O’Neil, 94, becomes oldest professional

John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil never got a free pass in life.

The grandson of a man brought to this continent a slave, O’Neil moved to Kansas City to avoid racial persecution in the Deep South. He played baseball during an era of segregation, and earlier this year was denied entry into the National Baseball Hall of Fame by a special 12-member panel.

It figures that on Tuesday night, when the 94-year-old O’Neil stepped into the batter’s box during a minor league All-Star game, nobody could quibble over an intentional walk.

Except maybe O’Neil and a few thousand fans.

“I just might take a swing at one,” he said before the Northern League All-Star game at Kansas City, Kan.

Leading off for the West in the top of the first inning, O’Neil argued with the umpire after the first pitch from Kansas City T-Bones pitcher Jonathan Krysa sailed high and was called a ball. After another high pitch that narrowly missed his head, O’Neil took a called strike before being walked, as planned.

O’Neil ambled to first base, then took a lead off the bag as if he were going to stay in the game before being pulled for a pinch runner.

After the top of the inning, T-Bones owner John Ehlert announced that a trade had been brokered to bring O’Neil to the T-Bones, allowing him to also lead off the bottom of the inning.

In his second at-bat, O’Neil took three balls – all of them high and greeted with a chorus of boos from the crowd – before swinging at a pitch and almost spinning off his feet. Possibly lost in the novelty of the inning, the umpire gave him two more balls before sending him down to first base with his second walk.

The T-Bones signed O’Neil to a one-day contract, making him the oldest man to play professional baseball. He surpassed 83-year-old Jim Eriotes, who struck out in a minor league game in South Dakota earlier this month, by more than a decade.

“This is special, very special,” O’Neil said after his second at-bat. “I’ve been in baseball 70 years. This is how I made my living. And here I am at 94 with a bat in my hand.”

Indians, Padres make trade

Cleveland traded well-traveled Mike Adams to the N.L. West-leading San Diego Padres for Brian Sikorski in a swap of right-handed relievers.

Adams started the season with Milwaukee and had an 11.57 ERA in two games. San Diego will be the fourth organization he’s played for this season.

Sikorski was 1-1 with a 5.65 ERA in 13 appearances with San Diego.

No charges against Shackelford

Prosecutors won’t charge Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brian Shackelford, who was arrested in Milwaukee earlier this month on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault, the Reds announced.

Milwaukee police arrested Shackelford at Miller Park after the Reds played Milwaukee on July 5.

Braves continue surge

The Atlanta Braves became the first team since the 1930 New York Yankees to score 10 or more runs in five straight games, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 14-5 in St. Louis.

Andruw Jones had four hits and a season-high five RBIs for the Braves. The last time the franchise reached double digits in five straight games was in 1897 when it was called the Boston Beaneaters.