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I interviewed more than 50 Negro Leaguers in the late 1980s and early ‘90s, and almost every player had at least one story about Satchel Paige. One of my favorites came from an outfielder for the Kansas City Monarchs, Herman “Doc” Horn.
Horn was a rookie in 1950 with Kansas City when Paige, who was in between stints with the Major Leagues’ Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Browns, came to town with his Chicago American Giants, managed by childhood pal Double Duty Radcliffe.
Although Horn thought Paige was “every bit of 60 years old,” he was probably 44, or possibly 50, depending on who you believe (Paige lied about his age quite often).
The following is an excerpt from my interview with Horn:
“I heard so much about his hesitation pitch. He was with the Chicago American Giants. They said I was kinda cocky. I told him, ‘Old Man, you throw that ball in here right and I’ll carry it out onto Brooklyn Avenue!’ That was about 450 to 475 feet.
Satchel turned to my manager (Buck O’Neil) and said, ‘O’Neil, tell that youngster that don’t nobody carry me outta here. Especially in Kansas City! This is where I live!
So I told him, ‘Don’t throw that hesitation, throw it up here right.’ I never could understand how that man could do that (throw the hesitation pitch). He would put that left foot down and his arm is still coming. I never could understand that. He’d have you all messed up.
I said, ‘You throw it up here right and I’ll carry you outta here!’
He said, ‘Get set. I’m gonna throw you three straight fast balls.’
I said, ‘You don’t have to tell me that.’
He said, ‘One a little faster than the last one.’
Sure enough he did. I was just barely missing him. I struck out. I went 0 for 14 off him before I ever got a hit.
And he was every bit of 60 years old ’cause I was only 20. I’m quite sure he was. But he was handing you something, looked like an aspirin tablet. I really don’t know how he could do that.
The most astonishing part about it, the man had some little legs. From the waist down he looked like he had little sticks. Waist up he was big and he had long arms. He just snapped that ball. Before you knew it he had it by you. I don’t know where he got his power, but it must have been from that rocking motion he had. He was about 6’7” with big long feet.”
