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“But signing Jackie like they did still hurt me deep down. I’d been the guy who’d started all that big talk about letting us in the big time. I’d been the one who’d opened up the major league parks to the colored teams. I’d been the one who the white boys wanted to 1barnstorm against. I’d been the one who everybody’d said should be in the Majors. But Jackie’d been the first one signed by the white boys and he’d be the first one in the majors.” –Satchel Paige
Satchel Paige's Effect on History
Satchel Paige was one of the greatest pitchers, to ever stand on a baseball mound. In addition, he was an entertainer. His personality and charisma energized the crowd. He was the most exciting baseball player at the time. The Negro Leagues became famous because of the 6 games per week that Satchel Paige would pitch. This brought many people out to the ball park, even whites. When he was on the Homestead Grays, the team owner told the crowd that if Satchel Paige did not strike out 17 batters, everybody would get their full ticket price refunded. Today, it is a great game if a pitcher strikes out 10 batters. He was possibly the greatest baseball player of all time.
The conflict between Negroes and Whites made Satchel Paige's outstanding career even more outstanding, considering what he had to overcome. The compromise was also between Negroes and Whites; Whites agreed to allow Negroes into Major League Baseball. This allowed Negroes to be looked at as equals.
Satchel Paige's effect on the game resulted in increased opportunities for blacks. After baseball became integrated, it created opportunities for all blacks in America. His contributions to the game of baseball made life better for blacks in society. Satchel Paige changed America forever.
1 Barnstorming- The act of forming a team and traveling around playing other teams of the same or different race