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- The Greatest Pitcher Story, by Wally Bassett
My father, Grady Bassett, was born in Centerville, Georgia in 1906. He was born fourth of five children. Dad's family was so ppor he had to go to work when he was only seven. Children only attended school in the off season. The off season meant there were no crops to gather, no fields to plow, or no seeds to plant.
All dad's brothers were good athletes, and working in the fields gave good opportunities for playing ball. They used cornstalks for bats, pine cones for balls, and seed sacks for bases. Only four boys were needed for playing what we now call baseball.
Years passed quickly and dad was a boy no longer. Pinecones were replaced with baseballs and cornstalks with bats. The cornfields were left behind for a baseball field. Word of dad's pitching success spread quickly. His reputation for pitching so hard became one of fear and terror for opposing batters. The spped of his pitch was devastating. Some even said he had a "million dollar arm" and a "two cent head." It didn't bother him that this was said, he played the game because he loved it, not for the money.
Dad once struck out thirty-two batters in one game. Five batters reached first base on passed balls after swinging at a third strike. Nicknames always follow great people. "The Bambino" was Babe Ruth. "The Mick" was Micky Mantle, "Satch) was Satchal Page, and "Fireball Bassett" was my father, The Greatest Pitcher Ever!
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Bassett Family Association Database
1906 - 1982 (75 years)