Satchel Paige’s MLB debut changed baseball forever 75 years ago – Andscape

“Age is more a matter of mind than matter. It’s okay if you don’t mind.” – Satchel page

of Sports news“The Baseball Bible” posted a sign publicizing the signing of 42-year-old Satchel Paige. Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck doesn’t hate the gimmick of putting punches in the ballpark.

But 75 years ago, in the summer of 1948, Veck had the American League on his mind, so the PT Barnum ability in him had to step aside and let the reality of such a challenge change his choices.

Veck made a significant move on July 7, 1948 when he signed Page to a major league contract.

Two days later, Page made his debut.

Harold Sawyer Bray “You somehow understand all the things that Bill Veeck did in entertaining the crowd, that was great.” Ordinary seller He wrote after Page’s first exit. “At the same time, it strengthens the football club.”

Sauerbrei proved prophetic.

By signing Paige, Veck was acquiring one of the most respected figures in “black baseball” history. Barred from adults because of the color of his skin, Page haunted America and Latin America for two decades, dubbing admirers and leftists as “being a ball,” “malaria ball,” “wipsy-dipsy-do.” ball” and “no ball”

He also had a high-octane fastball to beat batters.

“The amazing satchel was what Babe Ruth was to the Negro Leagues and baseball today,” wrote sports editor Al Pritzker. Monrovia News-PostIn the year 1948 “Error partially corrected…”

That, of course, was the mistake, Pritzker said, echoing the sentiments of a few journalists in the mainstream media and many in the black press: “Here’s a guy who was probably the best Purker of his time and his time.” Long. But he had no chance to prove himself in the majors.

Pritzker marveled at what many white sportswriters did about Page’s omission. With so many innings behind him, did he have quality innings ahead?

Remember, he came to high school with other questions to answer. Sportswriters like Wendell Smith, one of the most prominent journalists in the black press, questioned whether the ageless Page had the discipline to make it in the bigs.

Page often faced those questions and the ability to play a team sport. He told sportswriter Walter Jones. Night neutral In Massillon, Ohio, in 1948:

“I’m not hard to get along with and I don’t eat 12 hot dogs before I leave. I don’t know how they come up with stories like that. If I’m hard to get along with, how am I going to get a chance to pitch to Cleveland? I don’t even eat hot dogs.”

Paige, being Paige, added this last line from Jones: “Actually, I don’t like hamburgers either.

How many hot dogs he did or didn’t eat mattered little to Veck. The Indians were counted on by Page to win the pennant in hand, as most of the ballplayers were not old enough for the minor leagues.

Two days after Veck signed him, Paige showed his major league potential.

In front of 34,780 fans at Municipal Stadium, he relieved right-hander Bob Lemon in the fifth inning, shutout the St. Louis Browns for two innings and hinted at all that had been missed in two-plus decades of baseball. .

There is no doubt that Paige has lost his grip on his fastball. What he hasn’t lost is his dramatic flair, his command of focus and his control of the score. His ascension is enshrined in tribal legend.

Flash bulbs appeared; The ballpark erupted in cheers as the 42-year-old Page — who turned his age into a guessing game — strolled leisurely up the middle of the diamond from the bullpen.

“This was not exactly a new experience for Old Satchel, as he had faced the major leagues on countless occasions,” Sauerbray wrote. But it was the first time he pitched to the big league club in the championship game — and it didn’t matter to Old Satchel.

Paige was as calm as an ocean without waves. How could it not be? He spent his life on the mound in ballparks across the baseball landscape where he proved his worth as a pitcher.

Sportswriter Harry Grayson wrote, “He walks like a good camel, reminiscent of Steppin’ Fetch, so slow and loose in his movements.” Shamokin News-Dispatch in Pennsylvania.

In the year During the 1948 season, black baseball’s brightest star may not have been as good as he once was, but he was still good— Really cool.

His debut made Page the seventh – and oldest – Negro Leaguer to wear a major league uniform. He was the second to play for Veck, signing Larry Dobbin in 1947.

None of the others had a Page resume. Still, many outside the Negro Leagues began to question the quality of his work.

“How much help he can give to the Indians now is problematic.” New York Times Sports columnist Arthur Daley wrote that the day before Page’s debut. “The speed is out of hand but the trick remains. … Sach of a decade or two ago might have been able to prove a theory to the tribe. But he has been in the twilight of his career for so long that nothing can be said.

While Paige was primitive for a “beginner,” Veck knew his right hand had a long way to go. Veck needed a reliable arm to shore up the bullpen and thought Paige could provide it.

Nonfiction writer Larry Tye wrote: “His arms and lean legs were perfect in the air to move a ball from mound to plate.” ” They gave him a move. momentum intensity. And he had a great launch pad: enormous hands that made a baseball look like a golf ball, wrists gripped with the fury and flare of a catapult.

In the first match, Paige proved that she is still Paige.

“The old Satchel showed most of his goods in those two innings,” Sauerbray said. “Satchel is in the big leagues after all those years and there’s only one thing left – Satchel in the World Series.”

Paige Sauerbrey, the first Negro leaguer to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, completes the unfinished business. He and Doby helped The Tribe win the 1948 World Series, the team’s first since 1920. It was also their last.

Page went 6-1 with a 2.48 ERA. But if he didn’t contribute to the title, Page never made it to the big leagues, but he is remembered as a pioneer for black ballplayers who came after him.

As sports editor Dan DiDonna wrote in 2020 Holland SentinelPage was instrumental in the integration of baseball. It helped create a buzz about black players and black teams. Thousands and thousands of fans across the country watched as he defeated the all-white teams led by Bob Feller and Dizzy Dean.

“And his legend grew.”