The Ballad of Satchel Paige

Destination Freedom. Destination Freedom, dramatization of the great democratic heritage of the Negro people, is brought to you by Station WMAQ as a part of the Pageant of History and of America's Own Destination Freedom. When the story of America's national sport is written, there has got to be in it one chapter from the fabulous career of the world champion Cleveland Indians pitching a Satchel Page.

Today Destination Freedom will play that chapter entitled, The Ballad of Satchel Page. First played on a baseball field Some say he put out Caesar when old Julius tried to steal Some say he learned about curse Watching and in his Cleopatra But it ain't no truth in the story That Miss Thuz allow wise his catcher

Whoa, such a such a peach Nobody tired to bother about his ease Because he was the best pitcher, that the good Lord ever made. Case history of the legend starts this way. Mobile, a kid named Leroy Page, roamed like a tumbleweed through the streets.

Pitch bricks at tin cans on back fences when he played hooky from Oakdale High back near the bay. Struck out scrawny kids in sandlot ball games. built a pigeon arm and played against pro players who strayed down to the rough south side of town and Sent them scurrying off with wild tales of a kid who had a baseball train like a hawk

It could tear the heart out of home plate Stood six feet three in his stocking feet Could bend back like bamboo Could dust ash off a smoker cigar with a brick at 60 feet And when he was 16-sombers old, he heard about a baseball team in Chattanooga that was open to Negro ball players.