I'm glad the Hall of Fame highlighted Vic Harris. I'm convinced now that he's qualified as a HoF manager candidate.

Poor Buck O'Neil - he missed out by one vote on the HoF Veterans' Committee ballot, and it looks like he must've missed out by two votes here.

I don't feel bad for Buck O'Neil. The HoF lifetime achievement award is named after him. I would be fine with giving that award out more often.

I said it in the voting thread, but I've always been underwhelmed by O'Neil's Hall credentials. He's similar to Bill Veeck in that he was around a lot of stuff and was extremely likeable, but there are a lot of guys with similar resumes who are simply not discussed at all as potential candidates.

If he were still alive I'd been in full support of his election as a celebration of NGL baseball as a whole. Now? I feel like his support comes from the fact that he's more well known than any other Negro League player.

My forthcoming book argues for the election of three Negro Leaguers to the Hall of Fame: Luke Easter, Minnie Minõso, and Buck O'Neil.

I won't reprint my arguments here - but I will say that in my view, besides being a decent player, O'Neil earned more than enough pioneer credit to push him over the line. He was the first Black coach in MLB history (which, in itself, is a pretty big deal); worked as an MLB scout for 36 years; went 326-213 as a Negro Leagues manager; and served as the face and voice of the Negro Leagues for multiple generations, including mine. Both the broad representation of Negro Leaguers in the Hall and the the effort to systematize Negro League statistics were propelled by his multi-decade advocacy.

Meaning no disrespect to their memories, folks like George Wright and Candy Cummings are in the Hall of Fame for lesser contributions than O'Neil's.

Both O'Neil and Vic Harris had managerial careers ended by integration but Harris has the better managerial resume. O'Neil started managing in 1948 so he only has one "major league" season. He didn't clear the bar as a player. The Hall of Fame doesn't induct scouts or bench coaches in the plaque room. It adds up to a great career that has been honored by the Hall of Fame with a lifetime achievement award. I think that is most appropriate. I'd give the Buck O'Neil award retroactively to Lefty O'Doul.