Wednesday, January 24, 2001
Updated: January 23, 4:28 PM ET
Leroy "Satchel" Paige
Joe Dimaggio called Satchel Page "the best and fastest pitcher I've ever faced." In
1933, in the Negro Leagues, he pitched 64 consecutive scoreless innings, had
21 consecutive wins, and compiled a 31-4 record.
On being denied access to Major League Baseball, he remarked: "They said I was the
greatest pitcher they ever saw. I couldn't understand why they couldn't give
me no justice."
In 1948, as the oldest rookie ever in the majors, he registered a 6-1 record
with a 2.48 ERA to help the Indians to the pennant and World Series title.
In 1965, "Satch," at the dubious age of 59, pitched three innings for the A's
to become the oldest person to pitch in a major league game.
In 1971, on what he called the proudest day of his life, Satchel was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, becoming the first player elected from the Negro
Leagues.
Though few knew his true age, his true greatness was undisputed.
By most accounts, Leroy Robert Satchel Paige was born July 7, 1906, in
Mobile, Ala. He died June 8, 1982, in Kansas City, Mo.
