My Tivo has been saving the Finding Buck McHenry movie since it aired from the tv listing that I wrote about last winter. My family finally got around to watching it last night. Finding Buck McHenry is a very watchable kids baseball movie that we all enjoyed viewing. Ernie Banks has a role in the movie, so part of watching is finding out where his character fits in the story.

The storyline came from the book of the same title.

The movie reminded me of my work on a college magazine where we interviewed a retired player from the negro leagues who was living in Southern Illinois. (I was the photographer.) I'll have to find that magazine to see who it was an re-read it. It was a long time ago.

Here is the tv listing from last year. Hope they air it again.

I just checked the Tivo listings with no succcess.

Finding Buck McHenry

After being cut from his youth baseball team, a boy begins a new one with a coach who has ties to the Negro Baseball Leagues.

Cast: Anthony Antonacci, Ernie Banks, Catherine Blythe, Brad Borbridge, Megan Bower, Conrad Coates, Michael Cranston, Alex Crockard-Villa, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Don Dickinson, J.J. Gallo, Kevin Jubinville, Duane McLaughlin, Marcello Meleca, Donovan Palma, Karl Pruner, Michael Rhoades, Tait Rowsel, Michael Schiffman

Crew: Charles Burnett (Director), David Field (Writer), Robert Halmi Jr. (Executive Producer), Bobby Heller (Executive Producer), Lin Oliver (Executive Producer), Alfred Slote (Writer)

Sun 2/5/2006 2:45 PM Sat 2/4 8:00 PM Mon 2/6 6:00 AM Mon 2/6 11:30 PM HLMRKMV http://www.hallmarkchannel.com

Rated: NR

Children, Children, Movies

PS: I was just about to finish this post when I decided to run an Ernie Banks related Google news search. The first listing was for an obituary for Buck O'Neil, who passed on last Friday at the age of 93.

I wonder if his life story was a starting point for the Buck McHenry book?

Baseball great Buck O'Neil dies at 94 Chicago Sun Times

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In 1962, Mr. O'Neil joined the Chicago Cubs' experimental College of Coaches, becoming the first black coach in major league history. He was refused permission to sit on the Cubs bench in several National League cities. Mr. O'Neil had signed Ernie Banks to the Monarchs in 1950 and three years later sent the future Hall of Famer to the Cubs.

The article also states:

In 1992, I visited Mr. O'Neil at his Kansas City home. It was a cold Saturday morning, but he was dressed as if it were the first day of spring. He wore a crisp new blue suit and a tie that was knotted with distinction.

That quote is what made me wonder if the movie is connected to Mr. O'Neil. The Ernie Banks character wore very sharp clothes in the movie...although he didn't play Buck McHenry...I still wonder about this.

The above quotes are from this article.

Negro League star broke color bar as Cub - JOHN JORDAN 'BUCK' O'NEIL 1911-2006 Chicago Sun Times

Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ryne Sandberg and Ron Santo.