GameDay Network

The Enduring Legacy of Buck O'Neil: Baseball Icon & Trailblazer

February 4, 2025
Buck O'Neil played in the Negro Leagues, became MLB's first African-American coach, and founded the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

Negro Leagues star. MLB's first Black coach. Museum founder. Hall of Famer. Buck O'Neil's impact extends far beyond his playing days. He established the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to preserve the history of Black baseball excellence. Though Hall of Fame induction came posthumously, his influence lives on through the Buck O'Neil Legacy Seat program at Kansas City Royals games.