Ill be 35 this year and i can only pitch as long as satchel paige. Paige blazed trail to hall satchel paige made history on feb. Nov 24, 2009 on february 9, 1971, pitcher leroy satchel paige becomes the first negro league veteran to be nominated for the baseball hall of fame. Apocryphal stories surround paige, who was born july 7, 1906 in mobile, ala. A baseball history program on paige at the baseball heritage museum at league park was held saturday, july 7, on what would have been the pitchers 112th. Cleveland, ohio the baseball heritage museum is offering a reading of the book satchel paige via facebook live from 3 to 4 p. The stories, however, keep alive the memory of a man who became bigger than the game.
Jun 15, 2009 satchel covers enough of paiges personal life to make clear that he could fib outside the baseball stadium. Amazingly, 1953 was not paige s last stint in major league baseball. Satchel paige society for american baseball research. Leroy robert satchel paige july 7, 1906 june 8, 1982 was an american negro league baseball and major league baseball mlb pitcher who is notable for his longevity in the game, and for attracting record crowds wherever he pitched. Satchel paige was born on saturday, july 7, 1906, in mobile, alabama. Nov 07, 2011 a short 4 minute video that documents pitching great satchel paige. Aug 09, 2017 satchel paige reached out to the 20 major league baseball teams about the prospect of joining them in 1968. The life and times of an american legend by larry tye. Satchel paige, american professional baseball pitcher whose prowess became legendary during his many years in the negro leagues. Satchmo or leroy robert satchel paige had an unbelievable way with words that were more than legendary. Satchel paige 1 19061982 american baseball player leroy robert satchel paige, one of the games true natural talents, was an africanamerican man living during the height of the jim crow days in a south where the colorbarrier was thick and seemingly insurmountable.
So, to help complete five years of big league service to qualify for a players pension, he returned to baseball in 1965 when kansas city. The numbers at least the big league ones do not do justice to his legend. It was the first time in world series history a black. This article was published in the summer 2010 baseball research journal in 1920 and 1927, babe ruth hit more home runs than every other team in the american league. Overcoming obstacles poverty, prison, and discrimination is a recurring theme in the book. Satchel paige baseballhistory program draws crowd at. As a person born on this date, satchel paige is listed in our database as the 1st most popular celebrity for the day july 7 and the 17th most popular for the year 1906.
His greatest popularity came when he joined the pittsburgh crawfords during the early 1930s. Satchel paige threw his first pitch in professional baseball in 1926 for the. In fact, he was the first former negro league player to pitch in the major league world series. The satchel paige trades and transactions seen below include all known instances where satchel paige has been involved in a trade or transaction of any type as it relates to baseball. Paige himself was the source of many of these dates. He began his professional career in the negro leagues in the 1920s after being. In 1926, satchel paige made his debut in professional baseball with the negro southern league, pitching chattanooga to a 54 win over birmingham. Among the five pitchers used by the losing hometeam was fortytwoyearold satchel paige, the negro leagues legend who had been signed to his first. The satchel paige allstar stats seen below include his allstar yearbyyear hitting. But i did see something i admired just about as much, with satchel paige and babe ruth. See more ideas about negro league baseball, baseball players and baseball league. Joe dimaggio and babe herman, who played against him on the west coast, said satchel was the toughest pitcher they ever faced.
Sep 16, 2011 a few days ago, a fellow researcher sent me an ebay link to the sale of two related wire photographs of satchel paige dressed as a 1965 houston astro uniform and apparently roaming around the early astrodome on april 9, 1965 as though he was about to pitch a game. Page looked too much like page in a book, his mother offered. Like jackie robinson, satchel s skill transcended race. A favorite tall tale of baseball involves two of the top stars of the old negro leagues, james cool papa bell and leroy satchel paige. The paige almanac had him pitching in more than 2,500 games and winning 2,000 or so. Luke easter society for american baseball research. Both legends, both virtuosos, both masters of their domain. Satchel paige complete splits including homeroad, leftyrighty, clutch situations, vs. Satchel paige world series stats by baseball almanac. If you love satchel, join us on facebook and well keep you updated on paige s progress.
It wasnt until 1948, when he was 42 years age, that paige was finally given the chance to pitch in major league baseball. Leroy robert satchel paige july 7, 1906 june 8, 1982 was an american negro league baseball. Louis browns teammates playing music at home plate. Satchel paige trades and transactions by baseball almanac.
A trailblazing player in the negro leagues, baseball pitcher satchel paige also became the oldest rookie in major league history and was inducted into the baseball hall of fame in 1971. By now the american league was suffering from a bruised ego as the allstar scales had been visibly tipped toward the national league. View satchel paige s page at the baseball hall of fame plaque, photos, videos. The 1948 cleveland indians season was the 48th in franchise history. His biographical data, yearbyyear hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats where applicable, career totals, uniform numbers. Indeed, once robinson broke the color barrier in baseball, satchel paige was among the first african americans to be drafted by a major league team. The 62yearold pitcher needed only 158 days on an active roster to reach the fiveyear. Paige was the sixth of 12 children born to john paige, a gardener, and lula coleman, a domestic worker in mobile. Tyes book was a new york times bestseller in 2009 and gives great insight into the life and career of one of baseball s greatest players and characters, leroy satchel paige. The book includes notes at the end and a bibliography for further reading about paige and the segregated south. Satchel paige made his major league debut on 07091948 with the cleveland indians. It has footage from both his hall of fame speech and of him warming up for his 1965 start with the kansas city athletics. Satchel paige, byname of leroy robert paige, born july 7, 1906.
Satchel paige memorabilia, autographed satchel paige. Satchel paige was a great player, by any measure, maybe one of the greatest. The satchel paige world series stats seen below include his world series yearbyyear hitting stats, world series fielding stats, and world series pitching stats where applicable. Satchel paige could have been best ever fox sports. Black baseball entrepreneurs 18651901 by michael lomax is a good book to read about how black baseball evolved in the 19th century. Satchel paige was taught the lessons of life by living them. Marrying a second wife when he already had a first one was just the kind of. Lula said, page looked too much like a page in a book, whereas satchel explained, my folks started out by spelling their name.
This was in chicago, after ruth came out of the major leagues. Satchel paige was a famous american baseball player, who was born on july 7, 1906. The 1948 world series saw the cleveland indians against the boston braves. Plunk drake, when he and satchel paige were pitching for the birmingham black barons in 27 or so, taught satchel how to throw the hesitation pitch, where satchel would kick his front leg up so high it eclipsed the sun, hold it for a split second, and, just when the batter was wondering when he was going to throw the ball, throw it. After returning to barnstorming for many years thereafter, he found himself financially strapped. While satchel paige was playing baseball, many ages and birthdates were reported, ranging from 1900 to 1908. After his release, paige played for several mobile semipro teams. A few days ago, a fellow researcher sent me an ebay link to the sale of two related wire photographs of satchel paige dressed as a 1965 houston astro uniform and apparently roaming around the early astrodome on april 9, 1965 as though he was about to. Stats awards fabulous feats famous firsts hall of fame hitting charts legendary lists pitching charts record books rules scoring. Easter, who had told veeck that he was 27, was first assigned. By james sturm and rich tommaso with an introduction by gerald early. His election to the hall was not political, it was acheived on merit, and it is baseball s shame that he couldnt display his talents at the major league level until 1948. When this book was first published, whitey herzog was widely regarded as the premier manager in baseball.
On october 9, 1948, a new world series single game attendance record was set during game 4 when 81,897 fans packed cleveland stadium. His team, the st louis cardinals, had just played in their third world series in six seasons. Courtesy house of david baseball museum this article is more than 1 year old. Learn satchel paige with free interactive flashcards. Many detailed statistics are based on playbyplay accounts accumulated by retrosheet. Satchel paige, the house of david, and a decadesold. They have also lectured, appeared on television, authored many articles on sports history and studied countless sports artifacts that can only be. Told from the point of view of a sharecropper, this narrative in graphic novel format follows baseball champion satchel paige as he travels throughout the segregated south. Lebanon library program focuses on africanamerican. Images can also be viewed at the hall of fame online exhibit dressed to the nines. Satchel paige every game played with complete stats, links to box scores and automated row summing for 1965. After i got that hit off satchel paige, i knew i was ready for the big leagues. Paige was 42 years old when he broke into the big leagues on july 9, 1948, with the cleveland indians.
The life and times of an american legend is a biography of satchel paige, who is noted as a baseball pitcher in both the negro and major leagues baseball. Then satchel says,now josh, i got you two strikes and no balls and im supposed to knock you down. Phil leece cant remember exactly when he first learned about the game his father caught for satchel paige. Find the latest in satchel paige collectible merchandise at. Satchel paige celebrity biography, zodiac sign and famous. Were not finished writing the satchel paige biography yet. Baseball history in 1966 american league by baseball almanac. His biographical data, yearbyyear hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats.
As the best drawing card in the negro leagues, he started often, but might leave the. Check back frequently to see if books do appear as we update this service daily. Satchel hit the ground running in the negro leagues, weaving the web of a legend that every true baseball. Aint no man can avoid being born average, but there aint no man got to be common. In august of that year, paige, a pitching legend known. How to keep young by satchel paige baseball almanac. Buy guaranteed authentic satchel paige memorabilia including autographed jerseys, photos, and more at.
The satchel paige world series stats seen below include his world series. Confronting racism one fastball at a time author larry tye discusses satchel paige, a negro league pitcher who helped integrate baseball by touring the country and playing exhibition. For that reason, im a little limited in my ability to discuss the matter, but i put satch somewhat but not a great deal behind the greatest mlb pitcher of satchel s playing days, lefty grove. If ever a modern highquality modern motion pitcure about a ballplayer needed to be made it would be about satchmo, his life story, and his famous lists. Finally, with satchel at an undetermined age, bill veeck brought him to the major leagues in 1948, and the rest is history. One of the all time great baseball players of american history, with highlights such as his long career in the game, the oldest rookie, his fast pitching style, and being inducted into the major league hall of fame. To honor the greatest pitcher to ever play the game of baseball. One day later that record was broken during game 5 courtesy of 86,288 fans do you believe the game 5 attendance record might have had something to do with the appearance of negro league legend satchel paige. He was barnstorming, playing with different teams, and he played us. The day the atlanta braves signed satchel paige so he could. The braves had won the national league pennant for the first time since the miracle braves team of 1914, while the indians had spoiled a chance for the only allboston world series by winning a onegame playoff against the boston red sox for the american league flag. By 1949, majorleague baseball was slowly becoming integrated, and bill veeck signed easter to a contract with the defending champion cleveland indians on february 19. Properties of baseball bats society for american baseball. Satchel threw ruth the ball and ruth hit the ball, must have been 500 feet, off of.
Jul 20, 2019 satchel paige s 1953 topps baseball card is arguably his most visually appealing as it displays a beautiful illustration of the legendary pitcher in the famous design of that set. Satchel paige threw his first pitch in professional baseball in 1926 for the chattanooga white sox, an inappropriatelynamed team in the lower levels of the segregated negro leagues. The flying dutchman spent his first 3 years in the major leagues. Paige estimated that in his career he pitched 2,600 games, 300 shutouts, and 55 nohitters. The title was from his signature piece of wisdom dont look back, someone may be gaining on you. A statistical look into satchel paiges dominance beyond. They had won three consecutive games in a row and for the first time in a long time, the american league was considered an underdog. How he responded to segregation by simply being the best is a model for all people to follow. But im not gonna throw smoke at your yoke, instead im gonna throw a pea at your knee. On may 5, 1925, however, ty cobb put up power numbers that even the great ruth couldnt muster. The book still has plenty of baseball stories and gives a good idea of paige s personality.
Lists pitching charts record books rules scoring statmaster stats 101 year by year. Paige debuted professionally as a 20 yearold with the birmingham black barons, in 1927. Such disparate baseball greats as dizzy dean and bob feller declared that satchel paige was the best pitcher ever. Leroy paige was born in mobile, alabama in approximately 1906 to a very poor family. Uniform images used with permission from marc okkonen, author of baseball uniforms of the 20th century. Highly recommended, though be warned it is not a biography of satchel paige. Npr program fresh air recently conducted an interview with larry tye, the author of the biography, satchel. Baseball hall of famer leroy satchel paige 1906 1982 changed the face of the game in a career that spanned five decades.
Win shares are calculated using the formula in the book win shares by bill james. His actual birthdate, july 7, 1906, was determined in 1948 when cleveland indians owner bill veeck traveled to mobile, alabama and accompanied paige s family to the county health. Choose from 306 different sets of satchel paige flashcards on quizlet. Bob feller and dizzy dean, both halloffame pitchers themselves who barnstormed with paige, said satchel paige in his prime was the best pitcher theyd ever seen. Leroy robert satchel paige july 7, 1906 june 8, 1982 was a righthanded pitcher in the negro leagues and major league baseball who is widely.
Easily noticed, though, is the misspelling of his name again as topps, too, spelled it with two ls. Satchel paige became the oldest player in big league history when he pitched three innings for the kansas city as on sept. View satchel paiges page at the baseball hall of fame plaque, photos, videos. Satchel paige was signed as a free agent by the indians. Baseball almanac is sorry to advise you, but there are currently no satchel paige books currently listed on. Bob lemon and brought negro leagues legend satchel paige into the game. Satchel paige nominated to baseball hall of fame history. If you have tid bits about satchel paige s life that would be useful in writing the biography, email us. The millennium survey frank ceresi and carol mcmains, formerly of the national sports gallery in washington, d. What he achieved in the coming years might have been the most amazing.
Satchel paige was the source of inspiration for many baseball fans. Run expectancy, and leverage index calculations provided by tom tango of, and coauthor of the book. He was a pitcher known for the speed and control of his fastball. It is wellresearched and covers social topics as well as teams like the pythians, cuban giants, gorhams, and the chicago unions. Much has been written about this largerthanlife pitcher, but when it comes to paige, fact does not easily separate from fiction. He was the 7th of 12 children, and he got a job at the railroad station when he was 12 years old, to make money for his family. Satchel paige mlb player profile page from whatifsports. Published in 2010, satchel is a meticulously researched biography, weaving the life story of an itinerant africanamerican athlete with unflattering portraits of jim crow america on both sides of the masondixon line. Following the pioneering mercury program and preceding the apollo. Satchel paige was born shortly after babe ruth and ty cobb. Larry tye is an amreican nonficition author and journalist known for his biographies, wrote this biography. He went from being a satchel toting boy, to a rockthrowing teenager. Exceeded rookie limits during 1948 season full name. He played his last game in organized baseball in 1966 a full 40 years later for a virginia club called the peninsula pilots.
Leroy robert paige view player bio from the sabr bioproject. Ive tried to make sense of paige and other negro leaguers in this way in a chapter of a book several of us are trying to get published. Either louis satchmo armstrong, or leroy satchel paige. He jackie robinson knew that the future of blacks in baseball depended on it. Jun 09, 2006 first pitch, satchel throws a 90 mph fast ball, letter high. The satchel paige allstar stats seen below include his allstar yearbyyear hitting stats, allstar fielding stats, and allstar pitching stats where applicable. Born shortly after the turn of the century he was cagey about his birthdate, paige, who died in 1982, played in the negro leagues from 1921 to 1948, jumping from team to.