O’Neil Falcon Again After 13 Years

Johnny O’Neil, one of the prime factors in the Jamestown Falcon’s roaring surge to the pennant and Governor’s Cup playoffs in 1941, the year Municipal Stadium was first placed in use, is back with the Jamestown PONY League club – after 13 years.

Hillman “Hill” Lyons, Falks general manager, made the announcement of the signing of O’Neil, and the curly-haired, trim-figured shortstop lost no time in getting into “working clothes,” stepping through a brisk fielding and batting drill at the stadium.

O’Neil is one of the most popular players to ever wear the flannels of the local club.

The 13 years between 1941 and 1954 have been eventful ones for Johnny.

During that span, O’Neil has ascended the baseball ladder, reaching the top in 1946 when he was with the Philadelphia Phillies and who, only two weeks ago, was let go as manager of the Salinas, Calif., Class C club.

“I’ve played in every classification during the 16 years I have been playing ball. I never had power. I was always too light, couldn’t run, yet I made the majors. Which goes to prove you need a little luck along the baseball paths.

“I have no kick coming. Baseball is my life.”

Johnny, who makes his home in Jamestown, weighs 146 pounds now, only a couple of pounds more than he did when he was a member of the ‘41 Falcons. He is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and bats right handed.

He broke into organized ball with the Tallahassee, Fla., in the Georgia-Florida League in 1939, after being signed to a contract by Jimmy Hamilton, then a scout for the Buffalo Bisons. After two weeks he was shipped to Greenville, Tenn., of the Appalachian League, the club having a working arrangement with Buffalo.

O’Neil was one of three Greenville players chosen to train with the Bisons in ntheir spring training camp at Fort Pierce, Fla., going to Winston-Salem in the Piedmont League and winding up the 1940 season with Bristol in the Appalachian.

He reported to manager Greg Mulleavy and the Falcons in 1941 and hit at a .285 clip and had a fielding average of .951.

In 1942, O’Neil divided his time with Buffalo and Elmira of the Eastern League and Pittsfield of the Canadian-American circuit.

The seasons of 1943-44-45 found him with the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League and it was in 1945 than Johnny averaged .315 at the plate.

After the ‘46 season with the Phillies, he returned to the coast league, playing in ‘47-’48 with Seattle, with Hollywood in ‘49-’50-’51, with Hollywood and New Orleans of the Southern Association in ‘52 and with Hollywood, Oakland and San Francisco in ‘53.

Then came 1954 and his playing and managerial job with Salinas…

And now he’s back with the Falks.