"Satchel Paige had a very, very good fastball......
But the first time I faced Satchel, he threw me a little breaking ball, just to see what I could do, and I hit it off the top of the fence.
I got a double.
When I got to second, Satchel told the third baseman:
'Let me know when that little boy comes back up.'
Three innings later, I go to kneel down in the on-deck circle, and I hear the third baseman say:
'There he is.'
Satch looked at the third baseman, and then he looked at me.
I walk halfway to home plate and he says:
'Little boy.'
I say, 'Yes, sir?' because Satch was much older than I am, so I was trying to show respect.
He walked halfway to home plate and said:
'Little boy, I'm not going to trick you.
I'm going to throw you three fastballs and you're going to go sit down' and I'm saying in my mind:
'I DOOON'T THINK SOOOOOO.
If he threw me three of the same pitch, I'm going to hit it somewhere.
I turned to the catcher and asked:
“What does he mean?”
Catcher told me:
“He’s going to throw you three fast balls.
Nothing else.”
He threw me two fastballs and I just swung.....
I swung right through it.....
And the third ball he threw, and I tell people this all the time, he threw the ball and as he let go he said:
'Go sit down.'
This is while the ball was in the air.
Yes, he struck me out with three pitches.
He was just magnificent."
17 year old Willie Mays facing Satchel Paige for the first time.
As we look back celebrating some of our best moments of 2023, we look forward to all to come in 2024.
Let's do a giveaway. RT this for a chance for you and a guest to play the course that will host the 2024 U.S. Open, Pinehurst No. 2. We'll add a round on The Cradle, a night's accomodations and dinner in the new Carolina Vista Lounge.
43 years as head 🏈 coach, 41 years as head track coach. Absolute legend.. So successful on the field, but I can’t even imagine how many young people he has positively impacted, and the number of coaches who have learned from him. A job well done @beale_wbeale !!
I woke up this morning really having to use the bathroom. I "rushed" immediately to the toilet which was roughly 3yds from the hotel room bed.
It was at that moment I realized I had just "rushed" for more yards than south carolina did last night vs the tarheels. #petty#cfb
It seems that so many wonderful people are leaving this world, and now Jimmy Buffett is one of them. I’ve known Jimmy for some time and found him to be one of the kindest and most generous people.
I remember once on holiday when I had forgotten to bring my guitar and was itching to play. He said he would get me one of his, but I said, ‘I’m left-handed’. So, Jimmy had his roadie restring one of his guitars which he loaned me for the duration of the holiday. He then followed this act of generosity by giving me my own beautiful left-handed guitar that had been made by one of his guitar-making pals. It’s a beautiful instrument, and every time I play it now it’ll remind me of what a great man Jimmy was.
He had a most amazing lust for life and a beautiful sense of humour. When we swapped tales about the past his were so exotic and lush and involved sailing trips and surfing and so many exciting stories that it was hard for me to keep up with him.
Right up to the last minute his eyes still twinkled with a humour that said, ‘I love this world and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it’.
So many of us will miss Jimmy and his tremendous personality. His love for us all, and for mankind as a whole.
Last, but not least, is his songwriting and vocal ability. If someone made an interesting remark he repeated it in his gorgeous Louisiana drawl and said, ‘That’s a good idea for a song’. Most times it didn’t take too long for that song to appear. I was very happy to have played on one of his latest songs called ‘My Gummy Just Kicked In’. We had a real fun session and he played me some of his new songs. One, in particular, I loved was the song, ‘Bubbles Up’. And I told him that not only was the song great but the vocal was probably the best I’ve heard him sing ever. He turned a diving phrase that is used to train people underwater into a metaphor for life when you’re confused and don’t know where you are just follow the bubbles - they’ll take you up to the surface and straighten you out right away.
So long, Jim. You are a very special man and friend and it was a great privilege to get to know you and love you. Bubbles up, my friend.
Love, Paul
@mattmoran_music FloydFest is fantastic. Venue issue this year so it’s not happening. @49winchester & @themorganwade were both On the Rise artists at the festival. I’m pretty sure @theavettbros were as well. Plus it is in absolutely beautiful Floyd, VA
@ct519 They were in Roanoke a while back but @49winchester was there the night before & I couldn’t miss Isaac, Tim, Bus and the boys. Steel Woods definitely on my want to see list