Years ago, I heard someone describe one of the pioneer generation of OT clawhammer banjo players as someone who, while playing baseball in his youth, tried to field a line drive with his right, ungloved hand. He muffed the catch and broke all his fingers, which healed poorly. Thereafter, he could never fully extend his fingers to open his hand. The result was that he could never play bluegrass or finger-picking styles, but his hand was perfectly configured for clawhammer banjo. In later years, when someone asked him how to learn to play OT banjo, he would reply, "Well, first, you've got to break all the fingers in your right hand."

It's a great story. Is it real? Who was the musician?