Your biggest what if's and thoughts on Tony Conigliaro?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Seven

It would have been a sight to see Satchel Paige, pitch to Babe Ruth or Walter Johnson pitch to Oscar Charleston.

How about Lefty Grove pitching to Josh Gibson? Another match up we were robbed of.

Would've been even more interesting to see what teams these guys would have played on.

I believe Paige did pitch to Ruth in exhibitions. If memory serves Buck O'Neill recounted Ruth homering off him but I'll have to check.

Here 'tis.
Ken Burns's documentary on baseball included an interview with Negro League player Buck O'Neil. Here is a portion of the interview:

Is there one moment in all of baseball you wish you could have seen?

I wish I could have been there when Babe Ruth pointed and hit the ball out of the ballpark in the 1932 World Series. I wish I could have seen that. But I did see something I admired just about as much, with Satchel Paige and Babe Ruth. This was in Chicago, after Ruth came out of the major leagues. He was barnstorming, playing with different teams, and he played us. Satchel was pitching and Ruth was hitting. Satchel threw Ruth the ball and Ruth hit the ball, must have been 500 feet, off of Satchel. Satchel looked at Ruth all the way around the bases and when Ruth got to home plate, you know who shook his hand? Satchel Paige shook Ruth's hand at home plate.

They stopped the game and waited, he and Satchel talking, until the kid went out, got the ball, brought it back and Satchel had Babe Ruth autograph that ball for him. That was some kind of moment.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I believe Paige did pitch to Ruth in exhibitions. If memory serves Buck O'Neill recounted Ruth homering off him but I'll have to check.

Here 'tis.
Ken Burns's documentary on baseball included an interview with Negro League player Buck O'Neil. Here is a portion of the interview:

Is there one moment in all of baseball you wish you could have seen?

I wish I could have been there when Babe Ruth pointed and hit the ball out of the ballpark in the 1932 World Series. I wish I could have seen that. But I did see something I admired just about as much, with Satchel Paige and Babe Ruth. This was in Chicago, after Ruth came out of the major leagues. He was barnstorming, playing with different teams, and he played us. Satchel was pitching and Ruth was hitting. Satchel threw Ruth the ball and Ruth hit the ball, must have been 500 feet, off of Satchel. Satchel looked at Ruth all the way around the bases and when Ruth got to home plate, you know who shook his hand? Satchel Paige shook Ruth's hand at home plate.

They stopped the game and waited, he and Satchel talking, until the kid went out, got the ball, brought it back and Satchel had Babe Ruth autograph that ball for him. That was some kind of moment.

I haven't watched it in several years...thanks for reminding me what a treasure Buck was.

.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

I haven't watched it in several years...thanks for reminding me what a treasure Buck was.

.

Speaking of him, what's the connection among Babe Ruth, Josh Gibson, and Bo Jackson?

[Peter_Spaeth]

I can't find it online, but O'Neil recounts in his inimitable style an epic confrontation in which Paige struck out Josh Gibson after walking the bases full to face him.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Speaking of him, what's the connection among Babe Ruth, Josh Gibson, and Bo Jackson?

All three have 8-10 letters in their names.

Babe or George, it matters not.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

All three have 8-10 letters in their names.

Babe or George, it matters not.

That's a fine guess, doc. But what's that got to do, got to do with Buck O'Neil?

[Butch7999]

They all dated Tina Turner at some point?

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

That's a fine guess, doc. But what's that got to do, got to do with Buck O'Neil?

Buck O’Neil has 10 letters.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

Buck O’Neil has 10 letters.

Actually, 9.

Dam.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Speaking of him, what's the connection among Babe Ruth, Josh Gibson, and Bo Jackson?

I believe it was a story. I do remember somewhere O'Neill telling a story, when he (correct me if I am wrong) was working for the Royal's. He may have been involved in an interview or something, but something was occupying his attention when he heard a sound of a ball being hit by a bat. He then said something along the lines of that the only time in his life he heard that sound was when Babe Ruth hit a ball, Josh Gibson hit a ball and Bo Jackson hit a ball.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Seven

I believe it was a story. I do remember somewhere O'Neill telling a story, when he (correct me if I am wrong) was working for the Royal's. He may have been involved in an interview or something, but something was occupying his attention when he heard a sound of a ball being hit by a bat. He then said something along the lines of that the only time in his life he heard that sound was when Babe Ruth hit a ball, Josh Gibson hit a ball and Bo Jackson hit a ball.

Yep. It's mesmerizing the way he tells it, wish I could find it. The best part, and it's probably a tall tale, was when he first heard Gibson, he says he was in the locker room at Griffith Stadium and the home team was taking batting practice and he hears a sound like when Ruth hit and he ran out in his underwear to find out what was going on and he saw Gibson.

The best part of the whole interview was when he said very directly, without bitterness, but without the slightest hesitation, there never should have been a Negro League. Chilling.

And speaking of Gibson, just put this picture in the dictionary for "catcher."