Verdell Mathis

I met Verdell Mathis on my trip to meet former players and reveal the plans for the Negro League Baseball Players Association. Verdell lived in Memphis, Tennessee and played on the Memphis Red Sox as a pitcher and outfielder. He was the top left handed pitcher from the 1940s. He made 6 East-West all star teams and started the 1944 and ‘45 games on the mound. He won both games and went two-for-two hitting.

Highlights from his career include beating Satchel Paige, his idol, in pitching duels. Verdell was a cool man and was quite the charmer. He always reminded me of Smokey Robinson, the R&B legend. I called him Smokey every time I'd see him, which he liked.

He was a good man with a gentle sense of humor and a great baseball player.