Baseball Hall to induct O’Neil, Hodges, Minoso

Buck O’Neil, a champion of Black ballplayers during a monumental, eight-decade career on and off the field, joined Gil Hodges, Minnie Minoso and three others in being elected to the baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday.

Former Twins teammates Tony Oliva and Jim Kaat also were chosen along with Bud Fowler by a pair of veterans committees.

Oliva and Kaat are the only living new members. Dick Allen, who died last December, fell one vote shy of election.

The 16-member Early Days and Golden Days committees met separately in Orlando, Florida. The election announcement was originally scheduled to coincide with the big league winter meetings, which were nixed because of the MLB lockout.

The six newcomers will be enshrined in Cooperstown, New York, on July 24, 2022, along with any new members elected by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

College football: Alabama’s leading passcatcher, junior WR John Metchie III, will miss the top-ranked Crimson Tide’s College Football Playoff semifinal matchup against No. 4 Cincinnati on Dec. 31 with a “significant” ACL injury, coach Nick Saban said Sunday. Metchie, who has 96 receptions, suffered the injury during Saturday’s victory over Georgia in the SEC championship game. ... Miami is in extensive discussions with Oregon’s Mario Cristobal to make him the next Hurricanes coach, ESPN reported. Cristobal, a Miami native and a former Hurricanes offensive lineman and assistant, also has a lucrative contract offer from Oregon to remain Ducks coach. Miami hasnot fired coach Manny Diaz.

Soccer: Substitute Talles Magno scored in the 88th minute and visiting New York City FC rallied to reach its first ever MLS Cup with a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union. New York City FC will face the host Portland Timbers in Saturday’s final.