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“Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind,
it doesn't matter." -Satchel Paige
Satchel's Major League Baseball Career
In 1948, the Cleveland Indians needed extra pitchers, so owner Bill Veeck decided to give Satchel a try. As the story goes, Veeck put a cigarette on the ground as a mini-home plate. Satchel threw five pitches and only one didn't fly directly over the cigarette. Satchel got the job! Satchel's age was always shrouded in mystery. On July 9, 1948, Paige arrived in the majors as the oldest rookie ever.That same year, Satchel recorded a 6-1 record, a 2.48 earned run average, and helped the Indians win the World Series. Veeck and Satch (as he was commonly called) reunited on the 1951 St. Louis Browns team. Satchel reached the 1MLB All-Star game in 1952 and 1953.
In 1965, Satchel pitched a 3 inning shutout for the Kansas City Athletics to become the oldest man to pitch in an MLB game. He was 59.
In 1971, on what he called the "happiest day of my life", Satch was inducted into the MLB 2Hall of Fame, becoming the first black player in this exclusive club.
In his 179 games in the MLB, he never committed a single error.
1 MLB-Major League Baseball
2Hall of Fame- A shrine honoring the best players in a given sport