Satchel Paige

Leroy Robert " Satchel " Paige (* July 7, 1906 in Mobile, Alabama as Leroy Robert Page, † June 8, 1982 in Kansas City, Kansas) was an American baseball player in the Cleveland Indians, the St. Louis Browns and the Kansas City Athletics in Major League Baseball ( MLB). The pitcher is known for its exceptionally long and eventful professional career in which he was excluded from the U.S. professional leagues because of segregation as a black man. Instead, he played in the Negro Leagues and in South America, until he at the age of 42 years was finally able to make his debut in the MLB and won with the Indians to the World Series in 1948. Despite the relative absence of MLB Awards Paige was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, is considered one of the best players in baseball history and as a symbol of stoic composure against racism.

Segregated years

Paige lived in an age when the United States nor the segregation prevailed, especially in southern states such as Alabama. He established himself on the youth in various Negro Leagues and made the leap to Cuba as a teenager and later went into the Negro National League, the ( poorly paid, but high quality ) U.S. professional league for blacks. There, Paige established as the best NNL pitcher and perhaps the best pitcher of the United States. When young Joe DiMaggio once ran against Paige and recorded a hit in four passes, which later became New York Yankees legend was thrilled. "I had scored against Paige a hit and now knew that I could make it " Later, Paige threw in the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Puerto Rico. ( Where, in turn, were not accepted for a long time as Black soldiers) During the Second World War dedicated Paige, to raise money for charitable purposes. He was already 42 years old when Jackie Robinson became the first black man in the MLB. A little later followed him to Paige.

MLB years

Two days after his 42nd birthday Paige made ​​his debut in 1948 for the Cleveland Indians. Since Paige had never pitched in the MLB, he had certain (sometimes later banned ) throwing techniques that had never been seen before and, according to a sports journalists " were not illegal, but not entirely legal." Paige has established itself as a reliable reserve pitcher: he won six of his seven games, had an outstanding Earned run average 2.48 and was even in the discussion for the MLB Rookie of the Year Award ( best newcomer ), although the league with this award to a "Baseball Grandpa " would have ridiculed. The Indians made ​​it to the World Series, and Paige won the championship with Cleveland. After the 1949 was rather disappointing, he moved to the St. Louis Browns.

In weak Browns Paige was the only bright spot. The very below average teammates took care of the strange phenomenon that Paige 15 of his 29 games won in two years, but the Browns still lost over 200 of their 280 games. Paige made ​​it but still twice in the All- Star team and was after Jackie Robinson one of the first blacks who were rewarded. At the age of 47 years, Paige stepped back from the MLB, but returned in 1965 once again back for the Kansas City Athletics. In the biblical age of 58 Paige threw one more game, allowed four innings no point gain was changed and adopted by the 9,000 spectators with standing ovations.

In recognition of his life's work Paige was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971. Until then, the HoF had been a purely whites populated place, because until 1948 no blacks in the MLB had been allowed to play. To turn this historic injustice straight, MLB instructed the Negro League Committee ( ie Committee of the Negro leagues in the USA) to select the four players of the Negro Leagues. They should be introduced without having to make a choice. Paige was with Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard Monte Irvin and one of the four.

Private life

Paige was born Leroy Robert Page in the early 20th century. His exact birth date is controversial because there is no official birth certificate, but only one entry from a census. When his mother got divorced, she left her family name in Paige change. His nickname " Satchel " ( dt: the bag ) he got because he was caught as a youth in the slums of Mobile with the theft. As a rehabilitation measure, he was sent to baseball, where his talent was quickly recognized. 1934 Paige married his childhood sweetheart Janet Howard. They had four children.

Because Paige played for so long in lower leagues, he always survived despite outstanding sporting achievements on the poverty line. Even as a player of the MLB that changed little since he got as a black and very old player only small salary.

Philosophy of life

Although he was considered one of the best throwers in the world, Paige was allowed to play as African- Americans until the age of 42 in the MLB. But he refused to let be destroyed by the missed opportunities, and was considered outspoken Stoics. His favorite quote was: " never look back - you could get sick. " ( " And do not look back - something might also be gaining on you. " )

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