"I don't know exaclty what's inside Buck O'Neil, but I know we need more of it." - Bob Costas.
If baseball has a King Arthur, it's Buck O'Neil.
He was a man who never saw justice: Because of the color of his skin he never played in the Major Leagues. He should have been baseball's first black manager, but never got the nod. He should have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, but never got the call. He's a man who should have grown bitter, downright angry, and even resentful.
Instead, he passed along an infectious love for the game, smiled for the cameras, warmed peoples hearts, stirred compassion in the minds of fans and made Real Life Big League Ballplayers - who are often treated as and think of themselves as minigods - to look up to him.
He brought out idealism in hardened men, made young women feel like they'd met a knight, and signed balls any kid handed him.
If you get the chance, you must read his book, "I Was Right On Time." It will make you smile, laugh, cry.
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It's just a game. And Jayson Stark seems to have never forgotten that.
The ESPN.com scribe writes his columns and stories with the enthusiasm that ordinarily only comes through the eyes of a 7-year-old who's seeing his first Big League game at a Big League park. Along with that joy, Stark brings the wisdom of a 65-year-old sage who's seen so many Spring Trainings he knows the kid with the golden arm needs more seasoning and that the veteran shortstop is just a step slower. A crucial step.
Stark combines the heart of a fan with the head of a general manager.
That's why Stark will one day be in the baseball's Hall of Fame.
It's also why you should pick up his new book, "Worth the Wait: Tales of the 2008 Phillies"
There's a trivia question out there that has confounded us here at The Southpaw since we first fell in love with the game in 1883, watching Wilbur Wright's teams.
It's a simple one too. How did a strike out ever become known as a "K?"
And today, in the mail, we got our answer.
Thanks to a birthday present sent from The Southpaw's oldest sister, who was not around in 1883.
Anyway, the answer leads us to our first book review.
