Maybe I'll Pitch Forever [Paperback]

Leroy Satchel Paige (Author), John B. Holway (Introduction), David Lipman (Afterword, Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1993

Satchel Paige was forty-two years old in 1948 when he became the first black pitcher in the American League. Although the oldest rookie around, he was already a legend. For twenty-two years, beginning in 1926, Paige dazzled throngs with his performance in the Negro Baseball Leagues. Then he outlasted everyone by playing professional baseball, in and out of the majors, until 1965. Struggle—against early poverty and racial discrimination—was part of Paige's story. So was fast living and a humorous point of view. His immortal advice was "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you."

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Originally published in 1962, Paige's autobiography is as enticingly full of personality as the fabulous pitcher himself. Paige's career overflowed with legend from beginning to end; the most compelling character to come out of the Negro Leagues, he finally broke into the Majors as a relatively old man in his 40s, and continued to stymie Big League hitters on and off until he could finally sit back and collect Social Security. Paige lived large, casting a giant shadow on and off the diamond as he battled prejudice with a disarming mixture of skill--during the barnstorming era of the '20s and '30s, the white stars of game hated facing him--and an unforgettable wit: "Don't look back," he counselled, "something might be gaining on you." His breezy autobiography is colorful, spirited, conversational, and immodest, but as Satch would be the first to admit, he had very little to be modest about. The literature of the game is more vivid for its presence. --Jeff Silverman

Review

''Lipman . . . has preserved the flavor and cadence of Paige's conversation and writes his story honestly, avoiding neither the tragedies nor the escapades which mark his career.'' --Booklist

''Not only was Satchel Paige an amazing athlete, he was one of the great American humorists in the tradition of Mark Twain, Will Rogers, and Yogi Berra. The most famous black player of his era shines through the pages of this remarkable autobiography.'' --John B. Holway, author of Voices from the Great Black Baseball Leagues and The Complete Book of the Negro Leagues

''Paige's autobiography is as enticingly full of personality as the fabulous pitcher himself . . . His breezy autobiography is colorful, spirited, conversational, and immodest, but as Satch would be the first to admit, he had very little to be modest about. The literature of the game is more vivid for its presence.'' --Amazon.com Review --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 299 pages
• Publisher: Bison Books; First Printing edition (January 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803287321
• ISBN-13: 978-0803287327
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #763,279 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a well-done tribute to one of the best, May 18, 1999

By 

J. K. Kelley "literary mercenary" (Eastern WA, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Maybe I'll Pitch Forever (Paperback)

Any baseball buff worth his or her salt has heard of Satchel Paige. This book is a reprint of a book first published in 1962, so all the language is quite dated. Enjoyment of it requires a willingness to understand that 'coloured' and 'Negro' were once acceptable terms for black people without getting bent out of shape.

The co-author to whom the book was told by Mr. Paige did a good job, it seems, in standardizing Mr. Paige's English without losing his unique and very entertaining mode of expression. It is fairly entertaining and Mr. Paige displays a good deal of self-honesty concerning his strengths and weaknesses. There is a lot about how he felt at any given time in his career that gives real insight into himself and his peers.

The reasons you want to read this book are twofold. One, there's a lot of good baseball lore being told here. Two, and more importantly, this man gave his life to the game, showing courage and determination any American can be proud of. With all Mr. Paige missed out on due to the social structure of his time, to listen respectfully to his words now is one way to pay tribute to him.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poignant description of a shameful period., August 18, 2001

By 

ROBERT KINGSLEY (Fort Collins, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Maybe I'll Pitch Forever (Paperback)

One of the better first hand descriptions of the Negro Leagues by one of the all time great pitchers. Satchel Paige describes this shameful period in America's history in his own unique way, with homespun language and a flair for entertainment. Paige expresses the joy of playing baseball and the pain of not being allowed to play in the major leagues until late in his career.

This book will let you experience what it was like to be a member of the Negro Leagues with all the barnstorming, year round playing all over the western hemisphere, the games against the major leaguers, and the love of the game experienced on the backroads of America and the big stadiums of the large cities. These dedicated men paved the way for the intergration of baseball and changed the United States for the better.

If you love baseball, purchase this book and learn more about the history of the game - a history that was obscured by the bright lights of the segragated country and big leagues. You will learn about great players who put it all on the line for the grand old game.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He'll pitch forever in our hearts., August 15, 2006

By 

Dr. Fred R. Eichelman "arous" (Salem,, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Maybe I'll Pitch Forever (Paperback)

"Maybe I'll Pitch Forever" was written in the sixties and is in the words of Leroy (Satchel) Paige as told to David Limpman. It isn't his only book as I recall one from many years ago, but surely is the best. It is one of the best baseball books that I have had the honor of reading. Way back in August of 1948 I got to see Satchel pitch and win against the Washington Senators in Washington D.C.. They called him an old man then, however he proved to be very key to the Cleveland Indians winning the world championship in 1948. Had he been allowed in the majors when in his prime no pitcher would have a better major league record. Not even today. Great pitchers from the past like Bob Feller and Dizzy Dean all agree with that. Paige was an iron man and in the Negro Leagues would pitch many a time every game in a season. In exhibition games he struck out and defeated the top white stars in America. The book is a great baseball story that has both humor and a touch of sadness. Satchel Paige rose above racism and endured despite great hardship. He was not perfect by any means, he is quite honest about that, but beautifully talented and eventually a good family man. One wants to believe in a "Field of Dreams" and that "Hall of Famer" Satchel Paige is in the lineup with the other legends of baseball who books are still being written about to this day.