| BrowneeLast night I caught a movie entitled "A | | | | the story to be "Give or take a lie or two" as |
| Winner Never Quits"that was produced and/or | | | | quoted 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) an | | | | amazing thing about Pete Gray and his" success |
| outfielder. Gray had blazing speed on the bases | | | | on the baseball diamond" is that when as a young |
| and was able to cover a great range of real | | | | player he was a "righty", but due to a horrible |
| estate in his outfield position. Gray had an | | | | truck accident that occurred before his teens he |
| incredible eye for the ball while at bat and | | | | had 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 steals | | | | Play" the game he taught himself to throw "left |
| while playing for the "Chicks" minor league baseball | | | | handed" and excel in it. Gray would catch the ball |
| organization in the Southern Association league | | | | with his left handed glove, quickly put the glove |
| during the 1940's. While playing for the "Chicks" he | | | | and ball under his right armpit, remove the ball |
| earned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award I | | | | with his left hand and get the ball back into play |
| know for at least one season. Gray's | | | | with "catlike quickness". Now for competition "on |
| achievements and his prospects for being an even | | | | the 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 the | | | | disability" such as this and excel in the major sport |
| St. Louis Browns major league baseball team.Well | | | | of baseball is an astounding accomplishment. |
| as his life story goes in the movie he started off | | | | Required of course is a "dedication to the course" |
| and was doing reasonably well with the St. Louis | | | | and "unwillingness of the individual to ever give up". |
| Browns, but as we all sometimes experience his | | | | As the title of the movie implies "A Winner Never |
| "bat got cold" and he "slumped" in his batting | | | | Quits", but I'll go one more line further that I have |
| average dropped into an unacceptable mid 200 | | | | also heard quoted "A Winner Never Quits and A |
| range. Management of the Browns would not | | | | Quitter Never Wins". Pete Gray was a winner |
| tolerate his "ineffective and/or cold bat" and | | | | who never lost sight of his goal to play "big time" |
| "benched" him and replaced him with another | | | | baseball and wouldn't let anything, including his |
| young and promising star at his position in left | | | | disability, hold him back from his dreams. He just |
| field. Well as it so happens Gray upon going to the | | | | wouldn't quit.Pete Gray's glove is enshrined in the |
| majors was most eagerly looking forward,along | | | | Baseball 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 and | | | | of the story".Brownee, I'm sure you know this |
| friends arrived for the "big game" only to find | | | | story 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 spectacular | | | | wanted 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 the | | | | still fresh on my mind. Keep up the good work |
| field of play". Not only did he play he delivered a | | | | and let me hear from you. Take this writing and |
| key hit that placed himself on first and a | | | | put into your "memory bank" and write |
| teammate on third. With his blazing speed he | | | | something 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 "high | | | | horses in the stables to order a truck load of oats |
| over the left field wall" and back into the fans to | | | | at a wholesale price discount.Go For It.BaileyMajor |
| "rob a homer" that would have cost the Browns | | | | Wiley B. Channell USMC (retired) proudly shares |
| the game. This was a day for Pete Gray, his | | | | human interest and baseball with all at for your |
| team, family and fans to remember for "the rest | | | | pleasure. |
| of their days". Well that's the way I remember | | | | |