appreciated.'
Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers exchanged text messages with Francona.

'I hate to use the word touching because I don't want to be overly dramatic. It was really nice,' Francona said. 'I don't want to pretend that I go to dinner with Doc Rivers, but he's a really nice guy. I appreciate him caring enough to do that.'

LITTLE BUT LOUD: Dustin Pedroia, generously listed at 5-feet-9 by the Red Sox, is a loudmouth in Boston's dugout.

So when he struggled early in the AL Championship Series, 1B Kevin Youkilis - hardly reticent himself - noticed the rookie second baseman was quieter than usual.

'I can't really repeat in words what I said to him,' Youkilis said. 'I just kind of yelled at him. He responded and he started hitting, but I'm not going to take credit. Dustin deserves all the credit in the world.'

Pedroia wouldn't say what Youkilis told him, either.

'I can't tell you,' he said. 'There's bad language, and it's bad for kids.'

Pedroia went 3-for-5 in Boston's 11-2 win in Game 7 that clinched the ALCS against the Cleveland Indians. His two-run homer in the seventh gave Boston a 5-2 lead, then he doubled in two runs in the eighth.

'Some guys need the push,' Youkilis said. 'You just need to yell at them, get them fired up and get them going.'

Pedroia rarely needs more than a nudge. He hit .317 in his first season, fielded very well and played with enthusiasm.

'That's just who I am. I like energy drinks,' he said. 'I try to have fun, keep everybody relaxed. I'd rather have a guy on our team think I'm insane so they're not worrying if something goes wrong for them.'

But Youkilis, a four-year veteran, still has the edge over Pedroia in emotional displays.

'Youk's got the title,' 3B Mike Lowell said.

SERIES SHORTS: A total of 1,852 media credentials were issued for the World Series, according to John Blundell, manager of media relations for Major League Baseball. ... The last time teams from the AL East and the NL West met in the World Series was 2001 when the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the New York Yankees. Boston's Curt Schilling, who will pitch Game 2 tonight, was co-MVP of that Series with Randy Johnson.

The Associated Press

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT