O'Neil, who has spent more than 60 years in professional baseball, began as a first baseman with the Kansas City Monarchs, where he led his team to three Negro League pennants and a world championship in 1942. After being named manager of the Monarchs in 1948, he led the team to the 1953 Negro American League pennant. He was hired by the Chicago Cubs as a scout in 1955 and signed such players as Ernie Banks, Lou Brock and Joe Carter. O'Neil later changed the course of history when he became Major League Baseball's first African-American coach with the Cubs in 1962. The event is sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Student Housing and Dining Services, Center for Black Studies, FIG Lecture Series and Intercollegiate Athletics.
Admission is free.
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