Buck O’Neil former player in the Negro Baseball league is honored at a Brooklyn Cyclones baseball game.
Credit: © Bruce Cotler, Globe Photos/ZUMA/Alamy Images

February is Black History Month, an annual observance of the achievements and culture of Black Americans. This month, Behind the Headlines will feature Black pioneers in a variety of areas. 

Baseball legend Buck O’Neil was the thread that connected Josh Gibson and Babe Ruth with Lionel Hampton and Ichiro Suzuki. He remains among the most celebrated and important figures in the history of baseball. O’Neil left a lasting impact on the sport as a skilled player, a knowledgeable manager, a shrewd judge of talent, a passionate promoter, and a gifted storyteller.

Major League Baseball (MLB) failed to appreciate Buck O’Neil in a timely fashion. It denied him the chance to play or manage in the league because he was Black. But the sport’s ultimate recognition is finally coming to him, albeit too late for him to enjoy it. In December of last year, the Early Baseball Committee voted to admit O’Neil into the Hall of Fame. He will be formally inducted in July.

John Jordan O’Neil, Jr., was born Nov. 13, 1911, in Carrabelle, Florida, on the Gulf Coast. His father played baseball and introduced him to the game. Around 1920, the family moved to Sarasota, near the spring training facilities of several MLB teams. As a youth, O’Neil watched such players as Babe Ruth prepare for the season. His family would also take him to Negro league games. Negro leagues were professional baseball leagues formed for Black players, who were barred from playing alongside white players because of racial segregation.

As a teenager, O’Neil worked in the fields harvesting celery. He was prohibited from attending the segregated high school in Sarasota. He received high school and college instruction from Edward Waters College (now Edward Waters University), a historically Black college in Jacksonville.

In 1934, O’Neil began playing for small Negro league teams. O’Neil got the nickname “Buck” after being mistaken for a Negro league team owner named Buck O’Neal. O’Neil joined the Kansas City Monarchs in 1938. His sure fielding at first base and high batting average helped the Monarchs to win four consecutive Negro American League pennants from 1939 to 1942.

At the time, Kansas City, Missouri, was one of the hubs of Black culture. O’Neil and many of his teammates were obsessed with jazz. They rubbed elbows with such jazz greats as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Lionel Hampton.

In 1943, O’Neil was drafted into the United States Navy to serve in World War II (1939-1945). He returned to the Monarchs after the war and was named player-manager in 1948. A player-manager manages a baseball team while also playing for the team.

Jackie Robinson had broken MLB’s color barrier the year before, and MLB clubs were signing star players away from Negro leagues teams. The loss of talent caused many Black baseball fans to lose interest in the Negro leagues. To keep the Monarchs in business, O’Neil sought out talented young Black players, signed them, and sold their contracts to MLB teams. He signed a young Ernie Banks on the recommendation of fellow Negro leagues legend Cool Papa Bell.

In 1955, O’Neil was hired as a scout by the MLB Chicago Cubs. He specialized in signing players from the remaining Negro leagues teams and Black players from the South. He scouted future Hall-of-Famers Lou Brock, Lee Smith, and Billy Williams.

In 1962, the Cubs named O’Neil a coach, making him the first Black coach in MLB history. At the time, the Cubs were utilizing a “college of coaches” approach, in which a group of men shared coaching duties throughout the season. O’Neil was given the impression that he might get a chance to manage the team.

During a game that season, a series of ejections of coaches made O’Neil the logical choice to fill in as the third-base coach. He would have become the first Black on-field coach in MLB history. But another coach came in to coach third instead. Years later, O’Neil learned that Cubs coach Charlie Grimm had told the other coaches that O’Neil was never to coach in the field or manage. O’Neil was certain that this exclusion was racially motivated. O’Neil returned to scouting in 1964. In 1988, he became a scout for the Kansas City Royals.

Later in life, O’Neil campaigned to raise public awareness of the Negro leagues. In 1990, he helped establish the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. O’Neil was featured prominently in the documentary miniseries “Baseball” (1994) by the American filmmaker Ken Burns. He regaled audiences with stories of such Black baseball stars as Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson. The work served to introduce younger generations of baseball fans to the players of the Negro leagues.

O’Neil’s warmth, love of baseball, and gift for storytelling won him friends and admirers wherever he went. Star hitter Ichiro Suzuki met O’Neil early in his MLB career and sought him out whenever he traveled to Kansas City. After O’Neil’s death, Suzuki donated a large sum to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

O’Neil lobbied to get Negro leagues players elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. But in 2006, when 17 Negro leagues players and executives were inducted, O’Neil was not selected. The Hall of Fame asked O’Neil to speak during the induction anyway, since none of the 17 honorees were still living. O’Neil agreed and gave a speech praising the new Hall-of-Famers during the induction ceremony.

Despite O’Neil’s magnanimity, those close to him speculated that the snub broke his heart. O’Neil died on Oct. 6, 2006, just two months after the ceremony. It took 15 more years before O’Neil was finally inducted.

In July, O’Neil will take his rightful place next to the other legends of the game, many of whom he met, played against, or mentored. One of his own sayings fits this belated honoring of one of baseball’s greatest treasures: “Waste no tears for me. I didn’t come along too early—I was right on time.”

August 1, 2018

On Sunday, July 29, Major League Baseball (MLB) greats Vladimir Guerrero, Trevor Hoffman, Chipper Jones, and Jim Thome were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Jones, a slugging third baseman, was elected in his first year of eligibility during voting in January. Voters named him on 97 percent of the ballots, putting him well above the 75 percent required for election. Guerrero, a dynamic, free-swinging power hitter, earned 93 percent of the vote on his second try. Thome’s long home run-hitting career earned him a first-year entry into the Hall of Fame with 90 percent of the vote. Hoffman, one of the game’s greatest relief pitchers, got 80 percent of the vote on his third go around. Former pitcher Jack Morris and shortstop Alan Trammell, elected in December 2017 by the Modern Baseball Era Committee, were also included in this year’s Hall of Fame class. Joining the players were broadcaster Bob Costas and sportswriter Sheldon Ocker.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame is in Cooperstown, New York. Credit: © National Baseball Hall Of Fame

Some 53,000 people packed the grass field outside the Hall of Fame’s Clark Sports Center, where a ceremony initiates the exclusive club’s newest members each year. On stage with the newcomers were 57 members elected in previous years and decades. Florida-born Chipper Jones was the first to take the stage. A switch-hitting third baseman, Jones played 19 seasons for the Atlanta Braves from 1993 to 2012 (he missed the 1994 season because of injury). He became a full-time player in 1995, helping the Braves win a World Series title. Jones was the 1999 National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP), hitting .319 with 45 home runs and 110 runs batted in (RBI’s) for the NL champion Braves. He made eight NL All-Star teams, including his last two seasons at age 39 and 40. Jones had a career batting average of .303. He collected 2,726 hits, 468 of which were homers, and drove in 1,623 runs.

Californian Alan Trammell followed Jones. Trammell and fellow inductee Jack Morris both starred for the Detroit Tigers, a team they led to a 1984 World Series title. Trammell spent all 20 of his MLB seasons in Detroit, where he racked up 2,365 hits, 185 homers, and 1,231 runs scored between 1977 and 1996. A great all-around player, the six-time All-Star won four gold gloves as the AL’s best fielding shortstop, and three silver sluggers as the league’s best hitting shortstop.

The famous Major League Baseball (MLB) logo was designed by graphic designer Jerry Dior in 1968. Credit: © Major League Baseball

Vladimir Guerrero, a native of the Dominican Republic, hit third in the Hall of Fame lineup on Sunday. Guerrero was known for his unorthodox hitting style and a batter’s eye that saw nearly every pitch as a good one. Guerrero came up with the Montreal Expos at the end of the 1996 season, and he soon blossomed into a star. In seven full seasons with the Expos, he showed off a powerful arm in right field while averaging 33 home runs and 100 RBI’s at the plate. In 2004, his first year with the Anaheim Angels, Guerrero hit .337 with 39 homers and 126 RBI’s to earn American League (AL) MVP honors. He later played briefly for the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles. Guerrero made nine All-Star teams during his career, which ended after the 2011 season. For his career, Guerrero hit .318 with 449 home runs, 1,496 RBI’s, and 2,590 hits.

Californian change-up specialist Trevor Hoffman came next. Hoffman frustrated enough batters during his career to be the first MLB reliever to save 500, and then 600 games. Hoffman came up with the Florida Marlins in 1993 and was dealt that year to the San Diego Padres. Hoffman became a star closer in San Diego, where he averaged 41 saves per season from 1995 through 2008 (excluding 2003, a season almost entirely lost to injury). He made seven All-Star teams over his career, his last coming at age 41 with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009. Hoffman retired after the 2010 season with 601 career saves and a lifetime earned run average of 2.87. His mastery at changing speeds earned him a career strikeout percentage of 9.4 per 9 innings.

Minnesota’s Jack Morris, a starting pitcher, followed the closer Hoffman. Morris made five All-Star teams and won 254 games between 1977 and 1994. Known as a consistent winner and perhaps the toughest postseason pitcher of his era, Morris played most of his career in Detroit before wrapping up his career with stints in Minnesota, Toronto, and Cleveland.

Jim Thome ranks among the leading home run hitters in Major League Baseball history. He was enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 29, 2018. Credit: © AP Photo

A son of Peoria, Illinois, Jim Thome delivered a grateful and heartfelt speech after Morris. Thome had a “cup of coffee” (a brief stint) with the Cleveland Indians at the end of the 1991 season. After a couple seasons trying to establish himself, Thome became the Indians’ full-time third baseman in 1995 as the team reached the World Series. Thome, a burly, powerful slugger, became known for his colossal home runs—as well as his gentle and kind demeanor. A former teammate said Thome was nice “to everything except the baseball.” Switching to first base in 1997, Thome hit 40 dingers as the Indians made their second World Series appearance in three years. Thome later had productive seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox before rounding out his career as a “hired bat” with several teams. A five-time All-Star, Thome retired after the 2012 season with 612 career homers and 1,699 RBI’s, as well as 1,747 walks—a tribute to his power, as pitchers avoided his spot in the lineup.

Bob Costas, who has covered baseball nationally since 1982 (as well as numerous other sports and the Olympic Games), joined the Hall of Fame as the 2018 winner of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters. Sheldon Ocker, a beat writer for the Indians for 33 seasons, earned entry as the 2018 winner of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award “for meritorious contributions to baseball writing.”

Hall of Fame voting is based upon a player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played. Votes are cast by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, which consists of writers with 10 consecutive years of service in the association. To be eligible, ballplayers must have spent at least 10 seasons in the majors and been retired for 5 years (exceptions are made in the case of severe injury or sudden death, such as with Roberto Clemente). Eligible players remain on the Hall of Fame ballot for 10 years, after which they can gain entry only though one of the select Eras Committees (formerly the Veterans Committee)—a rare occurrence. The Eras Committees, made up of former executives, managers, players, and umpires, also choose nonplayers such as Costas and Ocker for entry into the Hall of Fame.

April 6, 2018

Tomorrow, April 7, is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bobby Doerr (pronounced DOUGH-er), one of the best second basemen in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. A rare power-hitting middle infielder for his era, Doerr hit 223 home runs and drove in 1,247 runs over 14 seasons with the Boston Red Sox from 1937 through 1951. An excellent fielder as well, Doerr made nine American League (AL) All-Star teams during his career. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986. For several months until his death at age 99 on Nov. 13, 2017, Doerr was the oldest living former MLB player.

Boston Red Sox second baseman Bobby Doerr pauses before a 1951 game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York City. Credit: © Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images

Robert Pershing Doerr was born in Los Angeles, California, on April 7, 1918. He received his middle name in honor of General John J. Pershing, leader of the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.) in Europe during World War I (1914-1918). While still in high school, Doerr began playing professional baseball with the Hollywood Stars (later the minor league San Diego Padres) of the Pacific Coast League. Doerr signed an MLB contract with Boston in 1936  and debuted with the Red Sox in 1937. He became the team’s starting second baseman the following season.

With Boston, Doerr led the AL in fielding percentage four times. For many years, he held records for most consecutive errorless games at second base (73) and consecutive chances at second base without an error (414). During World War II (1939-1945), Doerr served in the United States Army, missing part of the 1944 MLB season and the entire 1945 season. Doerr returned to the Red Sox in 1946, helping lead the team to the World Series. After several highly productive years, back problems forced Doerr to retire after the 1951 season at age 33.

During his 14 MLB seasons, Doerr’s 2,042 hits included 381 doubles and 89 triples. He also scored 1,094 runs. After his playing career, Doerr served as a scout and coach for the Red Sox and he later coached for the Toronto Blue Jays. The Red Sox retired Doerr’s uniform number 1 in 1988. Outside Boston’s Fenway Park, a statue called The Teammates depicts Red Sox legends Doerr, Dom DiMaggio (brother of Joe), Johnny Pesky, and Ted Williams.

January 26, 2018

On Wednesday, January 24, Major League Baseball (MLB) greats Vladimir Guerrero, Trevor Hoffman, Chipper Jones, and Jim Thome were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Jones, a slugging third baseman, was elected in his first year of eligibility. Voters named him on 97 percent of the ballots, putting him well above the 75 percent required for election. Guerrero, a dynamic, free-swinging power hitter, earned 93 percent of the vote on his second try. Thome’s long home run-hitting career earned him a first-year entry into the Hall of Fame with 90 percent of the vote. Hoffman, one of the game’s greatest relief pitchers, got 80 percent of the vote on his third go around. Former pitcher Jack Morris and shortstop Alan Trammell, elected in December 2017 by the Modern Baseball Era Committee, will also be enshrined in the Hall of Fame on July 29, 2018. Joining the players will be broadcaster Bob Costas and sportswriter Sheldon Ocker.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, honors players and other individuals who made outstanding contributions to the sport. Credit: © Andre Jenny, Alamy Images

Florida-born Chipper Jones, a switch-hitting third baseman, played 19 seasons for the Atlanta Braves from 1993 to 2012 (he missed the 1994 season because of injury). He became a full-time player in 1995, helping the Braves win a World Series title. Jones was the 1999 National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP), hitting .319 with 45 home runs and 110 runs batted in (RBI’s) for the NL champion Braves. He made eight NL All-Star teams, including his last two seasons at age 39 and 40. Jones had a career batting average of .303. He collected 2,726 hits, 468 of which were homers, and drove in 1,623 runs.

Vladimir Guerrero, a native of the Dominican Republic, was known for his unorthodox hitting style and a batter’s eye that saw nearly every pitch as a good one. Guerrero came up with the Montreal Expos at the end of the 1996 season, and he soon blossomed into a star. In seven full seasons with the Expos, he showed off a powerful arm in right field while averaging 33 home runs and 100 RBI’s at the plate. In 2004, his first year with the Anaheim Angels, Guerrero hit .337 with 39 homers and 126 RBI’s to earn American League (AL) MVP honors. He later played briefly for the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles. Guerrero made nine All-Star teams during his career, which ended after the 2011 season. For his career, Guerrero hit .318 with 449 home runs, 1,496 RBI’s, and 2,590 hits.

Jim Thome ranks among the leading home run hitters in Major League Baseball history. In 2011, he became only the eighth player to hit at least 600 home runs. Thome was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018. Credit: © AP Photo

A son of Peoria, Illinois, Jim Thome had a “cup of coffee” (a brief stint) with the Cleveland Indians at the end of the 1991 season. After a couple seasons trying to establish himself, Thome became the Indians’ full-time third baseman in 1995 as the team reached the World Series. Thome, a burly, powerful slugger, became known for his colossal home runs—as well as his gentle and kind demeanor. A former teammate said Thome was nice “to everything except the baseball.” Switching to first base in 1997, Thome hit 40 dingers as the Indians made their second World Series appearance in three years. Thome later had productive seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox before rounding out his career as a “hired bat” with several teams. A five-time All-Star, Thome retired after the 2012 season with 612 career homers and 1,699 RBI’s, as well as 1,747 walks—a tribute to his power, as pitchers avoided his spot in the lineup.

Californian change-up specialist Trevor Hoffman frustrated enough batters to be the first MLB reliever to save 500, and then 600 games. Hoffman came up with the Florida Marlins in 1993 and was dealt that year to the San Diego Padres. Hoffman became a star closer in San Diego, where he averaged 41 saves per season from 1995 through 2008 (excluding 2003, a season almost entirely lost to injury). He made seven All-Star teams over his career, his last coming at age 41 with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009. Hoffman retired after the 2010 season with 601 career saves and a lifetime earned run average of 2.87. His mastery at changing speeds earned him a career strikeout percentage of 9.4 per 9 innings.

Minnesota’s Jack Morris and Californian Alan Trammell both starred for the Detroit Tigers, a team they led to a 1984 World Series title. Morris made five All-Star teams and won 254 games between 1977 and 1994. Known as a consistent winner and perhaps the toughest postseason pitcher of his era, Morris wrapped up his career with successful stints in Minnesota, Toronto, and Cleveland. Trammell spent all 20 of his MLB seasons in Detroit, where he racked up 2,365 hits, 185 homers, and 1,231 runs scored between 1977 and 1996. A great all-around player, the six-time All-Star won four gold gloves as the AL’s best fielding shortstop, and three silver sluggers as the league’s best hitting shortstop.

Bob Costas, who has covered baseball nationally since 1982 (as well as numerous other sports and the Olympic Games), joined the Hall of Fame as the 2018 winner of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters. Sheldon Ocker, a beat writer for the Indians for 33 seasons, earned entry as the 2018 winner of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award “for meritorious contributions to baseball writing.”

August 2, 2017

On Sunday, July 30, Major League Baseball (MLB) greats Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, and Iván Rodríguez were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Bagwell, a slugging first baseman, was elected in his seventh year of eligibility. Voters named him on 86 percent of the ballots, easing him above the 75 percent required for election. Raines, one of the game’s greatest lead-off men, also earned 86 percent of the vote. It was the 10th and final year of eligibility for Raines (see final paragraph for Hall of Fame eligibility rules). Rodríguez, earning his way on the first try (a rare honor), was the game’s premier catcher during his long tenure in the big leagues. Long-time executive John Schuerholz and former commissioner and team owner Bud Selig were also enshrined in the Hall of Fame on Sunday.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, honors players and other individuals who made outstanding contributions to the sport. Credit: © Andre Jenny, Alamy Images

Bagwell, an awesome power hitter with a trademark wide stance at the plate, played 15 seasons for the Houston Astros. He was the 1991 National League (NL) Rookie of the Year (an annual award for the best first-year player), and in the strike-shortened 1994 season, Bagwell hit .368 with 39 homers and 116 runs batted in (RBI’s) in just 110 games to earn the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. He also earned a Gold Glove award that season as the NL’s best defensive first baseman. From 1996 through 2001, Bagwell put up staggering offensive numbers, averaging at least 30 home runs, 100 runs scored, and 100 RBI’s. The slugger’s career came to a quick end with shoulder injuries after 2005, a season in which he helped the Astros to their first and only World Series appearance.

Raines, an outfielder whose consistency and physique earned him the nickname “Rock,” first tasted the majors in 1979 with the Montreal Expos. In his first full season in 1981 (the only other MLB season shortened by a player strike), Raines hit .304, paced the NL with 71 stolen bases, and made the first of seven consecutive All-Star teams. He continued to hit, steal bases, and score runs until his retirement after the 2002 season at age 42. After his run with the Expos, Raines spent significant time with the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees.

Hall of Fame catcher Iván Rodríguez played four full seasons for the Detroit Tigers. Credit: © Pete Hoffman, Shutterstock

Rodríguez, a native of Puerto Rico, came to the big leagues as a 19-year-old prospect for the Texas Rangers in 1991. In an abbreviated rookie season, he showed off dazzling defensive skills, a potent bat, and a cannon of an arm. The following year, his first full season, he earned the first of 14 All-Star appearances and 13 Gold Gloves. Rodríguez dominated the game at the plate, from behind it, and even on the bases. In his greatest season in 1999, Rodríguez hit .332 with 35 home runs, 113 RBI’s, 116 runs scored, and 25 stolen bases. He edged out (now fellow) Hall of Famers Roberto Alomar and Pedro Martinez as that year’s American League MVP. Known affectionately as “Pudge” (a somewhat chubby reference borrowed from Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk), Rodríguez played 21 seasons with the Rangers, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Yankees, and Washington Nationals.

John Schuerholz served as general manager of the Kansas City Royals from 1981 though 1990. He then ran a talented Atlanta Braves team through the 2007 season. Both the Royals and Braves won a World Series under his leadership. Allan “Bud” Selig brought MLB back to Milwaukee with the Brewers in 1970 (the Braves had played there from 1953 through 1965). Selig owned the Brewers into the early 1990′s, when MLB turbulence pushed him into the role of commissioner. Selig oversaw some dramatic changes as MLB’s chief executive, a position he held until 2015.

Hall of Fame voting is based upon a player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played. Votes are cast by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, which consists of writers with 10 consecutive years of service in the association. To be eligible, ballplayers must have spent at least 10 seasons in the majors and been retired for 5 years (exceptions are made in the case of severe injury or sudden death, such as with Roberto Clemente). Eligible players remain on the Hall of Fame ballot for 10 years, after which they can gain entry only though the select Eras Committee (formerly the Veterans Committee)—a rare occurrence. The Eras Committee, made up of former executives, managers, players, and umpires, also chooses nonplayers such as Schuerholz and Selig for entry into the Hall of Fame.

January 19, 2017

Yesterday, January 18, Major League Baseball (MLB) greats Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, and Iván Rodríguez were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Bagwell, a slugging first baseman, was elected in his seventh year of eligibility. Voters named him on 86 percent of the ballots, easing him above the 75 percent required for election. Raines, one of the game’s greatest lead-off men, also earned 86 percent of the vote. It was the 10th and final year of eligibility for Raines (see final paragraph for Hall of Fame eligibility rules). Rodríguez, earning his way on the first try (a rare honor), was the game’s premier catcher during his long tenure in the Big Leagues. Long-time executive John Schuerholz and former commissioner and team owner Bud Selig will also be enshrined in the Hall of Fame on July 30.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, honors players and other individuals who made outstanding contributions to the sport. Credit: © Andre Jenny, Alamy Images

Bagwell, an awesome power hitter with a trademark wide stance at the plate, played 15 seasons for the Houston Astros. He was the 1991 National League (NL) Rookie of the Year (an annual award for the best first-year player), and in the strike-shortened 1994 season, Bagwell hit .368 with 39 homers and 116 runs batted in (RBI’s) in just 110 games to earn the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. He also earned a Gold Glove award that season as the NL’s best defensive first baseman. From 1996 through 2001, Bagwell put up staggering offensive numbers, averaging at least 30 home runs, 100 runs scored, and 100 RBI’s. The slugger’s career came to a quick end with shoulder injuries after 2005, a season in which he helped the Astros to their first and only World Series appearance.

Raines, an outfielder whose consistency and physique earned him the nickname “Rock,” first tasted the majors in 1979 with the Montreal Expos. In his first full season in 1981 (the only other MLB season shortened by a player strike), Raines hit .304, paced the NL with 71 stolen bases, and made the first of seven consecutive All-Star teams. He continued to hit, steal bases, and score runs until his retirement after the 2002 season at age 42. After his run with the Expos, Raines spent significant time with the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees.

Rodríguez, a native of Puerto Rico, came to the big leagues as a 19-year-old prospect for the Texas Rangers in 1991. In an abbreviated rookie season, he showed off dazzling defensive skills, a potent bat, and a cannon of an arm. The following year, his first full season, he earned the first of 14 All-Star appearances and 13 Gold Gloves. Rodríguez dominated the game at the plate, from behind it, and even on the bases. In his greatest season in 1999, Rodríguez hit .332 with 35 home runs, 113 RBI’s, 116 runs scored, and 25 stolen bases. He edged out (now fellow) Hall of Famers Roberto Alomar and Pedro Martinez as that year’s American League MVP. Known affectionately as “Pudge” (a somewhat chubby reference borrowed from Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk), Rodríguez played 21 seasons with the Rangers, Florida Marlins, Yankees, Astros, and Washington Nationals.

John Schuerholz served as general manager of the Kansas City Royals from 1981 though 1990. He then ran a talented Atlanta Braves team through the 2007 season. Both the Royals and Braves won a World Series under his leadership. Allan “Bud” Selig brought MLB back to Milwaukee with the Brewers in 1970 (the Braves played there from 1953 through 1965). Selig owned the Brewers into the early 1990′s, when MLB turbulence pushed him into the role of commissioner. Selig oversaw some dramatic changes as MLB’s chief executive, a position he held until 2015.

Hall of Fame voting is based upon a player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played. Votes are cast by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, which consists of writers with 10 consecutive years of service in the association. To be eligible, ballplayers must have spent at least 10 seasons in the majors and been retired for 5 years (exceptions are made in the case of severe injury or sudden death, such as with Roberto Clemente). Eligible players remain on the Hall of Fame ballot for 10 years, after which they can gain entry only though the select Eras Committee (formerly the Veterans Committee)—a rare occurrence. The Eras Committee, made up of former executives, managers, players, and umpires, also chooses nonplayers such as Schuerholz and Selig for entry into the Hall of Fame.

July 26, 2016

On Sunday, July 24, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Mike Piazza became the newest members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. At a ceremony attended by previous Hall of Fame members and some 50,000 fans, both players paid tribute to supportive parents and—with baseball-sized lumps in their throats—they each broke down in tears. Griffey, a graceful outfielder with a legendary swing, dedicated his inauguration “to my dad, who taught me how to play this game and to my mom, the strongest woman I know.” Piazza, one of the game’s all-time great catchers, was grateful for the freedom and opportunity to play baseball: “Dad always dreamed of playing in the major leagues. He could not follow that dream because of the realities of life. My father’s faith in me, often greater than my own, is the single most important factor of me being inducted into this Hall of Fame.” Griffey is the highest draft pick—number 1 overall in 1987—ever to enter the Hall of Fame. Conversely, Piazza was drafted in 1988 in the 62^nd round at number 1,390—the lowest draft pick to end up in Cooperstown. The Major League Baseball (MLB) draft was first held in 1965 and is now limited to 40 rounds.

Ken Griffey, Jr., springs from the batter’s box on April 27, 2000, during his first season with the Cincinnati Reds. He hit 40 home runs that year with 118 runs batted in.
Credit: © Ezra Shaw, Allsport/Getty Images

Griffey played 22 seasons in his MLB career, split mainly between the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds. He hit 630 home runs (sixth all time), drove in 1,836 runs, made 13 All-Star teams, won 10 Gold Gloves in center field, and was the 1997 American League Most Valuable Player. Griffey is the first Mariners player enshrined in Cooperstown. In Hall of Fame voting (cast by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America), he was named on 437 of 440 ballots. His vote percentage of 99.3 was the highest since Hall of Fame voting began in 1936.

Mike Piazza steps to the plate in a 2005 Spring Training game in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was Piazza’s last year with the New York Mets.
Credit: © Aspen Photo/Shutterstock

Piazza played 16 years in the big leagues, primarily as a catcher. He spent most of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets. Piazza retired with a .308 career batting average and 427 home runs, including an MLB record 396 as a catcher. He was selected to 12 All-Star teams. He is the second Mets player (after Tom Seaver) to enter the Hall of Fame. Piazza received 83 percent of the Hall of Fame vote. No other players reached the minimum of 75 percent.

Other World Book articles: 

Baseball (1997) – A Back in Time article
Baseball (2008) – A Back in Time article

July 17, 2012

Kitty Wells died on July 16 at the age of 92, celebrated as the one of most important female singers in country music history. In the early 1950′s, Kitty Wells single-handedly showed that women could be commercial stars in a field overwhelmingly dominated by men. She thus opened the door for generations of female country stars, from Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and Dolly Parton to Shania Twain and the Dixie Chicks.

In 1952, Wells recorded “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels,” a strong statement defending women in the battle of the sexes that provided so much grist for the country music of the day. The song rocketed to number one on the country music charts and established that women could sell records in country music. Her breakthrough recording stayed number one for six weeks, though it created much controversy. Because of its strong feminist message, the Grand Ole Opry initially banned the song, and she was not allowed to perform it on radio. Country fans, however, loved it. Her duet “One by One” (1954) with Red Foley also reached number one on the country charts, the first number-one country song recorded by a female artist.

The Tennessee quarter features a tribute to the state’s musical heritage. The guitar stands for the country music of Nashville and central Tennessee. (U.S. Mint)

Wells was born on Aug. 30, 1919, in Nashville, Tennessee, and was christened Ellen Muriel Deason. She began performing with her sisters Mae and Jewell and her cousin Bessie Choate in 1935. In 1937, she married country music star Johnnie Wright. He gave her the stage name Kitty Wells, which was the name of a character in an old folk ballad. Wells recorded 23 singles that made Billboard magazine’s country Top 10 list between 1952 and 1965. Wells’s hits included “Hey Joe,” “Making Believe,” and “Cheatin’s a Sin” (all 1953); “Release Me” and “Thou Shalt Not Steal” (both 1954); “Searching” (1956); and “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” (1957). In 1956, Wells became the first female country singer to release a full album instead of singles. Soon after, other female country singers were releasing albums.

Wells was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1976, the second female so honored, after Patsy Cline. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences also presented her with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991, the first to be given to a female artist in country music.

Wells performed with her husband until the end of 2000, when she retired at the age of 81. Wright died in 2011 at age 97.