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John O'Neil

1920 – 2012

American baseball player

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About John O'Neil

Lived 1920 – 2012 (aged 91). John O'Neil was an American baseball player.

John Francis O'Neil (April 19, 1920 – April 18, 2012) was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played briefly during the season. Listed at , 155 lb, he batted and threw right-handed.

Born in Shelbiana, Kentucky, John O'Neil was involved in professional baseball for more than 45 years spanning 1939–1986 as player, manager, player/manager, general manager and scout, while participating in over 1,800 minor league games.

O'Neil assumed the name "Charles R. Johnson" as a college baseball player at Pikeville Junior College in order to maintain his amateur status while playing minor league baseball.

O'Neil appeared in 32 games for the 1946 Philadelphia Phillies as a replacement for everyday shortstop Skeeter Newsome, being also used in pinch-hitting and pinch-running situations in 14 games.

O'Neil was honored by the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame at Russell Diethrick Park in the summer of 2011 with a white Jamestown Falcons uniform top with No. 1 on his back, similar to the uniform he wore back in the 1940s. It was during the 70th anniversary of the park, previously known as Municipal Stadium, and O'Neil, lone survivor of the 1941 Jamestown club, was honored by throwing out the inaugural first pitch. He later received honors as the oldest Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame Inductee at the organization's 31st annual induction dinner on February 20, 2012.

Outside of baseball, he was an avid golfer and fisherman with memberships at Chautauqua and Corry Hills golf clubs, and was also a member of Lakewood Rod and Gun Club.

O'Neil died in Jamestown, New York, one day short of reaching his 92nd birthday.

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Important facts

People in John O'Neil's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John O'Neil's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John O'Neil?

American baseball player

When was John O'Neil born?

John O'Neil was born on 19 April 1920 in Shelbiana.

When did John O'Neil die?

John O'Neil died on 18 April 2012 in Jamestown.

What was John O'Neil's occupation?

John O'Neil was a baseball player.

What nationality was John O'Neil?

John O'Neil was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John O'Neil

· Wikidata: Q6250969

· DBpedia: John O'Neil (baseball)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John O'Neil. https://biography.guide/john-o-neil/

MLA: "John O'Neil." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-o-neil/.

Chicago: "John O'Neil." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-o-neil/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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