Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1956-08-04
Goose And Satch
Top Funnyman
Athletes

SAND SPRINGS, Okla.-As a
veteran performer in sports show
business, Marques Haynes quail
flies as an expert on guys who are
both entertainers and athletes. On
being asked to rate the greatest
such combination players he has
seen, Marques said:
"Why, that's easy. First I'd
have to pick Goose Tatum, my part
ner with the Harlem Magicians.
And then: Satchel Paige. To me,
those two guys are not only truly
athletes, they also can hold their
own with the best of comedians. !"
Haynes, who has been busy this
summer working out details of the
Magicians' extensive 1861 sea-
son, is quite an entertainer-athlete
himself. He isn't called "the
worlds greatest dribbler" for
nothing. But when he begins to
talk about Goose and Satch, he
runs out of superlatives.
give said before and I'll say
again." he enthused, "that the big
gest kick | got out of our 170-game
schedule last season was watching
Goose pull off his funny capers.
Most of the time, | was familiar
with his routine, yet | enjoyed it
every night And, man, what a
combination Goose and Satch could
have BEEN"
Even the idea is funny.
Satch, speaking age-wise if in
no other way, could we'll be the
most amazing man in sports. He's
admitting 49 years of age now,
"and maybe couple more" Peo-
pie who claim they know swear
he was 56 this month, or will be
whenever his birthday rolls around
Yet he is one of the most effective
relief pitchers in the International
League. He's also the leading gate
attraction owned by Miami.
Satch and Goose have this ir
common: they're both naturals.
Neither one of them has to prac.
tice or contrive gags to be funny
Satch can start a stadium full OF
fans chuckling just by walking
out on the mound. With his BAT
fling windup, which is a startling
collection Of arms and legs, he car
send them into Mysteries. He is
a master of spoken humor, too
Stuff like this:
When / first came into baseball
30 years ago, I was six feet tai
and weighed 140 pounds. Now I'm
six feet, four and weigh 1876 pounds
If l keep on playing, I'll die fat
old man."
Goose Tatum tells about the time
he played in a game in Earl, Ark
1--WE got up there and discovered
the court was laid out in a two.
room gym. Our basket was in one
room and one in another with {
door separating the two halves Of
the court. The local team really
gave us a going over. Those fellas
sure knew how to get through
that door,"
Tatum, of course, is largely {
pantomimist. A part of his funny
stuff is built around basketball
such as his "head Shots" fancy
passing, hidden ball tricks. The
rest of his act is strictly show
business. And it is world famous
Both Satch and Goose, as Haynes
said, have been land are) remark.
able athletes. "All told" Goose
has estimated, IL must have played
in over $500 games. l keep track
by the number of shin splints
got" That figure is no exagger.
alton, for Goose was year-arouno
player almost Is years.
But last season he averaged al.
most so points a game. He played
in all of his and Haynes ITO games
And when the season ended las,
spring, he said he wasn't tired, al.
though he is SO years old. "You
can't imagine" he said, what g
rejuvenating effect money has or
your health. | don't think I've