Teammates said when Negro League power hitter
George “Mule” Suttles swung his bat at a pitch they could feel the earth
shake. “Kick Mule, Kick Mule”, is what
fans and teammates would chant when “Mule” can up to bat. The fifty ounce bat he swung was a testament
to his strength.
There is contrary information as to the origin of
George Suttles’ nickname “Mule”. It
comes from a dispute about his birthplace. Some information says Suttles was born in
Brockton, Louisiana on March 31, 1900 or 1901.
It says the nickname came from raising mules while growing up on a
farm. Other information says he was born
in Blocton, Alabama and the nickname was due to the strength he developed
working in coal mines as a teenager. In
either case “strong as a mule”, was the opinion others had of him throughout
his Negro League career.One thing was not in dispute, other than Josh Gibson; no other power slugger was feared by Negro League pitchers more than “Mule”. Suttles may not have hit more home runs than Gibson, but he could hit them as far.
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