I Was Right On Time
by ringenka
If you are like me, every time you watched Baseball – A film by Ken Burns, you waited with anticipation for the segments featuring Buck O’Neil. O’Neil told the best and most relevant stories, and I for one wanted more. I was right on time is the answer. While reading Buck O’Neil’s autobiography, I could practically hear him sharing the stories written in the book. Some of his accounts overlap with those he told in the documentary but he often provides additional information in the book.
In his autobiography, O’Neil doesn’t write much on his life outside of baseball. He does write about other topics such as his family and World War II but only in how they relate to baseball. He also shares numerous memories about the athletes he played with like Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, and Josh Gibson. I found his insights invaluable.
I was right on time is a quick read. When I finished the book I had learned a great deal and went away with even more respect for Buck O’Neil (this is a feat I didn’t think possible).
If you enjoy his autobiography, Joe Posnaski spent a year traveling with O'Neil and wrote a wonderful book about the experience. The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's America
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