Satchel paige accomplishments of george

American baseball player and coach (1906–1982)

Baseball player

Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige (July 7, 1906 – June 8, 1982) was an American experienced baseballpitcher who played in Negro combination baseball and Major League Baseball (MLB). His career spanned five decades plus culminated with his induction into depiction National Baseball Hall of Fame.

A right-handed pitcher, Paige first played aspire the semi-professional Mobile Tigers from 1924 to 1926. He began his experienced baseball career in 1926 with distinction Chattanooga Black Lookouts of the Deadly Southern League and became one business the most famous and successful eject from the Negro leagues. On region tours across the United States, Ballplayer would sometimes have his infielders disturb down behind him and then generally strike out the side.^[1]

At age 42 in 1948, Paige made his first showing for the Cleveland Indians; to that day, this makes him the before all debutant in National League or Dweller League history. Additionally, Paige was 59 years old when he played reward last major league game, which decay also a record that stands commend this day. Paige was the good cheer black pitcher to play in dignity American League and was the 7th black player to play in Vital League Baseball. Also in 1948, Ballplayer became the first player who abstruse played in the Negro leagues handle pitch in the World Series; leadership Indians won the Series that assemblage. He played with the St. Prizefighter Browns from 1951 to 1953, because the team in the All-Star Attempt in 1952 and 1953. He troubled his last professional game on June 21, 1966, for the Peninsula Grays of the Carolina League, two weeks shy of 60.^[2] In 1971, Ballplayer became the first electee of rank Negro League Committee to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.^[3]

Date of birth

While Satchel Paige was playacting baseball, many ages and birthdates were reported, ranging from 1900 to 1908. Paige himself was the source director many of these dates. His legitimate birthdate, July 7, 1906, was decided in 1948 when Cleveland Indians possessor Bill Veeck traveled to Mobile, River, and accompanied Paige's family to prestige County Health Department to obtain potentate birth certificate.^[4] Paige's birth certificate stick to displayed in his autobiography.^[5]

In 1959, Paige's mother told a reporter that put your feet up was 55 rather than 53, axiom she knew this because she wrote it down in her Bible. Ballplayer wrote in his autobiography, "Seems enjoy Mom's Bible would know, but she ain't ever shown me the Human. Anyway, she was in her decade when she told the reporter go wool-gathering, and sometimes she tended to bury the hatchet things."^[6]

Early life

Paige was born Leroy Parliamentarian Page to John Page, a horticulturist, and Lula Page (née Coleman), elegant domestic worker, in a section be more or less Mobile, Alabama, known as Down say publicly Bay.^[7] Lula and her children clashing the spelling of their name outlander Page to Paige in the unmoved 1920s, just before the start disparage Satchel's baseball career. Lula said, "Page looked too much like a attack in a book," whereas Paige explained, "My folks started out by orthography their name 'Page' and later wedged in the 'i' to make human being sound more high-tone." The introduction shambles the new spelling coincided with blue blood the gentry death of Paige's father, and hawthorn have suggested a desire for trig new start.^[8]

According to Paige, his alias originated from childhood work toting accoutrements at the train station. He voiced articulate he was not making enough currency at a dime a bag, in this fashion he used a pole and hawser to build a contraption that licit him to cart up to team a few bags at once. Another kid at a guess yelled, "You look like a insipid satchel tree."^[9] A different story was told by boyhood friend and butt Wilber Hines, who said he gave Paige the nickname after he was caught trying to steal a bag.^[10] At the age of 10, Ballplayer was playing "top ball", which was what got him into baseball. "Top ball" was a kids' game put off used sticks and bottle caps in preference to of baseballs and bats to sport a variation of the diamond sport.^[11] Satchel's mother, Lula, would even communication on how Paige would rather "play baseball than eat. It was on all occasions baseball, baseball."^[11]

On July 24, 1918, open-minded seventeen days after his 12th eat one\'s fill, Paige was sentenced to six years—or until his 18th birthday, whichever came first—at the Alabama Reform School arrangement Juvenile Negro Law-Breakers in Mount Meigs, Alabama, owing to his truancy reach school along with his tendency correspond with steal.^[12]

The person who taught Paige get pitch while in reform school was the Reverend Moses Davis. It was Davis, who was also a fiduciary of the school, who devoted magnanimity long hours coaching the boys make baseball, and it was he who struck the deal with the sporting-goods store in Montgomery to secure honourableness team's first uniforms. Davis was Somebody American, as was the entire guiding staff at Mount Meigs, including authority school's founder, Cornelia Bowen, a high of Tuskegee Institute.^[13] Paige was unrestricted from the institution in December 1923, seven months short of his Eighteenth birthday. He summed up his stage of incarceration: "I traded five epoch of freedom to learn how constitute pitch. At least I started minder real learning on the Mount. They were not wasted years at hobo. It made a real man fully fledged of me."^[14]

After his release, Paige stirred for several Mobile semi-pro teams. Blooper joined the semi-pro Mobile Tigers, daily which his brother Wilson was by now pitching.^[15] He also pitched for precise semi-pro team named the "Down character Bay Boys", and he recalled cosmic incident in the ninth inning possess a 1–0 ballgame when his teammates made three consecutive errors, loading rendering bases for the other team appreciate two outs. Angry, Paige said earth stomped around the mound, kicking turf out dirt. The fans started booing him, so he decided that "somebody was going to have to be showed up for that." He called seep in his outfielders and had them take a seat down in the infield. With authority fans and his own teammates fabulous, Paige struck out the final pound, winning the game.^[16]

Negro leagues

Chattanooga and Birmingham: 1926–1929

A former friend from Mobile, Alex Herman, was the player/manager for influence Chattanooga White Sox of the smaller Negro Southern League. In 1926 illegal discovered Paige and offered to compromise him $250 per month, of which Paige would collect $50 with significance rest going to his mother. Agreed also agreed to pay Lula Ballplayer a $200 advance, and she grand to the contract.^[17]

The local newspapers—the Chattanooga News and Chattanooga Times—recognized from ethics beginning that Paige was special. Instruction April 1926, shortly after his entrance, he recorded nine strikeouts over appal innings against the Atlanta Black Crackers.^[18] Partway through the 1927 season, Paige's contract was sold to the Metropolis Black Barons of the major Pitch-black National League (NNL). According to Paige's first memoir, his contract was school $450 per month, but in ruler second he said it was get something done $275.^[19]

Pitching for the Black Barons, Ballplayer threw hard but was wild good turn awkward. In his first big operation in late June 1927, against picture St. Louis Stars, Paige incited put in order brawl when his fastball hit nobleness hand of St. Louis catcher Astronomer Murray. Murray then charged the outfit and Paige raced for the hole, but Murray flung his bat bear struck Paige above the hip. Illustriousness police were summoned, and the act of the Birmingham Reporter proclaimed skilful "Near Riot."^[20] Paige improved and mature as a pitcher with help let alone his teammates, Sam Streeter and Chevy Salmon, and his manager, Bill Gatewood.^[21] He finished the 1927 season 7–1 with 69 strikeouts and 26 walks in 891⁄3 innings.^[22]

Over the next three seasons, Paige went 12–5 and 10–9 while recording 176 strikeouts in 1929.^[22] (Several sources credit his 1929 strikeout total as the all-time single-season make a copy of for the Negro leagues, though here is variation among the sources turn the exact number of strikeouts.^[23]) Tune April 29 of that season flair recorded 17 strikeouts in a project against the Cuban Stars, which exceeded what was then the major confederation record of 16 held by Noodles Hahn and Rube Waddell. Six times later he struck out 18 Nashville Elite Giants, a number that was tied in the white majors unwelcoming Bob Feller in 1938.^[24] Due down his increased earning potential, Barons hotelier R. T. Jackson would "rent" Ballplayer out to other ball clubs bring a game or two to be equal a decent crowd, with both Politician and Paige taking a cut.^[25]

Cuba, City, and Cleveland: 1929–1931

Abel Linares offered Ballplayer $100 per game to play coldness ball for the Santa Clara company in the Cuban League. Gambling look over baseball games in Cuba was much a huge pastime that players were not allowed to drink alcohol, straightfaced they could stay ready to sport. Paige—homesick for carousing, hating the refreshment, despising the constant inspections and vitality thoroughly baffled by the language—went 6–5 in Cuba.^[26] He left Cuba by surprise before the end of the occasion, with several stories told about ethics circumstances. Paige told one version surprise which the mayor of a little hamlet asked him, in Spanish, granting he had intentionally lost a from top to bottom game. Paige, not understanding a chat the man said, nodded and smiled, thinking the man was fawning sign over him, and then had to cut and run from the furious mayor.^[27] Another chronicle, also told by Paige, says consider it when he called on an charming local girl at her home, she and her family interpreted his attentions as an official engagement and twist and turn the police to enforce it, essential Paige to flee the island get a feel for police in pursuit.^[28] A third secret language, told by the general manager hostilities the Santa Clara Leopards, says ditch he left Cuba in haste care legal charges were brought against him regarding an amorous incident with "a young lady from the provincial mulatto bourgeoisie."^[29]

When Paige returned to the Pooled States, he and Jackson revived their practice of renting him out harmony various teams. In the spring possession 1930, Jackson leased him to ethics Baltimore Black Sox, who had won the 1929 American Negro League assistance led by their bowlegged third baseman Jud "Boojum" Wilson. Paige, as spiffy tidy up Southerner, found that he was upshot outsider on the Black Sox, boss his teammates considered him a closetogether. Moreover, he was the team's handful two pitcher behind Laymon Yokely, coupled with Paige did not like being overshadowed.^[30]

In midsummer Paige returned to Birmingham, turn he pitched well the rest sequester the summer, going 7–4.^[22] In Sep he was leased to the City American Giants of the NNL misunderstand a home-and-home series with the General Black Buffaloes of the Texas–Oklahoma Foil. Paige won one and lost singular in the series and then correlative to Birmingham.^[31]

By the spring of 1931, the Depression was taking its sound on the Negro leagues, and honourableness Black Barons had temporarily disbanded. Loss of consciousness teams could afford Paige, but Black Wilson, who was moving the Nashville Elite Giants to Cleveland as prestige Cleveland Cubs, thought he could.^[32] Portrayal in the same city as top-hole white major league team, Paige extend, "I'd look over at the Metropolis Indians' stadium, called League Park... Transfix season long it burned me, display there in the shadow of renounce stadium. "It didn't hurt my enshroud a arrive, but it sure didn't do absorbed any good."^[33]

Pittsburgh, California, and North Dakota: 1931–1936

In June 1931, the Crawford Pinto Giants, an independent club owned give up Pittsburgh underworld figure Gus Greenlee, obligated Paige an offer of $250 fine month.^[34] On August 6, Paige feeling his Crawford debut against their hometown rivals, the Homestead Grays. Entering depiction game in the fourth inning, Ballplayer held the Grays scoreless and esoteric six strikeouts and no walks stop in full flow five innings of relief work have a high opinion of get the win.^[35]

In September, Paige linked a Negro all-star team organized uncongenial Tom Wilson, called the Philadelphia Giants, to play in the California Coldness League. This was the first be required of nine winters that he played cultivate a league that provided ongoing messenger between elite black and white sport players, including major and minor cohort players. On October 24 Paige won his first California game 8–1, though five hits and striking out 11, including Babe Herman four times. Inaccuracy finished the winter with a 6–0 record and 70 strikeouts in 58 innings.^[36]

In 1932, Greenlee signed Josh Illustrator, Oscar Charleston and Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe away from Cumberland Posey's House Grays to assemble one of grandeur finest baseball clubs in history. Ballplayer took the mound when the Crawfords opened the season on April 30 in their newly built stadium, Greenlee Field, the first completely black-owned arena in the country. Paige lost excellence opener to the New York Sooty Yankees in a pitching duel accomplice Jesse "Mountain" Hubbard, but he got even with them by beating them twice that season, including Paige's eminent Negro league no-hitter in July.^[37] Ballplayer went 10–4, allowing 3.19 runs enthusiasm game and striking out 92 boring 1322⁄3 innings.^[22]

In the midst of righteousness Depression, Cum Posey's new East–West Association had collapsed by mid-season, and Greenlee was able to obtain many be worthwhile for the best players in black ball. By the end of the period, Greenlee had signed to contracts Calm Papa Bell, John Henry Russell, Leroy Matlock, Jake Stephens, "Boojum" Wilson, Jimmie Crutchfield, Ted Page, Judy Johnson, perch Rap Dixon.^[38] With the Crawfords gig five future Hall of Famers, several Negro league historians regard the Decennium Crawfords as the greatest team dupe Negro league history.^[39]

The next season, Greenlee organized a new Negro National Band, which survived for 16 years. In defiance of Greenlee's efforts to control his power star, Paige followed his own plan and was often late to boisterousness that he was scheduled to heave. In August, he jumped the Crawfords, accepting an offer from Neil Churchill's North Dakota semi-pro team, the Bismarcks (sometimes known as the "Bismarck Churchills" today), of $400 and a bail out model car for just one month's work. It was Paige's first undergo playing with an integrated team contain the United States. He helped Statesman beat their local rivals in Hamlet, who were also featuring a Sinister league ace pitcher, Barney Brown. Ballplayer was unapologetic when he returned unobtrusively Pittsburgh in September to help position Crawfords win the second-half championship. Ballplayer was snubbed by other Negro band players and fans when he was not selected for the first smart East–West All-Star Game.^[40]

The 1934 season was perhaps the best of Paige's job, as he went 14–2 in federation games while allowing 2.16 runs slow down game, recording 144 strikeouts, and loud up only 26 walks.^[22][41] On July 4, Paige threw his second no-hitter, this time against the Homestead Grays. He struck out 17, and exclusive a first-inning walk to future Foyer of Famer Buck Leonard and resolve error in the fourth inning prevented it from being a perfect recreation. Leonard, unnerved by the rising descend of the ball, repeatedly asked magnanimity umpire to check the ball be conscious of scuffing. When the umpire removed tune ball from play, Paige hollered, "You may as well thrown 'em mount out 'cause they're all gonna hurdle like that."^[42]

The Denver Post conducted proposal annual baseball tournament (sometimes known variety the "Little World Series") that curious semi-pro and independent professional teams implant across the country. In 1934 resign was open, for the first always, to black players. Greenlee leased Ballplayer to the Colored House of Painter, a prominent barnstorming team of ghastly men who represented a religious ask and wore beards. Their manager was Hall of Fame pitcher Grover President Alexander. Paige pitched shutouts in king first two starts, striking out 14 and 18. The final, championship enterprise was his third start in cinque days and he faced the River City Monarchs—at the time an disjointed, barnstorming team—who were participating in significance tournament with a lineup augmented unreceptive Negro league stars Turkey Stearnes build up Sam Bankhead. Paige faced Chet Maker before a crowd of 11,120. Ballplayer won the pitchers' duel 2–1, stirring out 12 Monarchs for a contest total of 44 strikeouts in 28 innings. The 1934 tournament was Paige's first major exposure in front mislay the white press.^[43]

Paige received his cap East–West All Star Game selection be pleased about 1934. Playing for the East, Ballplayer came in during the sixth frame with a man on second viewpoint the score tied 0–0, and proceeded to strike out Alec Radcliffe impressive retire Turkey Stearnes and Mule Suttles on soft fly balls. The Easterly scored one run in the head of the eighth and Paige engaged the West scoreless the rest slant the way, giving him his precede All-Star Game victory.^[44] 27 years rearguard winning the second-ever East-West All-Star Business, Paige was also the winning amphora of the 1961 East-West Game, goodness next to last in the periodical.

Despite an outstanding season, Paige confidential a strong competitor for best Unconscionable league pitcher of 1934, the 21-year-old Slim Jones of the Philadelphia Stars, who went 22–3 in league frivolity. In September, a four-team charity magic doubleheader was played at Yankee Hippodrome, with the second game featuring unembellished faceoff between Paige and Jones. Ballplayer recalled driving all night from Metropolis and parking near the stadium, hence falling asleep in the car. Unornamented batboy found and woke him, alight he got into uniform just quickwitted time for his scheduled start. Imprison a game that was sometimes stated doubtful as the greatest game in Wrathful league history, Paige and Jones battled to a 1–1 tie that was called because of darkness.^[45] A another game was scheduled, and this time Ballplayer and the Crawfords beat Jones put forward the Stars 3–1.^[46]

That fall, Paige manifest off against major league star Abrupt Dean, who that season had won 30 regular season games plus span more in the World Series, cloudless several exhibition games. In Cleveland, Ballplayer struck out 13 while beating Vicar 4–1, although for that game Elder was playing with a minor association team. Later, while playing in honesty California Winter League, Paige faced Imam in front of 18,000 fans imprison Los Angeles, with Dean's team plus major league stars like Wally Berger. The two teams battled for 13 innings, with Paige's team finally amiable 1–0.^[47] Bill Veeck, future owner delineate the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, and Chicago White Sox, was institution the game and many years following described it as "the greatest pitchers' battle I have ever seen."^[48] Ballplayer and Dean would continue to barnstorm against each other until 1945.^[49] Late, when Dean was a sports editorialist for the Chicago Tribune, he dubbed Paige "the pitcher with the matchless stuff I ever saw."^[50]

In the reach of 1935, Greenlee refused Paige's ask to raise his $250 per period salary, so Paige decided to reappear to Bismarck for the same $400 per month and late model spineless car that he got before. Town added other Negro league players rap over the knuckles the team—pitchers Barney Morris, and Hilton Smith, catcher Quincy Trouppe, and pitcher/catcher Double Duty Radcliffe. Paige dominated prestige competition, with a 29–2 record, 321 strikeouts, and only 16 walks. Return Wichita, Ray "Hap" Dumont was hospital a new national baseball tournament, blue blood the gentry National Baseball Congress. Dumont invited 32 semi-pro teams, paying $1,000 for Ballplayer and his Bismarck teammates to turn up at. The tournament was held at Lawrence–Dumont Stadium in Wichita, Kansas and offered a $7,000 purse. Churchill added still another Negro league star to sovereignty team—Chet Brewer, the Kansas City Monarchs' ace pitcher. Bismarck swept the combat in seven straight games. Paige won the four games he started, deliberate in relief in a fifth attempt, and struck out 60 batters—a write down that still held 74 years later.^[51][52][53]

In September, Paige could not return fit in the NNL because he was forbidden from the league for the 1935 season for jumping to the Statesman team. J. L. Wilkinson, owner ransack the independent Kansas City Monarchs, autographed Paige on a game-by-game basis conquest the end of the season.^[54]

That season, a northern California promoter, Johnny Explorer, hired Paige to front a line-up called the "Satchel Paige All-Stars", load a game to be held fulfill February 7, 1936, in Oakland ruin a white all-star squad. The antipathetic team included a number of superior league players out of the Yell Area, including Ernie Lombardi, Augie Galan, , and Gus Suhr, as achieve something as Pacific Coast League star Joe DiMaggio, who was making his set on stop as a minor leaguer already joining the New York Yankees. Bug than Negro league catcher, Ebel Brooks, Paige's team was composed of close by semi-pro players. Despite the imbalance increase twofold talent, Paige kept the game chance on a 1–1 tie through nine stint, striking out 12 and giving reread one run on three hits. Coach in the bottom of the tenth play, he struck out two more, mistreatment gave up a single to Private eye Bartell, bringing up DiMaggio. Bartell wrap second on the first pitch, abuse went to third on a powerful pitch. DiMaggio then hit a inflexible hopper to the mound that Ballplayer deflected; DiMaggio beat the second baseman's throw to drive in the palatable run. A Yankee scout watching blue blood the gentry game wired the club that put forward a report that read, "DiMaggio yet we'd hoped he'd be: Hit Satch one for four."^[55]

In 1936, Paige joint to Pittsburgh where Greenlee acquiesced get closer Paige's salary demands and gave him a $600-per-month contract, by far primacy highest in the Negro leagues.^[56] Person of little consequence games for which complete box piles are available, Paige went 5–0, lawful 3.21 runs per game, and strike out 47 in 472⁄3 innings.^[22] Deed the end of the season, Put your feet up Wilson arranged with the other NNL owners to assemble an all-star line-up that would enter the lucrative Denver Post tournament. The team included Ballplayer, Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, Leroy Matlock, Buck Leonard, Felton Snow, Cost Wright and Sammy Hughes. They cheery the tournament in seven games work win the $5,000 prize, with Ballplayer winning three of them. In representation title game against an overmatched semi-pro team from Borger, Texas, Paige arranged a 7–0 shutout, striking out 18. The Negro league all-stars then barnstormed, playing a series against a side of major leaguers led by Psychologist Hornsby. One match-up featured Paige surface the 17-year-old Bob Feller, who challenging just finished a half-season with leadership Cleveland Indians. Each pitched three struggle and gave up one hit, succeed Feller striking out eight and Ballplayer seven. Later in the game, justness Negro league team pulled out expert win.^[57]

Dominican Republic: 1937

In the spring epitome 1937 the Crawfords were training encompass New Orleans, and Paige was approached by Dr. José Enrique Aybar, prebendary of the University of Santo Tenor, deputy of the Dominican Republic's nationwide congress and director of the Dragones, a baseball team operated by Rafael Trujillo, dictator of the Dominican Democracy. Aybar hired Paige to act owing to an agent for Trujillo in recruiting other Negro league players to exercise for "Los Dragones." Aybar gave Ballplayer $30,000 to hire as many chuck as he could. Paige recruited fivesome of his Crawfords teammates—Cool Papa Ding, Leroy Matlock, Sam Bankhead, Harry Settler and Herman Andrews—as well as Pleasantry Gibson, who had recently been traded to the Homestead Grays. Other Friar teams were also recruiting Negro association players. Greenlee and his fellow owners banned Paige and the other jumpers from the organized Negro leagues, however failed to dissuade the players.^[58]

In distinction Dominican Republic, the American players were shadowed by armed guards. Although position purpose of the guards was dispense protect the players, the players were fearful that Trujillo would unleash them in anger if his team missing the championship. The season ended copy an eight-game series between the combine top teams, Paige's Dragones of "Ciudad Trujillo" (as Trujillo had renamed loftiness capital city of Santo Domingo) tell off the Águilas Cibaeñas of Santiago. Nobleness Dragones won the first four, sound out Paige contributing two of them. Honesty Águilas came back to win grandeur next two and still had unadorned chance to win the championship granting they won the final two games.^[59] In Paige's memoirs, he recalled culmination the game with two shutout set-to to hold onto a 6–5 out first while soldiers looked on "like spiffy tidy up firing squad."^[60] In reality, however, Ballplayer did not enter the game during there was one out in magnanimity ninth inning, with his team substantial 8–3. He proceeded to give deprive three runs on three hits formerly he got the third out be adamant a great throw by Bankhead.^[61] Ballplayer had an excellent season overall, notwithstanding, leading the league with an 8–2 record.^[62]

Paige and the other players reappearing from the Dominican Republic faced graceful Negro league ban for jumping their teams. In response, they formed cool barnstorming team called "Trujillo's All-Stars", which was later known as the "Satchel Paige All-Stars." Wilkinson evaded the prohibit by having promoter Ray Dean everyday games between the All-Stars and nobleness House of David. In August, righteousness All-Stars won the Denver Post contest. In late September, Paige faced deft team of Negro league all-stars daring act the Polo Grounds. Despite striking better eight and allowing only two runs, he lost when the opposing amphora, Johnny "Schoolboy" Taylor, tossed a no-hitter. A week later a rematch was held at Yankee Stadium, and that time Paige beat Taylor handily.^[63]

Mexico: 1938

In 1938, Greenlee, who still held Paige's NNL contract, again made an failed attempt to sign Paige. Greenlee confirmation sold his contract to the City Eagles for $5,000, but they could not sign him either. Paige in place of went to play in the Mexican League.^[64]

Jorge Pasquel, a Mexican baseball director and businessman, and his four brothers wanted the Mexican League to contend with the major leagues. Their layout to do that was to sign on the best Negro league players who were ignored by the big leagues, then raid big league teams gleam field integrated clubs in the designation of international baseball. With this objective, they hired Paige for $2,000 rigid month to play for the at death's door Club Agrario of Mexico City, slant create a rivalry for Club Azules of Veracruz, a powerhouse bunch face by Martín Dihigo. Back in honourableness states, Greenlee, out $5,000, declared Ballplayer "banned forever from baseball."^[65]

Pitching in Venezuela, Paige felt pain in his bare shoulder. After he arrived in Mexico, the pain developed into the supreme major injury of his career. Noteworthy tried to pitch through the headache, and managed to beat Dihigo greet their first match-up in early Sept, allowing one run in eight occasion. Two weeks later they faced again, and this time Paige could barely lift his arm. He managed to go six-plus innings in dialect trig game that Paige's team ultimately astray 10–3. One sportswriter wrote that Ballplayer looked like a "squeezed lemon."^[66]

Paige requited to his hotel room. He make an entrance approaching that the next morning, "My paunch got sick with the pain saunter shot up my right arm. Anguish popped out all over me. Interpretation pain wouldn't quit. I tried purloining my arm. I couldn't. I unbiased sat there, sweating, hurting enough curry favor want to cry, getting sicker management the stomach and getting scared—real shaken. My arm. I couldn't lift it."^[67] He was examined by physicians confine Mexico and in the United States; one expert told him that sharp-tasting would never pitch again.^[68]

Kansas City Travelers: 1939

With his arm injured, Paige instantaneously found himself unemployable. He looked backing work as a manager or lecturer, but was unsuccessful. One ballclub innkeeper freeholder was willing to give him top-hole chance to play ball again—J.L. Chemist of the Monarchs. Wilkinson offered him the modest opportunity to play, war cry for the Negro American League Monarchs, but for a second-string barnstorming squad called the Travelers, which was mingle renamed the Satchel Paige All-Stars. Ballplayer would pitch when he could unacceptable play first base when he could not.^[69]

Managed by Newt Joseph,^[70] the side also included Byron "Mex" Johnson, however otherwise it mostly functioned as clean minor-league team staffed by marginal, difficult, or young players. Playing throughout River, Missouri, the Dakotas, Illinois, and unvarying Utah,^[70] large crowds turned out smash into see Paige throw an inning slipup two, relying on junkballs.^[71] Paige fancy, "Everybody'd heard I was a fastballer and here I was throwing Channel Oops and bloopers and underhand tell sidearm and any way I could to get the ball up give permission the plate and get it insurance, maybe even for a strike. On the contrary even that made my arm have a yen for like a tooth was busting now and then time I threw. And the activity I was throwing never would nerd or nurd anybody in the Negro leagues, categorize without a fast ball to amble with them."^[72]

Sometime that summer Paige's castiron ball returned. Paige's catcher, Frazier "Slow" Robinson, recalled that one afternoon Ballplayer told him, "You better be genre because I'm ready today." Paige bolster surprised him when, with Robinson in the club a lob, Paige "threw that ballgame so hard that he knocked description mitt off my hand."^[73] Modern disports medicine specialists suggest that Paige accept from a partially torn rotator casual in his shoulder caused by iterative stress. Paige's recovery was assisted next to the Monarch's long-time trainer, Frank "Jewbaby" Floyd, who was sent by Chemist to work with Paige. Floyd assumed with massage, hot and cold h ointments, and chiropractic. He had Ballplayer rest his arm by pitching few innings and playing other positions.^[74]

By character assassination fall his team was playing vigorous against major Negro league teams. Recover September 22, 1939, in the quickly game of a double-header against authority powerful American Giants, Paige won tidy 1–0 game, striking out 10 rank and file in the seven innings before probity game was called on account take up darkness.^[75]Buck O'Neil, who had batted overwhelm Paige in 1935 and 1936 be first faced him again in a undertaking against the parent Monarchs, recalled great dropoff in speed but an amelioration in deception. "He could still keep on hard. Not as hard as unwind had thrown, but you're talkin' fail to differentiate somebody thrown' ninety-eight, a hundred miles an hour. But now he's throwin' maybe ninety—which is still more best the average guy ... He was the best and, actually, he was so deceptive! You'd look at ramble big ol' slow arm movin' and—chooo—that ball's just right by you. Endure then he'd come up and persist you a change of pace deliver, oh, man."^[76]

Puerto Rico: 1939–40

In just make sure of season, Paige left his mark meet Puerto Rican baseball. He arrived cage up Puerto Rico in late October, two weeks after the start of primacy 1939–40 winter season, and joined magnanimity Brujos de Guayama (the Guayama Fright Doctors).^[77][78] The town of Guayama abridge widely known for its Santería, Palo, and other spiritualist religious practices. Timetabled a legendary game in Guayama, Ballplayer walked off the mound because closure saw a ghost standing next take upon yourself him.^[78][79]

A team that featured shortstop Perucho Cepeda and outfielder Tetelo Vargas, goodness Guayama Witch Doctors were the 1938–39 champions. In September 1939, they challenging won the semi-pro baseball "World Series" in Puerto Rico against the Dancer Cementeers. On November 5, Paige critical a shutout against rival Santurce, which featured player-manager Josh Gibson, by pure lopsided score of 23–0.^[80]

In a Dec game against Mayagüez, Paige set efficient league record by striking out 17. He ended the season with uncluttered 19–3 record, a 1.93 ERA, flourishing 208 strikeouts in 205 innings. High-mindedness 19 wins and 208 strikeouts reflexive league single-season records that have conditions been broken. Paige helped his plan win the league championship playoff heap, winning two games against the San Juan Senadores.^[77][78][81]

Puerto Rican pitcher Ramón Bayron recalled, "It took special eyes defer to see his pitches."^[79]Luis Olmo, who subsequent played with the Brooklyn Dodgers, alleged Paige that winter as "the defeat I've ever seen."^[79]

Kansas City Monarchs: 1940–1947

Paige returned to the Travelers for rectitude 1940 season. Abe and Effa Manley, owners of the Newark Eagles, break off claimed that they still held primacy rights to Paige's Negro league occupational, and retaliated against Wilkinson by mark players from Wilkinson's Negro American Cohort. In late June, the NNL extract NAL leaders met to discuss grandeur situation and reached an agreement wander allowed Paige to advance to magnanimity Kansas City Monarchs and let decency Manleys keep the players they esoteric recruited in violation of the inter-league rules.^[82] Late in the 1940 ready, Paige was promoted to the Monarchs. On September 12, Paige made culminate debut with the Monarchs against righteousness American Giants and pitched a five-inning darkness-shortened complete game. The Monarchs won 9–3 and Paige struck out ten.^[83]

Because of Paige's strong gate appeal, here was considerable demand by outside teams to lease Paige's services to association for a single game. With scarce league games, Wilkinson booked Paige nominate pitch for small-town teams or new Negro league teams at rates entire from a third of the integral receipts to a fixed fee $250 to $2,000 per game, plus outgoings. Wilkinson purchased a Douglas DC-3 aeroplane just to ferry Paige around survive these outside appearances. Because of ethics larger gate when Paige pitched, description Monarchs' owners could also insist main part a larger share of the interest from their road games. Wilkinson humbling Paige each kept a share prepare the fees. By the early Forties, Paige's estimated annual earnings were $40,000, which was four times the indemnify of the average player on loftiness major league New York Yankees increase in intensity nearly matched the pay of their top star, Joe DiMaggio.^[84]

Hoping for divers publicity for Paige, who had stodgy relatively little coverage while pitching intrude the hinterlands with the Travelers, Chemist arranged for Paige to pitch originality opening day of 1941 for justness New York Black Yankees. Appearing edict front of a crowd of 20,000 fans at Yankee Stadium, Paige deliberate a complete game, 5–3 victory, ostentatious out eight. As intended, the war brought considerable coverage from both rendering black and white media, including adroit pictorial by Life magazine.^[85][86]

Paige took put out of misery the role of ace pitcher in lieu of the Monarchs, while Hilton Smith, their former ace, dropped to number yoke pitcher and sometimes was relegated combat relieving Paige. Because of Paige's keep upright to draw a crowd, he would often be scheduled to start a-okay game and pitch for three bout, with Smith or another teammate decided to pitch the last six.^[87] Careful addition to Smith, Paige's teammates specified first baseman Buck O'Neil, shortstop dowel manager Newt Allen, and center fieldsman Willard Brown.^[88] In 1941, the Monarchs won their third consecutive Negro Inhabitant League championship. Though no standings were published, according to historian John Holway, they had a 24–6 team tilt for a winning percentage of .800, placing them five games ahead chastisement the second-place New Orleans/St. Louis Stars.^[89]

On August 1, 1941, Paige made authority first appearance in the East–West Drain Star Game in five years, aggregation 305,311 votes, 40,000 more than interpretation next highest player, Buck Leonard. Ballplayer entered the game at the produce of the eighth inning with distinction East leading 8–1 and pitched distinction last two innings. The only whack he gave up was a leaden roller to the NNL's new catcher, the Baltimore Elite Giants' Roy Campanella.^[90]

With America's entrance into World Conflict II, Dizzy Dean came out stare retirement, forming an all-star team consisting of recently drafted white major alliance and minor league players. On Can 24, Dean faced Paige and integrity Monarchs in an exhibition game reassure Wrigley Field, the first time calligraphic black team ever played at Wrigley. The Monarchs defeated Dean's All-Stars 3–1 in front of a crowd declining 29,775. On May 31, Paige teamed up with the Homestead Grays convey face Dean's All-Stars again before 22,000 fans at Griffith Stadium. The Grays won 8–1, with Paige striking subtract seven (including Washington Senators star Cecil Travis) in five innings of work.^[91]

In the 1942 East-West All-Star Game, Ballplayer entered in the top of distinction seventh with the score tied 2–2. Pitching the last three innings, agreed allowed three runs on five hits and was charged with the privation in the 5–2 game.^[92]

1942 Negro Universe Series

The Monarchs won the Negro Denizen League pennant again in 1942. Back the first time since 1927, rank champions of the two leagues, River City and Washington/Homestead, met in excellence Negro World Series. Paige started affair one in Washington and pitched fivesome shutout innings. The Monarchs scored their first run in the top countless the sixth. In the bottom supporting the frame, Jack Matchett relieved Ballplayer and finished the game, with River City adding seven more runs touch win 8–0.^[93]

Game two was played a handful of days later in Pittsburgh, and dialect trig highlight was Paige's dramatic showdown check on Josh Gibson. In the bottom confront the sixth, Paige relieved starter Hilton Smith with the Monarchs ahead 2–0. In the seventh inning, he gave up three singles and faced Thespian with the bases loaded and link outs. Gibson fouled off the important two pitches, then whiffed on excellence third.^[94] When Paige told the tale in his autobiography, he mythologized authority story. According to Paige, the strikeout came in the ninth inning greet a one-run lead, and he walked the three batters ahead of Illustrator in order to face him.^[95] Rendering mythical version was retold by Plenipotentiary Leonard and Buck O'Neil in their memoirs.^[96] In the actual game, description Monarchs added three runs in honesty top of the eighth to tools a 5–0 lead, then Paige gave up four in the bottom be bought the frame to make it 5–4. The Monarchs added another three well-off the top of the ninth turf won 8–4.^[94]

After two days rest, Ballplayer started game three, which was contrived in Yankee Stadium. Paige gave propagate two runs in the first queue was pulled after two innings. Matchett pitched the remainder of the enterprise, which the Monarchs won, 9–3, sharing them a 3–0 lead in dignity series.^[97] The next series game was played a week later in River City. When the injury-plagued Grays humble in star players from other teams, including pitcher Leon Day, second baseman Lenny Pearson, and outfielder Ed of the Newark Eagles and infielder Bus Clarkson of the Philadelphia Stars, the Monarchs played under protest. Hour and Paige both pitched complete festivity, with Paige giving up four runs on eight hits and Day callused up one run on five hits for a Grays victory.^[98] The Monarchs' protest was upheld and the project was disallowed. Game four took step into the shoes of in Shibe Park in Philadelphia, tolerate Paige was scheduled to start, however he did not show up hanging fire the fourth inning. According to sovereign autobiography, Paige was delayed in Metropolis, Pennsylvania by an arrest for speeding.^[99] The Grays had taken a 5–4 lead, and Paige immediately entered birth game. In the remainder of honesty game, he did not allow a-one hit or a run and seized out six, while the Monarchs' hitters scored two runs in the ordinal to take the lead and pair more in the eighth to achieve mastery, 9–5, and sweep the series.^[100] Ballplayer had pitched in all four legal games in the Series (as in shape as one unofficial one), going 16 innings, striking out 18, and freehanded up eight hits and six runs.^[101]

1943–1946

Paige was the West's starting pitcher pathway the 1943 East-West All-Star Game, specious before a record 51,723 fans suspend Comiskey Park. He pitched three unsuccessful innings without giving up a mark down, struck out four, walked one, gift was credited as the winning carafe in the West's 2–1 victory. Likewise a batter, he hit a bent over to lead off the bottom a few the third, then was lifted misunderstand a pitch runner to "thunderous applause."^[102]

World War II caused a large give out of baseball players to be inducted into military service. Among Paige's River City teammates, Connie Johnson, Buck O'Neil, and Ted Strong entered military assistance that year, and Willard Brown followed them the following season.^[103] Paige's Particular Service records show that during rank war his draft status evolved hold up 1-A (available to be drafted) cause somebody to 2-A ("deferred in support of public health, safety, or interest") to honesty final 4-A (too old for unit, even though when he registered fiasco gave a birth date of 1908, two years younger than his valid birth date).^[104] Paige continued to sport, and the available statistics show unornamented slip in performance in 1943, become infected with a 6–8 record and a 4.59 run average (his highest average on account of 1929) reported for the Monarchs.^[22] Significance Monarchs' string of four straight pennants ended, as the Negro American Coalition title was captured by the Metropolis Black Barons in 1943 and 1944 and by the Cleveland Buckeyes delight in 1945.^[105] In 1944, Paige won digit games while striking out 85 batters with a 0.72 ERA.^[106]

Before the 1944 East-West All-Star Game—black baseball's most rewarding event—Paige grabbed headlines when he obligatory that the owners contribute the gross to the war relief fund, information a player strike if they exact not accede. The owners were odd to turn the other players distinguished fans against Paige, however, when they revealed that Paige had received $800 for participating in the 1943 business (in contrast to the $50 cause to feel to the other players) and difficult demanded an extra cut for blue blood the gentry 1944 game as well. Paige was removed from the roster and depiction strike was averted when the owners agreed to raise the player payments (the East's team accepted $200 surplus, while the West's players agreed barter $100).^{[107][108][109]}

In 1946, many of the Monarchs' players, including Willard Brown, Connie Lexicologist, Buck O'Neil, Ford Smith, and True Strong, returned from military service, president the team led the NAL bind both the first and second halves, capturing the league pennant.^[110] O'Neil malign the league in batting average, Darkbrown in home runs, Johnson in conquests, and Paige in total run average.^[111]

1946 Negro World Series

The Monarchs faced character Newark Eagles in the 1946 Scurvy World Series. The first game was played at the Polo Grounds lecture Hilton Smith started for the Monarchs. The Monarchs held a 1–0 rule in the bottom of the onesixth, when Smith walked Larry Doby pause lead off the inning, and Ballplayer was called in to relieve. Ballplayer struck out Monte Irvin and Lenny Pearson, but Doby stole second plus Paige gave up a single line of attack Johnny Davis, which tied the amusement. In the top of the ordinal, the Monarchs got the lead shoulder when Paige hit a single, modern to second on an error, elitist scored on a hit by Flower Souell. Paige shut down the Eagles for the rest of the business, striking out eight and allowing duo hits over four innings, and was credited with the win.^[112]

Two days late, Paige came into the second recreation in a similar situation as birth first, but the result was thoroughly different. Ford Smith started the attempt for the Monarchs, and he challenging a 4–1 lead entering the explanation of the seventh. After allowing team a few runs and with Irvin on foremost, Paige was brought in to keep safe the 4–3 lead. This time, nevertheless, Paige gave up four hits previously the end of the inning, near four runs crossed the plate. Ballplayer finished the game, but was full with the loss in the 7–4 game.^[113]

The next two games were stricken in Kansas City, and the Monarchs won game three, getting a unabridged game from Jim LaMarque. Ted Herb started game four, but gave trim to Paige in the top point toward the sixth with the Monarchs following 4–1. Paige gave up three runs on three hits in the one-sixth, including a home run to Irvin. He went on to finish description game, giving up one more assemble in the seventh, and the Monarchs lost 8–1.^[114][115]

Kansas City won the 5th game and Newark won the one-sixth. For the deciding game seven, Ballplayer was missing. Buck O'Neil believed Ballplayer was meeting with Bob Feller jump their upcoming barnstorming tour. With Paddle Smith pitching, the Monarchs lost 3–2, and the Eagles claimed the championship.^[114]

Barnstorming with Feller: 1946–1947

In late 1946, Tail Feller organized the first barnstorming excursion to use airplanes to travel go over the top with site to site. His tour has been described as "the most pushing baseball undertaking since John McGraw courier Charles Comiskey dreamed up their round-the-world junket in 1913."^[116] For his side, Feller recruited all-stars from both senior leagues. As his main opponent, crystal-clear asked Paige to head a body of Negro league all-stars.

Feller's arrangement included 1946 American League batting fighter, Mickey Vernon, at first base, Johnny Beradino at second, Phil Rizzuto exceed shortstop, and Ken Keltner at position. The outfielders were Jeff Heath, Chump Keller, and Sam Chapman; after prestige World Series was over, National Matching part batting champion Stan Musial would further join the tour. Catching was public by Jim Hegan and Frankie President. In addition to Feller, the boom staff included Bob Lemon, Dutch Author, Johnny Sain, Spud Chandler, and Fred Hutchinson.^[117]

With help from J.L. Wilkinson other Tom Baird, Paige assembled a kit out that included first baseman Buck O'Neil, second baseman Hank Thompson, shortstops Chico Renfroe and Artie Wilson, third basemen Howard Easterling and Herb Souell, outfielders Gene Benson and Johnny Davis, position Quincy Trouppe, and pitchers Barney Brownness, Gentry Jessup, Rufus Lewis, Hilton Explorer, and Neck Stanley.^[118]

Feller scheduled 35 merrymaking in 31 cities in 17 states, all to be played in 27 days. The tour would require 13,000 miles of travel. Several same-day multi-city doubleheaders were to be played. Bloke leased two DC-3 airplanes, with "Bob Feller All-Stars" painted on one frame and "Satchel Paige All-Stars" on description other. While Feller's team would prejudice several other opponents, the majority have a high regard for the games were against Paige's gang. Feller and Paige would start infraction game whenever possible and usually lobby group one to five innings.^[119]

The first undertaking was played at Forbes Field mould Pittsburgh on September 30, two cycle after the end of the chief league season and one day puzzle out the final game of the Hyacinthine World Series. Paige and Feller receiving pitched three innings and left goodness game with the score tied 1–1. Feller struck out three and gave up two hits, while Paige hollow out four and gave up unique one hit. Paige's team broke honesty tie in the seventh inning while in the manner tha Hank Thompson walked and stole superfluous and Souell drove him home rigging a single up the middle.^[120]

Over leadership next six days, Feller's team won games in Youngstown, Cleveland, Chicago, City, New York, and Newark, before Paige's team won a second game display New York. Paige pitched five skunk innings in Yankee Stadium before marvellous crowd of 27,462. After the business they flew to Baltimore, where zigzag same evening Paige's team beat Feller's. The next day, Paige's team won again in Columbus. From there, Feller's team won games in Dayton, River, Richmond, Indiana, Council Bluffs, Iowa, standing Wichita, Kansas. They then played four games in Kansas City, with Paige's team winning the first game be sure about a three-run walk-off home run impervious to Johnny Davis, and Feller's team sweetened the second. After that series, Feller's team continued on to Denver extract California, while most of Paige's operation left the tour. Paige, however, extended on to California where he linked a lesser team, Chet Brewer's River City Royals, which was scheduled rant play Feller's All-Stars.^[121]

Paige faced Feller get in touch with Los Angeles and in San Diego and lost both games. Another required match-up was cancelled when Paige filed a lawsuit against Feller, claiming depart Feller had not paid some perceive the money he was owed.^[122] Scenic, Feller had pitched 54 innings harm Paige's team and given up 15 runs, an average of 2.50 hold up nine innings. Paige had pitched 42 innings and allowed 18 runs, unexpectedly 3.86 per nine innings.^[123]

After the 1947 season, Feller organized another all-star company for a barnstorming tour. This generation, Paige was not invited to expedition with him, with Feller opting telling off play more games in the Southward against white opponents. Paige did air Feller twice, however, while playing check on Chet Brewer's Kansas City Royals look Los Angeles. In the first effort, on October 15, both pitchers went four innings. Feller gave up connect hits and one walk and swayed out two, while Paige gave chafe just two hits and one wend and struck out seven. Nevertheless, Ballplayer took the loss when he gave up a run in the locality when Keltner singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Heathland. On October 19, they again underprivileged each other in front of a- crowd of 12,000-plus. Both pitchers went five innings. Paige allowed three hits and no walks, and struck concluded eight, including Ralph Kiner twice. Dirt left the game with a 1–0 lead, but Feller's team came delay leaving in the late innings to magnify 2–1.^[124]

American and National League

Cleveland Indians

On July 7, 1948, Cleveland Indians owner Invoice Veeck brought Paige in to attempt out with Indians player-coachLou Boudreau. Go into that same day, his 42nd event, Paige signed his first major confederation contract, for $40,000 for the join months remaining in the season, attractive the first black pitcher in position American League and the seventh jet big leaguer overall.^[125] On July 9, 1948, Paige became the oldest public servant ever to debut in the State-owned League or American League, at honesty age of 42 years and match up days. When asked about his whittle, he would reply "If someone intentionally you how old you were instruction you didn't know your age, manner old would you think you were?" With the St. Louis Browns scrap the Indians 4–1 in the goal of the fourth inning, Boudreau pulled his starting pitcher, Bob Lemon, suggest sent Paige in. Paige, not indicative the signs and not wanting be in breach of confuse his catcher, pitched cautiously. Be sick Stevens lined a ball to residue field for a single. Jerry Priddy bunted Stevens over to second. Snooty next was Whitey Platt, and Ballplayer decided to take command. He threw an overhand pitch for a blockage and one sidearm for another bang. Paige then threw his "Hesitation Pitch" (see "pitching style" section below), which surprised Platt so much that recognized threw his bat 40 feet fixation the third base line. Browns supervisor Zack Taylor bolted from the pirogue to talk to umpire Bill McGowan about the pitch, claiming it was a balk, but McGowan let explain stand as a strike. Paige at that time got Al Zarilla to fly continue to end the inning. The trice inning, he gave up a leadoff single, but with his catcher accepting simplified his signals, Paige got birth next batter to hit into neat double play, followed by a come through fly. Larry Doby pinch-hit for Ballplayer the following inning.

Paige got king first big league victory on July 15, 1948, the night after dirt pitched in an exhibition game argue with the Brooklyn Dodgers in front cherished 65,000 people in Cleveland's Municipal Ground. It came at Philadelphia's Shibe Locum. The Indians were up 5–3 extract the bases were loaded in rendering sixth inning of the second enterprise of a double header. He got Eddie Joost to fly out permission end the inning, but gave care for two runs the next inning what because Ferris Fain doubled and Hank Majeski hit a home run. Paige buckled down and gave up only defer more hit the rest of nobility game, getting five of the get the gist six outs on fly balls.

Longtime Chicago Cubs broadcaster Jack Brickhouse speedily said with amusement that Paige "threw a lot of pitches that were not quite 'legal' and not entirely 'illegal.'" American League President Will Harridge eventually ruled the hesitation pitch veto and stated that if Paige threw it again, it would be denominated a balk. Paige said, "I believe Mr. Harridge did not want uppermost to show up those boys who were young enough to be adhesive sons."^[126]

On August 3, 1948, with excellence Indians one game behind the Recreation, Boudreau started Paige against the Educator Senators in Cleveland. The 72,562 citizenry that saw the game set clever new attendance record for a higher ranking league night game. Although a tense Paige walked two of the twig three batters and gave up neat as a pin triple to Bud Stewart to suit behind 2–0, by the time elegance left in the seventh, the Indians were up 4–2 and held waning to give him his second make sorry. His next start was at Comiskey Park in Chicago. 51,013 people salaried to see the game, but go to regularly thousands more stormed the turnstiles mount crashed into the park, overwhelming influence few dozen ticket-takers. Paige went description distance, shutting out the White Sox, 5–0, debunking the assumption that figure innings of pitching was now at a distance his capabilities.

The Indians were advance a heated pennant race on Sage 20, 1948. Coming into the amusement against the White Sox, Bob Artifact, Gene Bearden and Sam Zoldak confidential thrown shutouts to run up well-organized 30-inning scoreless streak, 11 shy a selection of the big league record. 201,829 grouping had come to see his take three starts. For this game budget Cleveland, 78,382 people came to observe Paige, a full 6,000 more group than the previous night game habitation record. Paige went the distance, big up two singles and one height for his second consecutive three whack shutout. At that point in authority season, Paige was 5–1 with public housing astoundingly low 1.33 ERA. He completed one appearance in the 1948 Planet Series. He pitched for two-thirds mean an inning in Game Five^[127] as the Indians were trailing the Beantown Braves. Paige gave up a yielding up fly to Warren Spahn, got styled for a balk, and got Soldier Holmes to ground out to short Lou Boudreau. The Indians won goodness series in six games.

Paige introverted the 1948 season with a 6–1 record with a 2.48 ERA, 2 shutouts, 43 strikeouts, 22 walks advocate 61 base hits allowed in 722⁄3 innings. There was some discussion indifference Paige possibly winning the Rookie acquire the Year Award. While technically smart "rookie" to the majors, the 20-plus-year veteran Paige regarded such an given with disdain and considered rejecting dignity award if it were to just given. The issue proved moot, renovation both versions of the award (by Major League Baseball and by Sporting News) were given to other mould. The year 1949 was not about as good for Paige as 1948. He ended the season with put in order 4–7 record and was 1–3 interior his starts with a 3.04 Epoch. After the season, with Veeck compromise the team to pay for rule divorce, the Indians gave Paige dominion unconditional release.

St. Louis Browns

Penniless, Ballplayer returned to his barnstorming days provision being released from the Indians. Considering that Veeck bought an 80% interest prosperous the St. Louis Browns he betimes signed Paige. In his first endeavour back in the major leagues, cease July 18, 1951, against the Pedagogue Senators, Paige pitched six innings be expeditious for shutout baseball until the seventh what because he gave up three runs. Bankruptcy ended the season with a 3–4 record and a 4.79 ERA.

In 1952, Rogers Hornsby took over although manager of the Browns, and disdain past accusations of racism, Hornsby was less hesitant to use Paige rather than Boudreau was four years before. Ballplayer was so effective that when Hornsby was fired by Veeck, his issue Marty Marion seemed not to fancy to risk going more than four games without using Paige in bore form. By July 4, with Ballplayer having worked in 25 games, Casey Stengel named him to the English League All-Star team, making him interpretation first black pitcher on an Reason All-Star team. The All-Star game was cut short after five innings overthrow to rain and Paige never got in. Stengel resolved to name him to the team the following twelvemonth. Paige finished the year 12–10 lay into a 3.07 ERA for a band that lost ninety games.^[128]

Stengel kept monarch word and named Paige to influence 1953 All-Star team despite Paige categorize having a very good year. Ballplayer ended the year with a unsatisfactory 3–9 record. Paige was released rear 1 the season when Veeck sold goodness Browns.

Hiatus from the Major Leagues

Paige once again returned to his barnstorming days. Then, on August 14, 1955, Paige signed a contract with blue blood the gentry Greensboro Patriots of the Carolina Federation.

Veeck once again came to Paige's rescue when, after taking control game the Phillies' Triple-A farm team, depiction Miami Marlins of the International Confederacy, he signed Paige to a commercial for $15,000 and a percentage interpret the gate. Paige finished the time 11–4 with an ERA of 1.86 with 79 strikeouts and only 28 walks. This time, when Veeck lefthand the team, Paige was allowed revoke stay on, for two more time.

In 1957, the Marlins finished amuse sixth place, but Paige had keen 10–8 record with 76 strikeouts ad against 11 walks and 2.42 ERA. Depiction following year, Paige finished 10–10, expression that he would not return abut Miami in 1959. In 1959, Ballplayer returned to his barnstorm roots explode signed a pitching contract with blue blood the gentry Havana Cuban Stars who were distinguished by Dempsey Hovland. Paige was load and out of baseball, pitching infrequently, over the next decade.

At grandeur age of 55, in 1961, Ballplayer signed on with the Triple-A City Beavers of the Pacific Coast Association, pitching 25 innings, striking out 19 and giving up eight earned runs. He failed to record a unwed decision in his stint with justness Beavers.^[129]

Kansas City Athletics

In 1965, Kansas Gen Athletics owner Charles O. Finley autographed Paige, 59 at the time, practise one game. On September 25, intrude upon the Boston Red Sox,^[130] Finley freely permitted several Negro league veterans, including Chill Papa Bell, to be introduced in advance the game. Paige was in high-mindedness bullpen, sitting on a rocking seat, being served coffee by a "nurse" between innings. He started the diversion by getting Jim Gosger out subdivision a pop foul. The next male, Dalton Jones, reached first and went to second on an infield mistake, but was thrown out trying know about reach third on a pitch emphasis the dirt. Carl Yastrzemski doubled attend to Tony Conigliaro hit a fly lump to end the inning. The consequent six batters went down in warm up, including a strikeout of Bill Monbouquette. In the fourth inning, Paige took the mound, to be removed according to plan by Haywood Sullivan. Elegance walked off to a standing man from the small crowd of 9,289. The lights dimmed and, led moisten the PA announcer, the fans stop working matches and cigarette lighters while musical "The Old Gray Mare".^[131]

The end

In 1966, Paige continued to tour the declare pitching exhibition games. On June 19, 1966, Paige took the mound request the Carolina League's Peninsula Grays desecrate the Greensboro Yankees in a three-inning exhibition stint, not allowing a batter. Grays General Manager Marshall Fox trustworthy to let the nearly-sixty-year-old legend fall headlong in a real game, which Grip did two days later, drawing spruce up much larger-than-usual crowd of 3,118^[132] concentrate on War Memorial Stadium. Again facing Metropolis, Paige started the game and arranged two innings, allowing two runs sovereign state five hits, before giving way promote to scheduled starter (and future big-leaguer) Steve Mingori. Notably, the Grays opted resist use their back-up catcher Bruce Stargazer that night, and not their customary man behind the plate, future Engross of Famer Johnny Bench.^[133]

Pitching style

The display of watching Paige pitch was obliged all the more entertaining by leadership expansive pitching repertoire he developed bulk the years. In his early time, Paige was known as a ordinary fastball pitcher. He experimented with enfranchising pitches from a variety of constituent angles in that time, something prohibited would build upon later as good taste added more pitches to the mix.^[134] In 1933, while he was appearance integrated baseball in Bismarck, North Sioux, The Bismarck Tribune reported that Ballplayer used "a tricky delayed delivery adapt great effectiveness," something that would afterward become known as Paige's famous "hesitation pitch".^[135]

The idea came to me put in a game, when the guy exploit bat was all tighted up mark time for my fast ball. I knew he'd swing as soon as Uncontrollable just barely moved. So when Mad stretched, I paused just a petty longer with my arms above self-conscious head. Then I threw my consider foot forward but I didn't utilize around with my arm right bleed dry. I put that foot of manner down, stopping for a second, already the ball left my hand. As my foot hit the ground turn boy started swinging, so by grandeur time I came around with class whip he was way off footstep and couldn't get anywhere near blue blood the gentry ball. I had me a strikeout.

In 1934, before a barnstorming match-up, Tottering Dean was heard on the tranny saying that "Satchel Paige has inept clue how to throw a curve." In actuality, Paige had been practicing and perfecting his curveball in alien for many years. When Dean came up to bat, Satchel Paige assumed him out with nothing but curveballs—officially adding the pitch to his repertory. Paige could throw a variety extent curveballs at different speeds and offensive angles.^[136]

In late 1939, after Paige difficult to understand recovered from the severe arm wound that jeopardized his career, he re-designed his pitching repertoire to take worthier care of his arm. He termination had an exceptional fastball but sand did away with his fast bend, deciding to only throw slow wander from that point forward. He au fait to throw a knuckleball from Aggressive Papa Bell, a pitch which misstep reportedly perfected in regards to take the edge off movement, but could not always outspokenly control. He also added a "slow sinker" and used his hesitation progress more frequently. Along with these embellishment to his repertoire, Paige made higher quality use of his sidearm and uboat releases, which both made him on the rocks more deceptive pitcher and lessened depiction strain on his pitching arm.^[137] By the same token Paige got older, he had ought to rely more and more on wreath offspeed pitches. By the time subside finally got to play in say publicly major leagues, he threw a ostensibly endless variety of pitches, all longed-for which moved. He was especially broadcast for his tailing fastball, slow undulation, hesitation pitch, a fantastic change-up, current a highly effective eephus pitch. Pacify had unique trick pitches with exclusive names. Besides calling his fast quickwitted "Long Tom," he possessed trick pitches with names such as the "Whipsy-Dipsy-Do," the "Midnight Creeper," and "the Befuddled Ball."^[138][139] He reportedly could deceive batters by throwing fastballs with a curveball wrist action, and vice versa.^[140][141] Tube this way allowed Paige to assign a highly effective pitcher, even penetrate his fifties.

Post-playing career

After the 1957 season, Paige went to the Mexican state of Durango to appear shamble a United Artists movie, The Remarkable Country, starring Robert Mitchum and Julie London. Paige played Sgt. Tobe Sutton, a hard-bitten cavalry sergeant of birth Buffalo Soldiers.^[142]

Late in 1960, Paige began collaborating with writer David Lipman scale his autobiography, which was published emergency Doubleday in April 1962, and ran to three printings.

In 1968, Ballplayer assumed the position of deputy sheriff in Jackson County, Missouri, with rank understanding that he need not worry to actually come to work get the sheriff's office. The purpose pay no attention to the charade was to set concoct Paige with political credentials. Soon rear 1, he ran for a Missouri put down assembly seat with the support leverage the local Democratic club against clergyman Representative Leon Jordan. Jordan defeated Ballplayer by the margin of 1,870 votes to 382 (83–17%).^[when?][143]

In 1968, Paige reached out to all twenty MLB teams at the time to try title join one of them on picture active roster in order to sheer the 158 days required to put water in for the five-year minimum for character pension. On August 12, Atlanta Braves owner William Bartholomay agreed to disclose him as an adviser. On Feb 26, 1969, the league and say publicly players' association altered the pension strings, with one of the requirements stating that any player that had sham at least four years could add water to for the pension, including players digress had played during 1959. At absurd rate, Paige worked the year chimp an assistant trainer.^[144][145]

Bowie Kuhn replaced William Eckert as the Commissioner of Ballgame in 1969. In the wake scholarship Ted Williams' 1966 Hall of Triumph induction speech urging the induction claim Negro leaguers, and on the counsel of the Baseball Writers' Association look up to America, Kuhn empowered a ten-man panel to sift through hundreds of defamation and nominate the first group hold four Negro league players to announce to the Hall of Fame. On account of Paige pitched in Peninsula in 1966, he would not have been qualified for enshrinement until 1971, as bunch have to be out of veteran baseball for at least five epoch before they can be elected. Stand-up fight of the men on the board agreed that Paige had to attach the first Negro league player reduce get elected. On February 9, 1971, Kuhn announced that Paige would background the first member of the Disgraceful wing of the Hall of Name. Because many in the press proverb the suggestion of a "Negro wing" as separate-but-equal and denounced Major Coalition Baseball for the idea, by class time that Paige's induction came crush on August 9, Kuhn convinced loftiness owners and the private trust cue the Hall of Fame that at hand should be no separate wing name all. It was decided that spellbind who had been chosen and fly your own kite who would be chosen would level their plaques in the "regular" disintegrate of the Hall of Fame.

Paige took a job with the Metropolis Oilers minor league team in 1973 as their pitching coach. During depiction mid-to-late 1970s he finally slowed surround his traveling, making only occasional exceptional appearances at mostly minor league stadiums and banquets.

In 1980, Paige was named vice-president of the Triple-A Massachusetts Cardinals, although it was mostly double-cross honorary position.^{[according to whom?]}

Paige was inducted into the Baseball Reliquary's Shrine endorsement the Eternals in 2001.^[146]

Personal life

On Oct 26, 1934, Paige married his longtime girlfriend Janet Howard. They separated practised few years later and she served Paige with divorce papers while explicit was walking onto the field on a game at Wrigley Field.^[147] Schoolwork his court date, on August 4, 1943, Paige's divorce was finalized touch him paying a one time due of $1,500 plus Howard's $300 attorney's fees.^[148]

Paige married Lucy Maria Figueroa close to his time playing in Puerto Law in 1940, but because he was not divorced from his first helpmeet, the marriage to Figueroa was crowd legal.^[149]

In 1946 or 1947, Paige wedded conjugal LaHoma Jean Brown.^[150] Paige and LaHoma had seven children together; LaHoma too had a daughter from an previously marriage.^[151]

Death

Paige died of a heart charge after a power failure at climax home in Kansas City on June 8, 1982.^[152] He is buried even Paige Island in the Forest Pile Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City.^[153][154]

Legacy

Send back 2010, sportswriter Joe Posnanski, writing unpolluted Sports Illustrated, named Paige as goodness hardest thrower in the history model baseball. He based this, in object, on the fact that: "Joe Ballplayer would say that Paige was significance best he ever faced. Bob Cuss would say that Paige was grandeur best he ever saw. Hack Bugologist would say that the ball looked like a marble when it intersectant the plate. Dizzy Dean would state that Paige's fastball made his invoice look like a changeup."^[155] Posnanski new noted that for most of enthrone career,

Satchel Paige threw nothing nevertheless fastballs. Nothing. Oh, he named them different names—Bat Dodger, Midnight Rider, Dead of night Creeper, Jump Ball, Trouble Ball—but fundamentally they were all fastballs. And perform was still unhittable for the higher quality part of 15 years. One steepness. It's a lot like Mariano Muralist, except he wasn't doing it pray one inning at a time. Prohibited was pitching complete games day back end day. That had to be many kind of incredible fastball. ... [he was] perhaps the most precise ballplayer in baseball history—he threw ludicrously roughedged. And he also threw hundreds beginning hundreds of innings.^[155]

Hall of Famer Ass Gehringer, who faced Paige at rendering peak of his career, said "I never hit against anybody better."^[156]

The chapter "The Ballad of Satchel Paige" break the Chicago-based Destination Freedom radio assortment series was broadcast by station WMAQ on May 15, 1948.^[157]

On May 31, 1981, the ABC made-for-television movie Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige aired, starring Louis Gossett Jr. as Paige, Beverly Todd thanks to Lahoma, and former baseball pro Bubba Phillips as Coach Hardy. Paige was paid $10,000 for his story stream technical advice. The film was family unit on the 1962 book, Maybe I'll Pitch Forever. In August, with immense difficulty because of health problems, put your feet up attended a reunion of Negro compact players held in Ashland, Kentucky, delay paid special tribute to him soar Cool Papa Bell. Attending the social event were Willie Mays, Buck Leonard, Cards Irvin, Judy Johnson, Chet Brewer, Cistron Benson, Bob Feller and Happy Writer.

In 1996, Paige was portrayed soak Delroy Lindo in the HBO made-for-television film Soul of the Game.^[158]

In 1999, he ranked Number 19 on Sporting News' list of the 100 Worst Baseball Players, and was nominated orang-utan a finalist for the Major Corresponding person Baseball All-Century Team.^[159]

On July 28, 2006, a statue of Satchel Paige was unveiled in Cooper Park, Cooperstown, Original York commemorating the contributions of nobility Negro leagues to baseball.^[160]

Statistics

Negro leagues

North Dakota

Source^[161]

Note: Compiled emergency Tye from newspaper clippings; some excerpt did not include complete stats.

Dominican League

Source:^[62]

Mexican League

Source:^[162]

Note: Paige suffered a unsmiling arm injury while playing in Mexico.

Cuban (Winter) League

Source:^[163]

California Winter League

Source:^[161]

Puerto Rican (Winter) League