BUCK STAPLETON, Sr., christened Charles O. Stapleton, for whom I am named  after, was a professional baseball player in the 1920's.

He began his career as a  catcher and later became a manager for the Southern Leagues sending many players to the majors.

I am proud of my grandfather. He believed in people. He believed in miracles. He also believed in discipline, hard work, and that if you stick to something long enough it will pay off. He also believed you needed a little help along the way.

I grew up listening to my grandfather's inspirational stories, but what I admired most, was that he did what he loved to do even though he could have made more money by playing ball. He chose to manage players and help them become the best they could be so they could go on to greatness. He took pride in their success.

Movie producer Lawrence Gordon, who knew my grandfather, in the movie Bull Durham, starring Kevin Costner, told part of his story. 

I summarized what one newspaper wrote about my grandfather, who became known as "Charlie Buck". I hope you enjoy it. 

"Baseball veteran tells story of game." Jackson Daily, Jul 22, 1954

"Buck Stapleton, former Jackson Senator, Tells How They "Tagged All Bases" in Making the Pro Upswing."

"A career that began in Louisiana ended 12 years later and carried him from league to league always a winner. Failure was not in the Stapleton vocabulary and confidence in his tactics and his players was always there. Each new man was either culled out or developed into a much talked of and sought after player. Those with little talent were most often as clay, in the young man's hands and developed into great players."

"He can name man after man who passed under his scrutinizing eye and firm hand to go on to fame and fortune in big league baseball. Catchers, pitchers, outfielders, basemen and etc. have all carried Stapleton tactics into big baseball."

"From his league he was to see some of the great players emerge. All the players under his management at that time were sold to the big leagues.

'My greatest accomplishment, was sending several players to the majors, Guy Bush to Chicago, Bill Akers to Detroit, Hamilton to the White Sox, Bracken to St. Louis, Jack Knight to Philadelphia, Jim Lindsey and Joe Edwards to Cleveland, Doc Waldbauer to Washington, Spencer Wood to Philadelphia, and Shag Horan to New York, just to name a few', Stapleton said."

"Bill Terry of Memphis became one of the nation's great players, who came under Mr. Stapleton's management. Terry was later to manage the New York Giants and was one of the few players who ever hit 400."

"In most modest tones, Mr. Stapleton, a native of Hazelhurst, Ms., talks of his experiences as manager for more than 12 years. His gnarled fingers, one broken ten different times, stand as mute evidence of his days as one of the nation's great catchers."

"'As a child I always had a ball and a bat and it was my ambition to become a great ball player. Back yard games in my Copiah County home with the neighbor boys led to the place I attained in the game,' he said."

"Mel Ott, one of the best I have ever known, was sold to the Giants, taking the place of John McGraw, manager of the New York Giants. He made a national record that remains unbroken, when he brought down 525 home runs. And Sammie Byrd, he was sold to the New York Yankees to take the position formerly held by Babe Ruth." said Mr. Stapleton.

"Still interested in the sport that made him the great player he was Buck Stapleton, catcher and manager, in his last season the Senators won 15 straight games, 23 out of the last 25 and took the pennant."

The article concludes: 

"Though a few brief years were spent, as life goes, they were filled to the fullest and brought honor and glory to not only him self and family but to many young men, who scaled even greater heights through his training."