Marquee Sports Network to premiere documentary on Buck O’Neil and on-site specials from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

August 16, 2023

CHICAGO – Marquee Sports Network is set to premiere a special weekend of programming highlighting the history of the Negro Leagues, including a documentary on the legendary Buck O’Neil and two specials filmed on-site in Kansas City at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. See below for more information.

Cubs 360: From the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Premieres Saturday, August 19, After Cubs postgame coverage

Hour-long special featuring Cole Wright, Bob Kendrick, Doug Glanville and J.A. Adande on-site at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, discussing the history and legacy of the Negro Leagues.

Buck O’Neil: It’s All Jazz

Premieres Sunday, August 20, 7 PM CT

Marquee Sports Network this Sunday premieres its newest documentary, an hour-long feature highlighting the life and legacy of one of baseball’s all-time great ambassadors, one of the Chicago Cubs’ most influential figures, a champion of life, a purveyor of baseball history, the face of the Negro Leagues — John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil.

Buck O’Neil: It’s All Jazz is a love story to Buck, a man whose love for baseball and jazz music was surpassed only by his love for humanity, adored by those he met for his ability to find the good in people and for encouraging love between everyone he met, recognized for coaxing friends and strangers alike into singing along to the lyrics, “The greatest thing in all my life … is loving you.”

Narrated by comedian and Cubs fan Roy Wood Jr., the documentary features archival interviews with Buck O’Neil, as well as exclusive interviews with Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Joe Posnanski, author of The Soul of Baseball, baseball documentarian Ken Burns, and Cubs legends including Lee Smith and Billy Williams.

The documentary serves as a testament to the wide-ranging impact of Buck O’Neil’s life, including his mentorship of Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Lee Smith and more, his lifelong celebration and advocacy for the Negro Leagues, his ambassadorship for the game and his spirit that lives on through ballfields across the nation.

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to share Buck O’Neil’s stories and legacy in this documentary,” said Marquee Sports Network SVP of Programming and Production, Mike Santini. “Thank you to our partners at MLB Network and to our tremendous guests who shared their time to speak about Buck, including Bob Kendrick, Ken Burns and Cubs legends Lee Smith and Billy Williams.”

Cubs 360: The Life of Buck O’Neil

Premieres Sunday, August 20, 8 PM CT

Cole Wright, Bob Kendrick, Doug Glanville and J.A. Adande react to the documentary on Buck O’Neil, sharing their personal perspectives on the wide-ranging impact of O’Neil’s life, including his lifelong celebration and advocacy for the Negro Leagues and the game of baseball.

ABOUT MARQUEE SPORTS NETWORK: In partnership with the Chicago Cubs and Sinclair Broadcast Group (Nasdaq: SBGI), Marquee Sports Network brings together one of the most iconic sports franchises in the country with one of the largest television broadcasting companies to deliver unparalleled Cubs coverage, as well as additional local sporting events, including Chicago Sky games, and original programming. Named the 2022-23 RSN of the Year by Cynopsis Media, Marquee Sports Network is available on more than 65 cable and streaming providers within the Cubs home television territory, as well as available as a direct-to-consumer offering. For more information, visit marqueesportsnetwork.com/about.

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