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Today my guest will be Leroy Satchel-Page, one of the greatest pitchers of all times.
In the twilight of his fabulous career, Satch came to the majors, and in my humble opinion,
if Satchel-Page had come to the majors in his prime, he would have rewritten all of the record books.
I'll be chatting with Satchel-Page just as soon as we have this important message.
Satchel, I read quite frequently about Negro baseball.
They say that Negro baseball players have played as many as four baseball games in one day.
Has this ever happened to you?
Yes, it has, Jackie. We used to play it in the morning, and then in the twilight, then a night game.
Did you ever have to pitch more than one game on any one given day?
Yeah, I pitched in double hitters. Sometimes I pitched the first two.
Satchel, you pitched in both the American National League?
Yes, I did.
Is there a difference in the hitters in these leagues, or do you have to pitch in the American League the same way as you did in the National League?
I pitch the same way, Jackie. I just pitch out to every man. I stay on the outside corner until all the batters love, running knees, making them reach for the ball.
Is there a particular story that stands out in your mind, a personal triumph for Satchel Page, which would illustrate the kind of pitcher that everyone knows you to be?
Yes. When I was giving a try to go nine innings when I was with Cleveland in Chicago, and they sent Bob Feller and Bob Lemons to the bullpen to come get me if I didn't go the route.
I went the route and I shut Chicago out again after I was in Chicago. The next day Bob Feller pitched, I went and got him. The next day Lemons pitched, and I went and got him.
Three days in a row, huh?
Yeah.
Well, that's the kind of arm. How is it your arm stood up? Is it a certain kind of training that you did?
No, Jack. I stayed in condition when I first got into it. When we first went out to train, I would never get out of condition.
Now, I really think that sometimes we have too many pitchers like in the big league and they just don't have a chance to pitch, and that's when they go stale.
But see, I have to be on the diamond every day.
Well, Sats, your real name is Leroy, right?
That's right.
How did you happen to get the name of Satchel?
Jack, when I was a kid, I had a suitcase, and I used to have the balls and bats and mitts and everything belonged to me. And if they didn't let me play where I wanted, I would take my suitcase and go home.
That's quite interesting. It's like years ago when we used to play out in California. It was the same thing. Kids do it all the time, and it's another interesting story and another sidelight on Satchel Page.
Satch, thanks a lot for being with us, and good luck with your career.
And you're welcome.