A born rock thrower

As a member of the Society for American Baseball Research, I have accumulated some interesting history. One item I picked up was a 1948 booklet published by the Cleveland News that contained oral interviews with Satchel Paige, arguably the greatest pitcher of all time.

Satchel, who got that nickname because as a young boy he could tote more satchels than any other bag handler at the Mobile, Alabama train depot, explains, “I was called Satchel because first they saw the satchels – then they saw me.”

He tells the story of being a kid in a gang.

“We had the best sham battlin’ crew in Mobile Bay and I was known as the straightest brick thrower in Mobile.

“Y’understand now, I didn’t learn to be a brick thrower. It was born in me.

“I was born with speed and control. I came into the world with both right from the start. Course I didn’t realize I had a gift till I began to pitch professional baseball, but I shoulda known early. I shoulda known when I throwed my first brick.

“If the fellow I was throwin’ at hid behind a tree or pole, I’d get him anyhow, long as he left a little backside stickin’ out. And if they hid complete I’d wait ‘til they did a little peekin’, then wham, I got my man.

“You won’t believe it, but I learned my hesistation pitch throwin’ bricks. If a man was throwin’ at you, you wouldn’t just stand there, you’d duck. But if a man started to throw and you ducked, and then he stopped, where would you be?

“Why you’d be standin’ there duckin’ with your bare face, ready to be bongoed big as you please.

“That’s exactly how I studied my hesitation pitch. I start my throw. The target ducks, I hesitate. He’s still duckin’. Wham, I got my man.

“Years later, after some of my pitchin’ speed wore out, I remembered that old fooler hesitation pitch.

“Now I know I ain’t shy, and I know you ain’t goin’ to believe what I say right now, but this is fact: When I went swimmin’ with my gang, the Oakdale School crowd didn’t throw no bricks at us. Those Oakdale boys knew I was the best brick thrower in Mobile.

“So did the lady truant officer. I should remember her name ‘cause she came ‘round to my house so often. But I don’t. All I remember is we called her Mrs. Police. She would come to our homes and report “So and so is down throwin’ bricks at the mules and chickens.”

“Had to keep our arms sharp, y’understand.

“But I never got in no serious trouble. Knocked a few fellows unconscious, but nothin’ serious. I know there’s lotsa head knots runnin’ round Mobile right now that I helped raise.

“When I stang those fellows then, they didn’t like me nohow.

“Know what they say now? They show the knot and say, nice and proud, “See this lump—Satchel grew it.”

“Keeps their hats from flyin’ off.”

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