A new mural project honoring legendary baseball player Buck O’Neil not only helps capture the spirit of a Kansas City icon, says artist Phil “Sike Style” Shafer, it bridges a cross-generational legacy for the barrier-breaking sports icon.
“Meeting Buck O’Neil at the K was a moment I’ll never forget,” said Shafer, a renowned Kansas City muralist and lifelong fan. “My father made sure we understood that Buck was more than a baseball legend — he was a gentleman, a leader, and a bridge for our community. It’s an honor to celebrate his legacy and contribute to Kansas City’s public art landscape.”
Shafer recently was selected by The Missouri Department of Transportation District (MoDOT) Buck O’Neil Bridge Project Team, Massman Clarkson Joint Venture — in partnership with Art in the Loop Foundation — to create a mural on the new Buck O’Neil Bridge in downtown Kansas City.
The artist’s work — known for its vibrant depictions of life in Kansas City — already is under way on a retaining wall at the south end of the bridge at the intersection of Broadway Ave. and 3rd St.
Renamed in 2016, the John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil Memorial Bridge (Buck O’Neil Bridge), carries U.S. Highway 169 over the Missouri River and serves as a key regional connection between downtown Kansas City and communities north of the river.
MoDOT and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum — located not far away in Kansas City’s historic 18th & Vine Jazz District — had the opportunity to collaborate throughout the process of the naming, groundbreaking, and opening of the Buck O’Neil Bridge.
“Buck O’Neil embodied the heart and soul of Kansas City,” said Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. “While his legacy plays on at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, projects like his new bridge and now this exciting artistic tribute, makes a generational connection that is tremendously important in our ongoing efforts to ensure that he will never be forgotten.”
The artist selection process was led by Art in the Loop and began in spring 2024. As part of the selection process, a panel of artists, curators, and community members reviewed proposals from 23 local artists and selected four finalists to present their concepts.
Sike Style was selected for his ability to blend historical significance with modern vibrancy.
“The Art in the Loop Foundation is proud to facilitate a process that elevates the voices of local artists and reflects the creativity and diversity of Kansas City,” said Ann Holliday, executive director of the Art in the Loop Foundation. “This mural will not only beautify the new Buck O’Neil Bridge but also serve as a powerful symbol of unity and progress.”
The new Buck O’Neil Bridge was opened in late 2024. It is anticipated to last for 100 years or more and will require much less costly maintenance, according to the Downtown Council of Kansas City, Missouri.
It will provide direct connections from I-35 to U.S. 169, dedicated lanes to downtown Kansas City, a new bike/pedestrian lane, access improvements at the downtown airport, and a scenic overlook with benches.
“The completion of the bridge provides better connectivity to the entire region, as well as commuters and others driving on the city streets,” said James Pflum, MoDOT project director. “The unique opportunity to add a mural highlighting the legacy of Buck O’Neil and the community is a representation of the connection of transportation and art in real life, both designed to add to the betterment of those who use and see it every day.”
This story was originally published by Startland News, a fellow member of the KC Media Collective.
