For me, the joy of researching is found in the discovery.  It doesn’t matter if I’m uncovering something totally new or just new to me I still experience the thrill of discovery.  Today I discovered Lefty George.

Thomas “Lefty” George was born in Pittsburgh in 1886.  Throughout high school and college, the six foot left-hander played ball in his spare time.  Then in 1909 he signed with the Pennsylvania York White Roses in the Class A Southern Association and began his professional baseball career.

Over the next four decades he played for a variety of teams in both the majors and minors including the Minneapolis Millers.  Manager Joe Cantillon of the Millers was heard to say that Lefty had the making of the best left-hander in baseball.

Lefty pitched for the Minneapolis Millers in 1920 and 1921 pitching a total of 156 innings.  His record was 10 wins and 8 losses with an ERA of 4.04.

Lefty retired from the game on May 27, 1944 while on the pitching staff of the York White Roses. He was 58 years young. 

Now how many athletes at that age still play the game?  And an even more confounding question would focus on his arm.  What did he do to keep in shape so that he could pitch when he was nearly 60?  Amazing.  Simply amazing.