Max Patkin
Encyclopedia
Max Patkin was an American
baseball
player and clown
, best known as the Clown Prince of Baseball (a play on "Crown Prince
").
Patkin was the third "officially" crowned Clown Prince of Baseball, after Al Schacht
and Jackie Price
, though that sobriquet has also been applied to St. Louis Browns third baseman Arlie Latham
among others. Patkin performed for 51 years as a baseball clown.
.
Stationed in Hawaii in , Patkin was pitching for a service team, and Joe DiMaggio
homered off the lanky right-hander. In mock anger, Patkin threw his glove down then followed DiMaggio around the bases, much to the delight of the fans—and a career was born.
Later in the 1940s, Patkin was hired as a coach by Bill Veeck
and the Cleveland Indians
. After Veeck sold the team in , Patkin began barnstorming around the country.
As a barnstormer, Patkin played minor league stadiums throughout the United States and Canada. He had a face seemingly made of rubber that could make a thousand shapes. He was rail thin and wore a baggy uniform with a question mark (?) on the back in place of a number, and a ballcap that was always askew. While some derided his act as corny, he became a beloved figure in baseball circles, further enhanced by an appearance (as himself) in the film Bull Durham
.
Patkin estimated he made more than 4,000 appearances. On July 20, , he played to a crowd of four in Great Falls, Montana
as most fans were home watching Neil Armstrong
land on the moon. Between and , he did not miss an appearance.
Patkin was named King of Baseball
at the 1988 Baseball Winter Meetings
in Atlanta, GA.
Patkin retired from clowning in . He died in 1999, at age 79, in Paoli, Pennsylvania
of an aneurysm
.
Chuck Brodsky
, the folksinger and Baseball balladeer, has written a song, "Gone to Heaven", about Max. It appeared on his 2000 release, "Last of the Old Time", and was later collected on his 2002 album, "The Baseball Ballads".
Additionally, there was a song performed by blues artist Watermelon Slim honoring Patkin (1998) entitled "Max the Baseball Clown" (Album: No Paid Holidays).
(REF – http://www.watermelonslim.com/index.asp)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player and clown
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
, best known as the Clown Prince of Baseball (a play on "Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
").
Patkin was the third "officially" crowned Clown Prince of Baseball, after Al Schacht
Al Schacht
Alexander "Al" Schacht was an American professional baseball player, coach, and, later, restaurateur. Schacht was a pitcher in the major leagues from 1919–21 for the Washington Senators.-Baseball career:...
and Jackie Price
Jackie Price
John Thomas Reid Price was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played in seven games for the Cleveland Indians during the 1946 Cleveland Indians season.-External links:...
, though that sobriquet has also been applied to St. Louis Browns third baseman Arlie Latham
Arlie Latham
Walter Arlington Latham was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball from -. He died in Garden City, New York, at the age of 92.-Personality:...
among others. Patkin performed for 51 years as a baseball clown.
Career
After an arm injury curtailed his minor league career, Patkin joined the Navy during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Stationed in Hawaii in , Patkin was pitching for a service team, and Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
homered off the lanky right-hander. In mock anger, Patkin threw his glove down then followed DiMaggio around the bases, much to the delight of the fans—and a career was born.
Later in the 1940s, Patkin was hired as a coach by Bill Veeck
Bill Veeck
William Louis Veeck, Jr. , also known as "Sport Shirt Bill", was a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a franchise owner and promoter in Major League Baseball. He was best known for his publicity stunts to raise attendance. Veeck was at various times the owner of the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis...
and the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. After Veeck sold the team in , Patkin began barnstorming around the country.
As a barnstormer, Patkin played minor league stadiums throughout the United States and Canada. He had a face seemingly made of rubber that could make a thousand shapes. He was rail thin and wore a baggy uniform with a question mark (?) on the back in place of a number, and a ballcap that was always askew. While some derided his act as corny, he became a beloved figure in baseball circles, further enhanced by an appearance (as himself) in the film Bull Durham
Bull Durham
Bull Durham is a 1988 American romantic comedy baseball film. It is based upon the minor league experiences of writer/director Ron Shelton and depicts the players and fans of the Durham Bulls, a minor league baseball team in Durham, North Carolina....
.
Patkin estimated he made more than 4,000 appearances. On July 20, , he played to a crowd of four in Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
as most fans were home watching Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong
Neil Alden Armstrong is an American former astronaut, test pilot, aerospace engineer, university professor, United States Naval Aviator, and the first person to set foot upon the Moon....
land on the moon. Between and , he did not miss an appearance.
Patkin was named King of Baseball
King of Baseball
King of Baseball is a ceremonial title awarded by Minor League Baseball to one person each year in recognition of longtime dedication and service to professional baseball.- Background :The title was first awarded in 1951...
at the 1988 Baseball Winter Meetings
Winter meetings
The Baseball Winter Meetings are an annual event, held each December, attended by representatives from all 30 Major League Baseball organizations, more than 160 minor league baseball teams, various league offices, companies associated with baseball and guests from international baseball-playing...
in Atlanta, GA.
Patkin retired from clowning in . He died in 1999, at age 79, in Paoli, Pennsylvania
Paoli, Pennsylvania
Paoli is a census-designated place in Chester County near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is situated in portions of two townships: Tredyffrin and Willistown...
of an aneurysm
Aneurysm
An aneurysm or aneurism is a localized, blood-filled balloon-like bulge in the wall of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can commonly occur in arteries at the base of the brain and an aortic aneurysm occurs in the main artery carrying blood from the left ventricle of the heart...
.
Chuck Brodsky
Chuck Brodsky
Chuck Brodsky is an American musician and singer-songwriter currently living in Asheville, North Carolina. He is particularly known for his often humorous and political lyrics, as well as his songs about baseball, such as "The Ballad of Eddie Klepp" and "Moe Berg: The Song"...
, the folksinger and Baseball balladeer, has written a song, "Gone to Heaven", about Max. It appeared on his 2000 release, "Last of the Old Time", and was later collected on his 2002 album, "The Baseball Ballads".
Additionally, there was a song performed by blues artist Watermelon Slim honoring Patkin (1998) entitled "Max the Baseball Clown" (Album: No Paid Holidays).
(REF – http://www.watermelonslim.com/index.asp)
External links
- BaseballLibrary – profile of Max Patkin
- Baseball Biography Project – profile of Arlie Latham
- Charleston Riverdogs Press Release – Myron Noodleman to be Named Baseball Clown Prince
- Greater Tulsa Reporter – Myron Noodleman Becomes Clown Prince of Baseball