Satchel Paige, a Pitcher like No Other

He was from a family of eleven siblings. His parents, though employed didn't make a lot of money. But as a young child he was creative in trying to make some money on his own. According to the book, Portraits of African-American Heroes by Tonya Bolden, "Paige was catching nickels and dimes at the train station by toting travelers' luggage, often called satchels. He was ingenious enough to rig up, from a pole and some rope, a contraption to carry lots of luggage". Thus the name Satchel.

As a youngster Satchel loved the game of baseball. After getting into trouble he was sent to a reform school. It was there that his skills were fine-tuned and developed.

Satchel was tall in stature standing at six feet three plus inches and had size fourteen feet.

Satchel played professional baseball until he was fifty-nine years old. It is estimated that he pitched 2500 games and winning about 2,000. He had more than 300 shutouts and 55 no-hitters.

His career started as a pitcher in the Negro Leagues in 1926. He played for various teams within this league until 1948.

But in July of 1948, at the age of forty-two life changed for Satchel Paige. It was during this time that he became the first black pitcher to play on a major league team in the twentieth century.

His pitches baffled players and coaches alike. His pitching ability always provided good sports conversation.

This sport's giant was one of the greatest pitchers to ever play the game.

Leroy "Satchel" Page died on June 8, 1982 in Kansas City, Missouri.

SOURCE:

Portraits of African-American Heroes. Tonya Bolden. Dutton Children's Books, New York. Copyright 2003. Pgs. 30, 32-32