They all loved to play ball. They weren’t well paid. Some of them made it to the big league. Who were they?: men of color in what was called the Negro League in the early 20^th century. Baseball – the All American Sport – had its own color barrier and the solution was to exclude these baseball players from major league play and give them a league of their own, without the perks of conventional sports stardom. One of these players with right-hander pitcher Satchel Paige and is the subject of A Pitch from Satchel Paige on stage now in the African American Cultural Center’s Paul Robeson Theatre.

A Pitch from Satchel Paige was written by father-son duo Loren and Jim Keller and this one act monologue is Satchel telling his story. Two actors are alternating in role: opening night was Roosevelt Tidwell, III, who was poised and reflective as he told Satchel’s story. Recruited out of reform school where he was remanded after stealing some rings (“I had them in my mouth and they all came out,” he laughed), he was sent there since confusion about his actual age indicated he was younger than 18 and too young for a jail cell. His gift for throwing a fast ball got him on the Negro league circuit. His catcher of choice was Josh Gibson, another talented ball player who never earned the notoriety of some of their peers. And like the Allen to Diggs combination of our not-so-recent past, Gibson and Paige were once unstoppable and Tidwell’s reflection on this duo is both joyous and poignant.

Tidwell covers a lot of ground, literally and in story. His monologue has him pacing the stage, moving between the locker room to the ball diamond and beyond. Verneice  Taylor’s direction and simple set was expressive and elegant. A coat rack, a chair, and some crates with hats and a mitt as props represented key destinations in Satchel’s life. The locker room that he said smelled of sweaty socks and muscle relieving liniment, to the pitcher’s mound, the vivid language of the script made it easy to create the actual settings in your mind’s eye.

Turner is part of the performance, too, providing off-stage vocal renderings of some key songs of the day, almost like a Greek Chorus that underscores the story. Sometimes her songs are bright and cheery, and other interpretations are more plaintive, these little musical moments were lovely.

There were moments of silence on stage, too, as Satchel collected his thoughts before sharing more of his story. These were power moments for sure and let you appreciate how memories are precious when you’re looking back at your life.  There are lessons there, regret, happiness, contentment, and the “what might have beens.” When the content of your story is steeped in social (in)justice, humility, and longing for a better world, these quiet moments spoke loudly.

The Paul Robeson Theatre is known for selecting quality pieces, celebrating local playwrights, and telling the stories that you won’t hear elsewhere. What Turner, resident stage manager Matthew Mogensen, and their volunteers also do oh so well is create an extraordinary experience. You feel warm, and welcomed, and appreciated from the moment you cross the threshold. This is a space that provokes thought and inspires intention with grace. It was particularly wonderful to see an almost full, diverse house on opening night, too.

A Pitch from Satchel Paige continues through April 26. Tidwell is Satchel for the weekend of April 12 and Russell C. Holt takes on the role on the weekend of April 12 and 26. The play is performed in one act (no intermission) and is 90 minutes. You’ll meet the cast and crew after the show where you’re also invited to grab a (free) bottle of water, books for playwright/poet Loren Keller, and Turner may even take your photo for Facebook, too. All good.