Last week the Professional National Football League inducted Harold Warren Moon into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Moon is the First African American Quarterback to enter the Football Hall of Fame. This should open the door for other Black quarterbacks like Marlin Brisco (Denver), Jefferson Joe Street Gilliam (Pittsburgh), James Harris (Los Ang. Rams), and Super Bowl Champion Doug Williams (Washington).
Harold Warren Moon who was drafted in the National Football League but not at the quarterback position. Moon told the drafting team that playing under center would be the only position that he would consider. The team did not listen and drafted him anyway. Moon repeated his request and opted to play in Canada for the Edmonton Eskimos. Moon broke every (CFL) Canadian Football League passing record and won five Grey Cups (Canadian Championships) in a row.
The National Football League took notice and waited for his contract with the Eskimos to expire. Moon has passed for over 40 miles in his 21-year carrier and has thrown over 600 passes a year for three years in a row, a fete unmatched by any other NFL quarterback. Moon was one of the best African American quarterbacks in the late 1970’s to 1990 at the Run and Shoot offense. He caught many NFL defenses off guard with quick down field strikes. Every NFL team that Moon played with improved. The fans of Houston, Kansas City, Seattle, and Minn., are happy to see that famous number one, helping them make the playoffs. But there is still one thing Warren Moon would love to have had a Super Bowl appearance. Number one came very close but the Buffalo Bills dashed his hopes in the American Conference Championship game, with one of the wildest games ever. The Buffalo Bills beat the Houston Oilers from a 31-point deficit in the 2nd half.
The National Football League however responded correctly when in the first year of Harold Warren Moons eligibility, he was granted membership into Football Hall of Fame.
Baseball should take notice.
At the same time (MLB) Major League Baseball did not induct Negro League All Star John Jordan “BUCK” O’Neil, the ambassador to the game into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Major League Baseball should be ashamed of themselves. Mr. O’Neil taught me and many younger baseball fans about the Old Negro Leagues of the middle 1900’s. We knew Shachial Page, Josh Gibson and many others before many young white baseball fans could recall their names. O’Neil taught other baseball fans about the struggles African American and Afro-Latino players endured. Segregation, oppression, and being ignored by mainstream White America. Playing in smaller bandbox ballparks, long traveling trips on buses, not being allowed to sleep in big hotels, or motels, and not getting paid for services rendered. The 94-year-old O’Neil is now teaching America about honor and humility, something the modern day athletes should take to heart. Hello Mr. Bonds, Mr. Palmario, Mr. Sosa, and Oakland’s Bash Brothers (Mark and Jose)
In July he became the oldest player ever to step up to home plate in a major or minor league game, receiving two walks in the same inning Buck received a walk from each team, after a very quick trade from one too the other, this fete was accomplished.
Thus beating the Chicago White Sox’s 75 year old Minnie Minnoso. He also surpassed 83 year old Jim Erites who played a few months ago in a South Dakota minor league game.
O’ Neil went to this year’s Baseball’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony knowing that he would not be one of the honored. He continued to praise the game of baseball and was not bitter. A mark of a true gentleman!
Mr. O’Neil is a true legacy to baseball. He played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues and then became the first African American Coach in the majors with the Chicago Cubs. Now wherever he travels he cannot talk enough about the game of baseball and the men who played and have played the game. “Lets play all day”, stating playing baseball all day was even better than the famous Chicago Cubs Ernie Banks long time statement “Lets play two”, meaning a double hitter.
Buck’s valiant efforts to get other Negro League Players into the Baseball Hall of Fame finally paid off. Today 15 former Negro League Players are in Cooperstown, New York.
Now at age 94 O’Neil is one of the few living members of the Negro Leagues being denied membership to Cooperstown. Major League Baseball should induct Mr. O’Neil into Cooperstown next year while he is alive and can speak about the wonderful history of baseball and the history of the Negro Leagues.
O’Neil played the game when Major League Baseball had a gentleman’s agreement not to hire African American players
It’s a tragic event when young African Americans are not playing baseball; it’s tragic that the drug- steroid problem seems to plague Major League Baseball and seems to not want to go away. It is tragic it seems like many baseball players still feel the need to cheat to win, to cheat to get ahead, and it seems like baseball lacks the moral leadership in the commissioner’s office for change.
Football got it right by honoring one of their best players of their game while baseball struggles with its identity.
Football has seven African American head coaches (2006, Art Shell re-hire-Oakland Raiders) the highest number in its short history while baseball is at its lowest with only three African American head coaches and one coach on the verge of being fired any day now. Chicago’s Dusty Baker may get his walking papers (dismissed) this summer or this fall. The Cubs are not playing up to their potential and Baker will be the first casualty. The National League has all three African American managers Baker-Chicago Cubs, Randolph- New York Mets, Robinson- Washington Nationals.
Football has a diversity program while baseball does not and the numbers are beginning to show the results in each sport.
Baseball “DO THE RIGHT THING”! Put Buck O’Neil in Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
It would be the first step in recovery and the first step to reaching out a hand to young African American baseball players.
THAT IS THE GRAY LINE