Proceeds from the ads below will be donated to the
Bob Wuesthoff scholarship fund.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005 |
On Age
You thought Roger Clemens was old at 43? Maybe Randy Johnson at 42? Nolan Ryan, who retired at 46? Hm. Get a load of this:
1 "Ol' Satch (Age 62?) Fans 2, Scores Win", AP story appearing in the Los Angeles Times, April 4, 1969.
Satchel Paige, estimated to be at least 62 years old [emphasis mine], hurled a scoreless inning Thursday night and gained credit for the victory as Atlanta defeated Richmond, 1-0, at Savannah, Ga.Paige tossed three innings for the Kansas City Athletics in 1965 at age 58. They certainly aren't making any more like Satch, that's for sure...Paige, who will retire before the season opens, yielded a lead off double, then delighted 4,000 fans by disposing of the next three batters on a pop fly and two strikeouts.1
1 "Ol' Satch (Age 62?) Fans 2, Scores Win", AP story appearing in the Los Angeles Times, April 4, 1969.
Comments:
Wonder how Satchel Paige did it? The Sonora Union Democrat (link to cut and paste below) has this:
""Avoid fried meats, which angry up the blood." That's Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige's advice on how to stay young."
Link: http://www.uniondemocrat.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=18402
""Avoid fried meats, which angry up the blood." That's Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige's advice on how to stay young."
Link: http://www.uniondemocrat.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=18402
interesting that he only threw 3 innings. apparently he only gave up 1 hit and no runs. did he get hurt, or was it a publicity stunt, or what?
I don't know if he was pulled because of injury, but it's interesting that his last pitching appearance before the KC game was in 1953 for the St. Louis Browns. He was released in February, 1954. Then KC signed him 9-10-65, pitched him in 1 game, and released him on 10-15-65. (Ain't Retrosheet.org grand!). Paige died June 8, 1982, at Kansas City.
The Athletics were 59-103 in 1965. It looks to me like bringing in Paige was a publicity stunt from the get go. And a really good one! I'd have bought a ticket, gone to the game, and framed the stub!
The Athletics were 59-103 in 1965. It looks to me like bringing in Paige was a publicity stunt from the get go. And a really good one! I'd have bought a ticket, gone to the game, and framed the stub!
The AP recap of the game does not make it sound like it was a stunt. How often do you let a player go three innings in one game if it was a stunt? I'd be willing to say, maybe, an out or three (think Mark Grace three years ago), but not three innings.
Newer› ‹Older
 |
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.