The Pete Gray Story as Told by My Brother

BrowneeLast night I caught a movie entitled "Athe story to be "Give or take a lie or two" as
Winner Never Quits"that was produced and/orquoted by James Garner in his starring role of
released for viewing in 1986. It was a biography"Wyatt Earp" in the western movie "Sunset".The
of Pete Gray (played by actor Keith Carradine) anamazing thing about Pete Gray and his" success
outfielder. Gray had blazing speed on the baseson the baseball diamond" is that when as a young
and was able to cover a great range of realplayer he was a "righty", but due to a horrible
estate in his outfield position. Gray had antruck accident that occurred before his teens he
incredible eye for the ball while at bat andhad to have his right arm amputated. With the
maintained a very respectable batting average."Love of Baseball" in his heart and the "Desire to
Gray with his speed set records for base stealsPlay" the game he taught himself to throw "left
while playing for the "Chicks" minor league baseballhanded" and excel in it. Gray would catch the ball
organization in the Southern Association leaguewith his left handed glove, quickly put the glove
during the 1940's. While playing for the "Chicks" heand ball under his right armpit, remove the ball
earned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award Iwith his left hand and get the ball back into play
know for at least one season. Gray'swith "catlike quickness". Now for competition "on
achievements and his prospects for being an eventhe playground" is one thing, but to develop the
greater contributor to baseball "paved the way"skills necessary to "overcome a handicap or
for his "call up" from the minors to play for thedisability" such as this and excel in the major sport
St. Louis Browns major league baseball team.Wellof baseball is an astounding accomplishment.
as his life story goes in the movie he started offRequired of course is a "dedication to the course"
and was doing reasonably well with the St. Louisand "unwillingness of the individual to ever give up".
Browns, but as we all sometimes experience hisAs the title of the movie implies "A Winner Never
"bat got cold" and he "slumped" in his battingQuits", but I'll go one more line further that I have
average dropped into an unacceptable mid 200also heard quoted "A Winner Never Quits and A
range. Management of the Browns would notQuitter Never Wins". Pete Gray was a winner
tolerate his "ineffective and/or cold bat" andwho never lost sight of his goal to play "big time"
"benched" him and replaced him with anotherbaseball and wouldn't let anything, including his
young and promising star at his position in leftdisability, hold him back from his dreams. He just
field. Well as it so happens Gray upon going to thewouldn't quit.Pete Gray's glove is enshrined in the
majors was most eagerly looking forward,alongBaseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.Now as Paul
with his family, to his "playing against the Yanks"Harvey would say: "And now you know the rest
in "The House that Ruth Built" Well the family andof the story".Brownee, I'm sure you know this
friends arrived for the "big game" only to findstory about Pete Gray and his disability and how
their son and hometown hero "sitting the bench".he fought back to "stay a winner" when all the
However, midway during the game the"odds were against him". Nevertheless, I just
replacement left fielder while making a spectacularwanted to share my understanding of his life
catch injured his leg and had to leave the game.story (per the movie script) with you while it was
Gray was called on once again to "return to thestill fresh on my mind. Keep up the good work
field of play". Not only did he play he delivered aand let me hear from you. Take this writing and
key hit that placed himself on first and aput into your "memory bank" and write
teammate on third. With his blazing speed hesomething special someday pertaining to this
"stole second" easily and with a subsequent hit by"Courageous Athlete" when you can get
the following batter he "scored on the heels" of"around-to-it". You might consider a topic entitled
the player on third. This inning put the Browns in"Athletes with Disabilities" if there are enough
the lead. Then to end the game Gray went "highhorses in the stables to order a truck load of oats
over the left field wall" and back into the fans toat a wholesale price discount.Go For It.BaileyMajor
"rob a homer" that would have cost the BrownsWiley B. Channell USMC (retired) proudly shares
the game. This was a day for Pete Gray, hishuman interest and baseball with all at for your
team, family and fans to remember for "the restpleasure.
of their days". Well that's the way I remember