This illustration for the Notable Missourian book on Buck O'Neil shows him scouting for the Kansas City Royals.
Rough Sketch
Alternate rough sketch showing Buck and his wife, Ora, observing the construction of the Negro League Museum in Kansas City.
Buck O'Neil gets the news about Jackie Robinson
Here's the Chapter 4 illustration for the Notable Missourian book on Buck O'Neil.
While Buck was serving in the Pacific he got the news about Jackie Robinson getting signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Black players finally being "welcomed" into the major leagues was a big deal; it also meant the inevitable death of the Negro League which had become a celebrated contributor to black culture. Still, Buck and most of the country was thrilled. Finally, the best could play with the best.
This illustration is for the Notable Missourian book on Buck O'Neil, published by Truman State University Press.
Final Art
Rough sketch
Buck O'Neil with the Monarchs
Here's another illustration for the Notable Missourian book on Buck O'Neil (Truman State University Press). This one shows Buck playing 1st base for the Kansas City Monarchs during the Negro League World Series against the Homestead Grays.
Rough Sketch
Barnstorming Baseballers
This illustration is for chapter 2 of the Notable Missourian book on Buck O'Neil by Truman State University Press. Many early Negro League teams would "barnstorm" small towns to play baseball against local company teams or other Negro League teams. The towns loved this because they weren't often able to watch high caliber major league players, and in every sense the negro league players were exactly that. It is still commonly believed that some of the best players to ever play baseball were likely in the negro leagues.
Anywho I'm on a tangent! I've been on a Ken Burns kick and am smack in the middle of the Baseball series which dovetails nicely with this book about Buck O'Neil. This illustration shows Buck and a bunch of his teammates driving to the next small Florida town where they have a game scheduled. If one of the cars would break down, the guys would have to all cram into a single car to make it to their destination. Some of the guys would even stand on the running boards and ride on the outside of the car! Now that's dedication.
Rough Sketch
Buck O'Neil stuff in progress
Here's some cropped close ups of some Buck O'Neil illustrations currently being worked on..
What are these guys looking at?
One of the Homestead Grays makes a mad dash to first base. Where's Buck?