Today is February 9, which also happens to be the day that Leroy “Satchel” Paige was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame.

For me, a guy who grew up playing baseball, Satchel Paige represented the “cool” of baseball.  By which I mean that baseball used to seem like a sport filled with interesting characters (Casey Stengel and Yogi Berra are two others).  And, amongst those notable and quotable characters, Satchel was right there at the top of the heap.

He was also a phenomenal and age-defying player.  At the age of 42, after years of playing in the Negro Leagues, he debuted as a rookie in the Major Leagues.  He played until he was 47 (though some swore he was even older).

However, amongst his many talents was his gift of language.  So, on this day, I wanted to remember him for one of his great quotes (which really resonates with me now, as the 47 year old dad of a 3 year old son who is wearing me out):

“Age is a case of mind over matter.  If you don’t mind, it don’t matter.”

-Satchel Paige

Now, if you’ll forgive me, I have to go put cucumber slices over my eyes because while I don’t really mind my age, the bags under my eyes (brought on by being the middle-aged dad of a toddler) make me look like the Crypt-Keeper.