The following conversations were recorded in front of a live audience at the Thanks a Million Buck Hall of Fame Gala in Kansas City.

Hosted by Negro League's Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick and author Joe Posnansky.

They say timing is everything.

And you know what? I'm one that absolutely adheres to that belief.

Because like many of you who are listening to this podcast, we were so tremendously disappointed when Buck O'Neill didn't get into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.

As a matter of fact, he missed by one single vote.

And of course, later that year, my dear friend passed away at age 94, a month shy of his 95th birthday.

So his long overdue induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this past July

certainly was bitter, but also sweet.

And bitter from the standpoint that we didn't get the opportunity to celebrate with him.

We didn't get the high five.

We didn't get the chest bump with our guy.

But it goes back to what I was saying, timing.

Timing is indeed of essence. And Buck O'Neill getting into the National Baseball Hall of Fame when he did comes at a time when his

museum is on the verge of tremendous growth. And Buck O'Neill today, 16 years later, is as relevant as he was when he was

still with us in a physical state. And it gives me goosebumps to think that it is his spirit

that is now still leading the Negro Leagues baseball museum.

We got together here in Kansas City for a star-studied thanks a million-buck Hall of Fame

Gala celebration.

And we gave folks an opportunity to come over to the Buck O'Neill Education and Research

Center and get a glimpse of what the future of the

Negro League's baseball museum is all about. And so now, with no further ado, please join myself

...