Satchel Paige

Satchel Paige, a charismatic pitching star in the Negro Leagues eventually became a Major League rookie at 41 years of age. He made his first appearance for the Cleveland Indians on July 9, 1948 and completed his first season with a record of 6 wins and 1 loss.

Paige began playing professionally in the Negro Leagues in 1923, during the era when blacks were blocked from playing in baseball's all-white major leagues. He played for a number of different teams in the southern and Midwestern states, usually not straying for long from Kansas City.

He was known for his hard fastball and his crowd-pleasing showboating, including double and triple windups and his "hesitation" pitch. He was often hired to draw crowds as much as to win games.

Jackie Robinson broke the major league color barrier in 1947, and the next year Paige joined the Cleveland Indians. Paige was listed as 41 years old, but his age was never quite clear. Even so, he was the oldest rookie in history.

He still managed a decent career on the mound, compiling a record of 28-31 while pitching for the [Cleveland Indians]] from 1948 through 1949 and the St. Louis Browns from 1951 through 1953.

After leaving the major leagues, Paige still wasn't through. He spent several years pitching in the minors and barnstorming, and in 1965 pitched three scoreless innings in a special appearance with the Kansas City Athletics. The A’s even had a rocking chair in the dugout to accommodate him at the ripe old age of 58. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/paigesa01.shtml

A national celebrity, Paige co-starred in a western (1959's The Wonderful Country) and had a best-seller with his autobiography, Maybe I'll Pitch Forever (1962). He was the first of the Negro League players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame (1971). http://www.infoplease.com/biography/var/satchelpaige.html

Satchel passed away on June 8, 1982 in Kansas City, Missouri and was laid to rest in Forest Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri.

Having pitched for years in the Negro Leagues and being one of it's top two stars Satchel Paige at the age of 41 years old finally made his Major League debut on July 9, 1948 with the Cleveland Indians. He appeared in 21 games; 14 as a reliever and 7 as a starter. Satchel posted 6 wins and a save against only 1 loss with a 2.48 ERA. He also threw 2 shutouts and completed 3 games. In 72 2/3 innings he allowed 61 hits, fanned 43 batters, and walked 22.

In the World Series against the Boston Braves he pitched 2/3 of an inning allowing no hits or walks as the Indians defeated the Braves 4 games to 2 and were crowned world champions. Satchel pitched another year with the Indians and then a couple more with the St. Louis Browns. As a novelty he then cam back at the age o 58 to throw 3 scoreless innings for the Oakland Athletics.