There were few bright spots for baseball fans in Pittsburgh in the 1930s. The home-town team, the Pittburgh Pirates (so named back at the turn of the century for stealing players from other teams) would spend that decade and two more as perennial losers, the National League Pennant only a dream.
One of the few colorful Pirates of this era was "Cap'n" Patch L. Sage. He may have worn an eyepatch and had a strange turn of phrase (his favorite being "Avast ye swabbies! We be wipin' th' deck w'the scurvy dogs!") but his pitching was unhittable and he became the team's star relief pitcher and captain.
Wearing #3, he turned many a loss into a win in the late innings and was beloved by fans and sports writers alike. He was always "good copy" and became known for wise sayings such as "Don't look too far ahead, someone might've passed you right on by."
Patch L. Sage was also one of the most highly paid ballplayers of the day and this allowed him to travel in grand style. While his team-mates were relegated to trains and busses, he flew to games in his custom DeHavilland "Triple Play" tri-motor (he wanted an engine for each out) adorned with Pittsburgh Pirates logos and his number 3.
Avast! There be more, mateys!
Brian da Bluebeard Basher
