My wife found this incredible article from last year on Twitter. It features Red Sox Yaz (who got the only hit), Tony C, and Monbo among others, as well as a ton of insight from old friend Rene Lachmann.
When 59 Year-Old Satchel Paige Threw 3 Innings of 1-Hit Ball Vs. the Sox
- Thread starter Van Everyman
- Start date
That Satch to Yaz link is one of the best for playing six degrees of baseball. You have 1927 to 1983 covered with just two guys.
My favorite Satchel Paige story was his bet with Whitey Herzog when they were together in the minors.
Vin Scully tells amazing story about Satchel Paige winning bourbon from Whitey Herzog | For The Win (usatoday.com)
Satch had a bunch of different names for his pitches - the bee ball, trouble ball, jump ball, nothin' ball, and so on. But he was really just a two pitch pitcher. He had a fastball and a changeup, each of which he could throw exactly where he wanted. He might not have thrown the hardest in history (although someone 6' 5" who throws over the top can really get it up there), but he was probably the best control pitcher in the history of the game.
Vin Scully tells amazing story about Satchel Paige winning bourbon from Whitey Herzog | For The Win (usatoday.com)
Satch had a bunch of different names for his pitches - the bee ball, trouble ball, jump ball, nothin' ball, and so on. But he was really just a two pitch pitcher. He had a fastball and a changeup, each of which he could throw exactly where he wanted. He might not have thrown the hardest in history (although someone 6' 5" who throws over the top can really get it up there), but he was probably the best control pitcher in the history of the game.
Thanks @Van Everyman for sharing, a great Saturday morning read.
Went to the link @Max Power posted above and noticed there was a broken link to the video of Scully telling the story. Some Google magic found 3 minutes of pure baseball heaven. A joy to hear him tell the story, while Adrian Gonzalez proceeds to strike out looking was the cherry on top. Vin even thanked him for fouling off so many pitches to allow the story to natually flow to it's conculsion.
The only thing I can add is a story from my father, who grew up on the North Shore. He played for a minor league team (really low level) and Paige and his team were barnstorming and played a game against my father's team.
My father told me that he got to face Paige in three at bats and struck out all three times. He said he never saw the same pitch twice and that each and every pitch was right at the knees.
He said that Paige was far and away better than anyone he ever faced.
My father told me that he got to face Paige in three at bats and struck out all three times. He said he never saw the same pitch twice and that each and every pitch was right at the knees.
He said that Paige was far and away better than anyone he ever faced.
I posted this a while back on the Sports Card Mania board. Here he is, presumably on that day, all decked out in Charley O's gold and green.
