1920’s George “Mules” Shuttles

George “Mules” Suttles began playing baseball for the Birmingham Black Barons (BBB) in 1923. He was known as a gentle, laid back man, but when he played ball, he could hit a baseball like no other. Someone once remarked that Suttles was “strong as a mule” and his teammates started referring to him as “Mule.” During close games when the team needed a hit, they would often shout “Kick Mule” to encourage him.  His teammate, Squire Moore, once noted, “He didn’t get the ballyhoo that Satchel and Josh got. They were the ones who it seemed all the sports writers put the praise on. Mule Suttles was a powerful hitter. I can’t fathom why he didn’t get the publicity they got. He was a laid-back person. He didn’t do much talking. He wasn’t the boastful type.” Suttles was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.