Satchel Paige Could Wing That Ball

He never looked back

On this date in history - June 8 - stuff happened. Sorry to sound so unceremonious. However, for baseball fans, June 8 is a day to remember Leroy Robert “Satchel” Paige. The great pitcher died on June 8, 1982 in Kansas City, Missouri. He was 75 years old.

In commemoration of the hurler’s life and sporting accomplishments, a new book is being released by Larry Tye entitled “Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend.” In addition, Erik Ofgang reports for The News-Times that a new film documentary “Pitching Man: Satchel Paige Defying Time” is being released. These are two new lights in the annals of memory celebrating this unique man who is believed to have won over 2,000 games in his career, which spanned America’s Negro Leagues, Mexican baseball, barnstorming and Major League Baseball (first at 42, then at 59 years old). At a time when the way was shut for African-American players in the Major Leagues, Satchel Paige was the face of the Negro Leagues, an attraction few other players of his day could match. His pre sence was like a constant cash advance for the gate receipts, and as he moved from team to team, he was a loan of greatness to each.

“I never rush myself. See, they can’t start the game without me.“

As M.B. Roberts writes for ESPN.com, Satchel Paige threw more pitches for more fans in more places around the world than anyone else has. He hurled those pitches with uncanny control  and a bewildering array of motions that made simple two-seam, four-seam and cut fastballs (as well as a great slow ball) seem like 10,000 different pitches, each hurled at a different speed and angle than the next. I’m sure that Bugs Bunny’s mound acumen was based in no small part upon the wizardry of Satchel Paige (throw in a d ash of Dizzy Dean and you’ve probably got it): ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Satchel Paige Could Wing That Ball"