Jackson Creek Middle School

American Heroes: Satchel Paige

Baseball Career

 

Statistics

Height: 6'3 1/2"

Weight: 180 lbs.

Position: Right- Handed Pitcher

Teams: W.H. Council School, Mobile Tigers, Mobile's Down the Bay Boys, Chattanooga Black Lookouts, New Orlean's Pelicans, Birmingham Black Barons, Pittsburgh Crawsfords, Bizmark's Baseball Club, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, Miami Marlins, and Kansas City Athletics. He also played in other countries, such as Mexico, Dominican Republic, and the Latin League.

MLB Records:

 

 

Timeline

In 1916 at the age of 10, Satchel's first baseball team was called the W.H. Council School baseball team. Two years later, Satchel was kicked off the team because he got caught stealing from a local store. He was sentenced to five and a half years at the Industrial School for Negro Children at Mt. Meigs, Alabama. He was released in the December of 1923.

In 1924, Paige pitched in his first semi-professional game for the Mobile Tigers. In 1926, he also pitched for Mobile's Down the Bay Boys, the Chattanooga Black Lookouts, and then the New Orleans Pelicans. That was one busy year. In 1927, he joined the Birmingham Black Barons.

In 1934 while with the Pittsburgh Crawfords which he joined in 1931, Satchel had his finest career in the Negro Leagues. He claimed that he had won 104 games out of 105. Whether he did or did not do this, he did beat Dizzy Dean in six to four in a postseason barnstorming competition. In 1935, Paige joined the Bismarck Baseball Club. During this time, they started him in 29 games in one month.

Satchel became a nationally known player after being shown in the 1940's Time and the Saturday Evening Post. He finally reached his life's goal to be picked up by the big leagues in 1948 by the Cleveland Indians on July 9th. He also became the first Black pitcher in the World Series.

In 1951, Paige joined the St. Louis Browns and in 1952, he was nominated to play on the American League All-star team. Satchel again switched teams in 1956 and joined the Miami Marlins.

Satchel's autobiography entitled, Maybe I'll Pitch Forever, was published in 1962. While with the Kansas City Athletics Satchel made his final major league appearance on September 25, 1965. In 1968, Satchel was hired by the Atlanta Braves to be a player-coach. In 1969, he officially retired from professional baseball.

Satchel Paige finally received the greatest reward in baseball by being admitted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.

 

Satchel Paige Home Off the Field Bibliography

By: Tyson W.
Last updated: 01/03/02