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

“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.