Hi! For our second Sports Spotlight this month, we're going over to the world of baseball. I am not the world's biggest baseball fan, but I know that it was one of the sports where Black players had to fight for their inclusion and success the most, as it was considered America's favorite sport during segregation. We hear some names tons of times and they've finally been allowed to have their moment in the sun, but for other names like today's entrant, unless you know your Black or baseball-related history this person may slip between the cracks. Let's learn more about who today's entrant is and why he was so integral to the history of baseball.
Name: Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige, 1906-1982
Profession: Baseball player
Why is the Spotlight on him today? For opening the door for other Black baseball players and his longevity in the sport at such a segregated time
Notables:
--Was the first actual Black baseball player to receive a degree of notoriety for his talent and success, although Jackie Robinson, a former teammate, was the first Black baseball player to be officially signed to the majors
--Was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971, making him the first Negro Leagues player to be inducted
--Was the most dominant pitcher and the best drawing card in the Negro Leagues
--Had a notably long career lasting four decades
--Pitched the most baseballs for the most teams than any other player in history
--Was widely respected by other players and sports writers for his talent and pitching skills
--Was the oldest player in the leagues selected for an All-Star Team at 47 years old
--Kept his own record book of his accomplishments that came to be infamous for the inexplicably high numbers, but was mostly verified to be true, meaning that he should technically hold a number of all-time baseball records
--Was playing with the Pittsburgh Crawfords when they won the championship in 1935
--Played for a load of American teams and also joined the Mexican League, Dominican Republic League and Puerto Rican League
--Was able to win over White sportscasters and fans alike during his time on the field
--Helped the Kansas City Monarchs to the World Series as the top pitcher twice
--Was the oldest rookie to play in the major leagues
--Had a 6-1 record in his first majors season with the Cleveland Indians, which was the highest winning percentage for the Indians at the time
--Was officially the oldest pitcher at 59 when he pitched three shutout innings in a one-off for the Kansas City Athletics after retiring
--In one season with the Puerto Rican team Brujos de Guayama (Guayama Witch Doctors), set a league record and single-season records that have yet to be broken and got the team to a championship game
--Was posthumously honored with both a statue and an elementary school in his name
--Was honored with a local park renovation created in his name shortly before his death
Further reading links:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4
Quotes of the Day:
"Ain't no man can avoid being born average, but there ain't no man got to be common."
"They said I was the greatest pitcher they ever saw...I couldn't understand why they couldn't give me no justice."
--Satchel Paige
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