Satchel Paige

 Let us pause and point out a few things about Leroy Page. First of all he changed the spelling of surname to Paige because he thought it sounded more high-toned. Secondly, at age seven his mother put him to work in a train station to earn a few coins carrying suitcases and satchels. His nickname came from that work. Fortunately he became Satchel Paige rather than Suitcase Paige. Satchel grew up in Jim Crow Mobile avoiding truant officers, po-lice officers, and reform schools. This was difficult because Satchel was always doing things that got him noticed. He claimed to have been born in 1906 but nobody knows for sure. There was no family Bible with that information in it as far as anybody knows.

Satchel liked pretty women, the whiter the better, and big fancy cars. Hard to live on the straight and narrow with that kind of lifestyle.

He was known for his witty sayings.

Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you.

Avoid running. It riles up the stomach.

Ain't nothing in the world better than baked catfish.

Age is a matter of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter.

(To be continued. There is so much stuff to talk about with Satch)

Furthermore Satchel Paige could pitch. Fact is, he was probably as good as any pitcher who ever took the mound. He could throw every pitch and some the likes of which nobody had ever seen before. He threw from different angles with high leg kicks. The batter never know what was coming. He was over 40 before he had a chance to pitch in the white man's game. He made the most of it. He was known for his control. Everybody who ever saw him pitch could vouch for that. Don't look back he counseled. Something might be gaining on you. But I can't help looking back on Satch. He was one of a kind.