Satchel Paige, African-American Pitcher
Legendary Negro League Baseball Player
Leroy Robert Paige was a pitcher who dazzled the opposing players with his array of pitches...the two-hump blooper, Long Tom, Little Tom, and the famous hesitation pitch, wherein he would stop his delivery midway before resuming. This was enough to send many batters muttering back to the bench without ever having seen first base.
Color Barrier
Because of the color barrier in the major leagues, which was broken by the great second baseman Jackie Robinson in 1947, Satchel did not get a chance to pitch in the major leagues until he was well into his forties (or fifties, some would say). His age was always in dispute, some sources stating that he was born in 1906, others saying he was born anywhere from 1898 to 1905. His own mother gave various dates to reporters. Whatever the real date he did not get his chance in the major leagues until July 7,1948, when he signed with the Cleveland Indians in the American League.
Early Teams
Satch (who got his nickname from toting suitcases at the Mobile, Alabama, train station), did not have an auspicious start in life. He was arrested and convicted for shoplifting and truancy and served five years in the state Industrial School for Negro Children, where he perfected his various pitches. In 1924 he secured a place on a local semi-pro team. Two years later he was in the Negro Southern League with the Chattanooga Black Lookouts and went on to play for the Kansas City Monarchs. For the next twenty years he pitched where and when he could, at one time making a salary of $40,000 a year, more than most major league players.
Exhibition Games
Ole Satch made his name by his exhibition appearances, when he would often call his outfielders in and proceed to strike out the side. After the 1934 season he and Dizzy Dean toured and Satch won four of the six games they played opposite one another. Joe DiMaggio called Paige "the best I've ever faced and the fastest."
Major Leagues
Although he was well over forty and had sustained a serious arm injury, Paige was signed by the Cleveland Indians on July 7,1948...the first black pitcher in the major leagues. He proved his worth to the team when on August third he beat the Washington Senators 5-3 in front of over 70,000 fans. He went on to shut out the Chicago White Sox twice, and his 6 wins and 1 loss (with a 2.48 earned run average) helped the Indians to the pennant that year. He later went to the St. Louis Browns where he pitched for three years. He had 12 wins and 10 losses in 1952, with a league record eight relief victories.
Leroy Paige was a fans favorite and became a legend in his time. He was famous for his sayings..."Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you" " If your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts, " and "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?" He was elected to the Hall of fame by the Negro Baseball Committee in 1971.
This great baseball player was born in Mobile, Alabama and died a legend on June 8,1982.
Source
The Ballplayers Edited by Mike Shatzkin Arbor House William Morrow New York 1990
For further reading about baseball see Philadelphia Phillies Gil Hodges
Pitcher Satchel Paige
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Cooperstown Plaque
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