Father Time is Coming by J. Patrick Lewis

Satchel Paige once said, "I never threw an illegal pitch. The trouble is, once in a while I would toss one that ain’t never been seen by this generation." J. Patrick Lewis discusses some of those unseen pitches through this great tribute called "Father Time is Coming." *

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"Money and women. They're two of the strongest things in the world. The things you do for a woman you wouldn't do for anything else. Same with money." - Satchel Paige

"Father Time is Coming" *
Leroy "Satchel" Paige
1906?-1982

by J. Patrick Lewis ©

Out of a windmill windup,
the whipcord arm grooves a dartball
on a string past the hopeful, waiting
at the plate for a miracle.

It might have been the bee ball,
the looper,
the drooper,
the jump ball,
the wobbly ball,
the two-hump blooper,
the bat dodger,
the famous hesi-
tation pitch,
or the radioball ("You hears it,
but you never sees it").

Joe DiMaggio couldn't hit him.
And said so.

Babe Ruth never faced him.
Lucky Bambino.

"I'm Satchel," he said,
"I do as I do."

"Father Time is Coming" by J. Patrick Lewis
baseball almanac flat baseball

baseball almanac fast facts

* Casey Stengel, manager of the New York Yankees, warning his players to score runs early because the St. Louis Browns would soon be sending in Satchel Paige to relieve the starting pitcher.

Those who enjoyed "Father Time is Coming" by J. Patrick Lewis might want to check out some of these other poems he has contributed to Baseball Almanac: A Swing And A Miss, Baseball Parks and Reasons for Rainbows (or check out his website for even more).

Joe DiMaggiocalled Satchel Paige"the best and fastest pitcher I've ever faced." - Source: The Satchel Paige Biography by CMG Worldwide (2004)