John Francis O'Neil (April 19, 1920 – April 18, 2012) was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played briefly during the 1946 season. Listed at 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m), 155 lb, he batted and threw right-handed.[1]
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.[4]
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.[5]
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.[2]
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