Mural for a Monarch: Bridge art to honor Kansas City icon Buck O’Neil

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - For nearly two years, Kansas City drivers had to find alternate routes from the Buck O’Neil Bridge.

The flyover ramp was torn down and rebuilt, once again welcoming commuters at the end of 2024, but soon it won’t just be the new ramp turning heads.

At the intersection of 3rd and Broadway, the exterior of the bridge is getting a fresh coat of paint and a mural honoring the baseball great. The mural is still in its early stages, but the artist bringing it to life is a familiar name in Kansas City.

Phil Shafer, commonly known as Sike Style, was selected as the artist to paint the bridge’s newest artwork. He’s been the artist behind a number of iconic murals around Kansas City, including the “Mahomes magic mural” on the south wall of Westport Ale House.

Shafer said every piece is unique, but the connection to Buck O’Neil makes this one particularly special.

“I my dad taking me to Royals games in the 90’s and he would introduce me to this guy,” Shafer said. “I had no idea what the context was or who Buck O’Neil was until later on in life, but he made sure that I made a connection with him and got to shake his hand and say hello. It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to memorialize Buck O’Neil in this bridge mural and for me to be able to tell his story like I’ve been telling with the help of the Negro Leagues Museum.”

Shafer said the mural will sit along 3rd Street and wrap around west towards the West Bottoms. He said as long as the weather is nice, he hopes to have the mural done by May 2025.

Buck O’Neil played for the Kansas City Monarchs from 1838-1943, served in World War and then resumed his playing days from 1946-1955. He managed the team the last eight seasons of his career.

O’Neill established the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City in 1990.

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