While the sports world has been stunned by the deaths of Wilt Chamberlain, Payne Stewart and Walter Payton in the past few weeks, Max Patkin bought the farm Saturday with hardly a ripple of notice.

Most people wouldn't know it, but "bought the farm" is definitely an appropriate euphemism for Patkin's death. He would have wanted his passing to be remembered a little differently than everyone else's.

Max Patkin was the Clown Prince of Baseball, a one-man barnstorming road show who appeared in nearly every minor and major league ballpark in the country over the course of 50 years.

His rubber-faced shtick was unforgettable to generations of fans.

When the visiting team would take the field, Patkin would stand two feet behind the first baseman and imitate his warm-up. When the player realized he was being parodied, he'd turn around, only to find Patkin standing around as if nothing had happened.

Patkin would take an at-bat against the pitcher while he warmed up, hitting a pre-arranged lob and then running to third base where he was thrown out. He would argue the call, doing his best Earl Weaver imitation by throwing his hat around and kicking dirt onto the ump.

And his best trick was probably the never-ending spit. He would take a long, long drink of water and spit a geyser that went on for at least a minute.

But what made his antics truly funny was his appearance--his baggy pants, hat tilted to the side and question mark for a number were complemented by his rubber limbs and toothless jaw.