Kansas City Baseball Icon Buck O'Neil

O'Neil Featured on Custom Baseball Glove Painting

Vintage 1940s firstbase mitt becomes canvas for painting highlighting career of Buck O'Neil.

Buck O'Neil was a Negro Leagues first baseman and manager of the Kansas City Monarchs from 1938 to 1956. He was the first black coach in Major League Baseball, joining the Chicago Cubs in 1962. Later he was a scout for the Kansas City Royals.

This painting of an elder Buck O'Neil was created for the offices of KC architecture firm Pendulum Studio, specializing in baseball stadium design.

(FYI, video has no sound.)

Buck O'Neil was a founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City and became known for retelling stories from that era in Ken Burns' documentary, "Baseball."

O'Neil was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Baseball Hall of Fame has recognized his impact on the game with a Lifetime Achievement Award named in his honor.

The baseball glove painting of Buck O'Neil is custom-framed in a diamond shape, a reference to the logo of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. This is a deep shadow box-style, wood frame with gold highlights on a cloth mat.

Of all the quotes I've painted on gloves, Buck's may be my favorite; "You Got to Give People Love."

For a special item displaying your affection for a local sports legend -- For a public office space or civic museum, corporate gifts or something for yourself -- I specialize in creating keepsakes that will spark memories of the game and engage viewers. Contact me to discuss the possibilities.