Originally published in 1948 from interviews conducted and set down by Cleveland sports writer Hal Lebovitz, this work, the autobiography of one of the most colorful and talented players to play professional baseball, is at once the story of a person and a unique and valuable document in the history of baseball. As John Holway puts it in his preface, "there were at least three Satchel Paiges. One was the star pitcher of baseball legend. Another was the droll humorist and minstrel show end-man. The third was the least known of all, the revolutionary who helped effect a sea change in the game - and in American society as a whole. Jackie Robinson symbolized the revolution, but Satchel had been one of the crucial pioneers who helped force open the door so Jackie later could walk through." In this book, we see the first two sides of Satchel Paige quite clearly. He was without a doubt a media star who used his newly acquired visibility to enchant and enliven professional sports and the literature that feeds off it. But, while his greatest playing days were spent outside the major leagues, the bottom line was that Paige - like many other Negro League greats - had vast reserves of talent to bring to white-dominated baseball, racking up major wins in his seasons with the Cleveland Indians. The story of Paige the revolutionary is here as a subtext. Under his account of his rise from poverty, his life on the road with the Kansas City Monarchs, his pitching duels with black greats, the winning of a major league contract, and his joining the Indians, there is a serious story that in many ways parallels any struggle to succeed against a battery of odds. That Paige retained his sense of humor and his ability to charm, is a testament to the man whose nickname became so thoroughly a household word and whose record established him as one of the all-time greats of baseball.

Pitchin' Man: Satchel Paige's Own Story (Baseball and American Society 20)

Lebovitz, Hal

Paige, LeRoy Satchel

Sports & Outdoors

Mecklermedia

""Maybe I'll Pitch Forever"" is a memoir written by LeRoy ""Satchel"" Paige, one of the greatest baseball players of all time. In this book, Paige shares his hilarious and captivating story behind his legendary career. He takes readers on a journey through his life, from his humble beginnings in Mobile, Alabama to his rise to fame as a pitcher in the Negro Leagues and eventually in Major League Baseball. Paige's storytelling is filled with colorful anecdotes, witty humor, and insightful reflections on his experiences as a black athlete during a time of segregation and discrimination in America. He shares stories of his encounters with other baseball greats like Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio, as well as his own personal struggles and triumphs on and off the field. Throughout the book, Paige's love for the game of baseball shines through, and readers will be inspired by his passion and dedication to the sport. ""Maybe I'll Pitch Forever"" is a must-read for any baseball fan or anyone interested in the history of American sports and culture.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Maybe I'll Pitch Forever: A Great Baseball Player Tells The Hilarious Story Behind The Legend

Biographies & Memoirs

Community & Culture

Literary Licensing, LLC

“It might have been” different if Satchel Paige were White? If Satchel Paige had not existed in real life, then some writer would have had to create him. The baseball world is truly fortunate that LeRoy Robert “Satchel” Paige did exist. This book is his story, in his words, as told to David Lipman. Paige was an American baseball player. He pitched in the American Negro Leagues as early as 1926. For 22 years he was widely believed to be the world’s best pitcher. He probably was, but he was Black and that made all the difference. It was not until 1948 on his 42nd birthday that he signed with the Cleveland Indians, he became the oldest rookie in baseball history. He pitched for three Major League clubs in six different years. They were the Cleveland Indians in 1948 and 1949 and The St Louis Browns in from 1951 to 1953. With the Kansas City Royals in 1965, he started his last major leagues game at age 59. He pitched only in the minor leagues three years and exhibition games after that. This book’s title, “Maybe I’ll Pitch Forever” repeats one of his many folksy quotes. He was still pitching at age 65 and it did indeed seem like “forever.” In 1971 Satchel Paige was elected to Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. He was the first Negro League player to be so honored. He was a popular baseball personality and spectacular star. He was witty, charismatic and an ultimate drawing card. Baseball fans flocked to see him perform his magic that he never failed to deliver. Maybe once in a decade such a super star comes along, with that fine combining athletic skill and likable personality. For him, fans would stand in long lines for tickets. They came not only to see the game, but to watch a legend live up to his reputation. Satchel Paige was such a magnetic sports figure. For twenty-two years in the Negro Leagues he was the best. His reputation was so special that club owners knew their ballpark would be full once they announced that he was pitching. Owners could simply schedule him and count the money. Satchel played for a fair share of that money. Any unfair owner would find that his “Golden Goose” had flown the coop, never to return. He could be called the “legendary” Satchel Paige. Who could believe the legends of his marvelous feats? Did he really pitch in over 2,500 games? And did he really win over 2,000 of them? He pitched over 100 no-hitters? His Negro League statistics do not support those claims. That, of course, is a problem. The obscure universe where he played did not consistently retain league results. Negro League records show him with only 226 wins. That is surely too low.

Maybe I'll Pitch Forever: A great baseball Player tells the hilarious story behind the legend

Baseball

Ishi Press

In 1948 LeRoy “Satchel” Paige became a Major League baseball star. In truth, he had always been a star, just not like this. This was his dream come true. For twenty-two years he had been a Major League baseball legend, but in another venue. His venue had been in the Negro Leagues and his “America” was the segregated one. Now all that changed, and he was a star on a White Major League baseball team, the Cleveland Indians. The 1947 the sudden integration of baseball caught everyone by surprise. Those who controlled professional sports had held the line against integration since 1884. Today’s baseball fans cannot imagine an all White Major League or for that matter an all White NFL, NBA or NHL. Well, perhaps the last one can be imaged, but for sixty-two years it was that way. Sports were all White, all the time, and it seemed like it would go on like that forever. Most fans knew it was wrong and wanted integration, but the strong southern racist mind set stood firm. It had to change and finally in 1944, the “old turkey neck buzzard” Kennesaw Mountain Landis “kicked the bucket.” His death was a good thing. Now nobody was left to keep Blacks out of Big League Baseball. No great parties of celebration were held, but people of good will started to work immediately to force the sports world to grow up. By the end of 1947, three Blacks were on Major League rosters and many more were in the minor leagues. So on his 42nd birthday, LeRoy “Satchel” Paige became the oldest rookie in baseball history. He was the “toast of the town” and that town, of course, was Cleveland, Ohio. In the Black world, Satchel Paige was a pitching legend. In the White world folks did not know how good he really was, but many White major league players knew exactly how good he was. That was because many top stars had played against him in exhibition games.

Pitchin' Man

Children's Books

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