“If you are good, people will be good to you. If you go to church, things will be better. You get out of life what you put into it.”
A crowd pleaser often referred
to as ‘Little Satch’
The Mayfield Clothiers were in the Kitty League cellar with a 20-31 record. Pittsburgh Pirates scouts Frank Rickey (brother of Pirates GM Branch Rickey) and Bill Burwell were in town signing local talent for the struggling club and approached Mickey Stubblefield about playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates farm team.
About 1500 fans — black and white — packed War Memorial Park, and overflowed into the adjacent football grandstand in right field for Stubblefield's historic Kitty League debut. They gave him a standing ovation to start the game and he struck out the first batter he faced, Paducah third baseman Russ Davis.
He struck out six batters, walked five, and scattered six hits in the complete game victory, winning 5-4.
Mickey Stubblefield became known, while with the Kansas City Monarchs as “Little Satch” because he had almost as many pitches and deliveries as the great pitcher, Satchel Paige. A Chico, California newspaper referred to Stubblefield as “a crowd pleaser often referred to as ‘Little Satch’ because...the many different deliveries he has are characteristic of Paige himself.” Satchel Page coached Stubblefield, and said if he was a foot taller he could use him for a double on the mound.