On This Day In History, Satchel Paige Nominated To The Baseball Hall of Fame. First Negro League Player To Be Nominated.

[0311]

On February 9, 1971, pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige becomes the first Negro League veteran to be nominated for the Baseball Hall of Fame. In August of that year, Paige, a pitching legend known for his fastball, showmanship and the longevity of his playing career, which spanned five decades, was inducted. Joe DiMaggio once called Paige “the best and fastest pitcher I’ve ever faced.”

Satchel Paige nominated to Baseball Hall of Fame | February 9, 1971 | HISTORY

Pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige becomes the first Negro League veteran to be nominated for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

www.history.com

Paige was born in Mobile, Alabama, most likely on July 7, 1906, although the exact date remains a mystery. He earned his nickname, Satchel, as a boy when he earned money carrying passengers’ bags at train stations. Baseball was segregated when Paige started playing baseball professionally in the 1920s, so he spent most of his career pitching for Negro League teams around the United States. During the winter season, he pitched for teams in the Caribbean and Central and South America. As a barnstorming player who traveled thousands of miles each season and played for whichever team met his asking price, he pitched an estimated 2,500 games, had 300 shut-outs and 55 no-hitters. In one month in 1935, he reportedly pitched 29 consecutive games.

 

[Mashmont]

On February 9, 1971, pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige becomes the first Negro League veteran to be nominated for the Baseball Hall of Fame. In August of that year, Paige, a pitching legend known for his fastball, showmanship and the longevity of his playing career, which spanned five decades, was inducted. Joe DiMaggio once called Paige “the best and fastest pitcher I’ve ever faced.”

Satchel Paige nominated to Baseball Hall of Fame | February 9, 1971 | HISTORY

Pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige becomes the first Negro League veteran to be nominated for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

www.history.com

Paige was born in Mobile, Alabama, most likely on July 7, 1906, although the exact date remains a mystery. He earned his nickname, Satchel, as a boy when he earned money carrying passengers’ bags at train stations. Baseball was segregated when Paige started playing baseball professionally in the 1920s, so he spent most of his career pitching for Negro League teams around the United States. During the winter season, he pitched for teams in the Caribbean and Central and South America. As a barnstorming player who traveled thousands of miles each season and played for whichever team met his asking price, he pitched an estimated 2,500 games, had 300 shut-outs and 55 no-hitters. In one month in 1935, he reportedly pitched 29 consecutive games.

Paige is completely undeserving of being in the Hall of Fame. A losing record 28-31 in MLB. He only had 97 career wins in the Negro Leagues where the competition was inferior to MLB. But even with that, 125 combined wins doesn't get anybody into the Hall of Fame. This was a woke induction. Plain and simple. You can say "Well, he would have done this and that had he been allowed in the majors". Coulda woulda shoulda. You could say the same about any promising athlete who didn't play MLB because of injury or any number of other reasons.

Compare him with Curt Schilling, who is ten times more deserving, but has been denied the Hall of Fame solely because of political reasons. Schilling has sterling statistics superior to many Hall of Famers. But he is white and conservative.

 

[Winston]

Paige is completely undeserving of being in the Hall of Fame. A losing record 28-31 in MLB. He only had 97 career wins in the Negro Leagues where the competition was inferior to MLB. But even with that, 125 combined wins doesn't get anybody into the Hall of Fame. This was a woke induction. Plain and simple. You can say "Well, he would have done this and that had he been allowed in the majors". Coulda woulda shoulda. You could say the same about any promising athlete who didn't play MLB because of injury or any number of other reasons.

Compare him with Curt Schilling, who is ten times more deserving, but has been denied the Hall of Fame solely because of political reasons. Schilling has sterling statistics superior to many Hall of Famers. But he is white and conservative.

Wow, you have no clue.

First, to this very day, Sachel Paige, at 42, is the oldest "rookie" to ever enter the major leagues. He played his last major league game at the age of 59, 59, that is not a typo. He was a beast. I mean you don't get it. Paige "barnstormed", made baseball a entertainment venue, think Harlem Globetrotters.

Look, there were no radar guns back then. But some of the most legendary hitters of all-time have attested to the fact. Paige's fastball was routinely over 100 mph. At the high end, estimates have put it at 119. Not even barnstorming, in the Negro leagues, he would tell his infielders to sit down, take a break, and routinely strike out the side.

 

[0311]

Joe DiMaggio once called Paige “the best and fastest pitcher I’ve ever faced.” Someone did not read the full text or chose to ignore it.

 

[Mashmont]

Wow, you have no clue.

First, to this very day, Sachel Paige, at 42, is the oldest "rookie" to ever enter the major leagues. He played his last major league game at the age of 59, 59, that is not a typo. He was a beast. I mean you don't get it. Paige "barnstormed", made baseball a entertainment venue, think Harlem Globetrotters.

Look, there were no radar guns back then. But some of the most legendary hitters of all-time have attested to the fact. Paige's fastball was routinely over 100 mph. At the high end, estimates have put it at 119. Not even barnstorming, in the Negro leagues, he would tell his infielders to sit down, take a break, and routinely strike out the side.

He was brought back in 1965 for one game in a ceremonial move and allowed a single at bat. He actually retired in 1953. Numerous players have played at an older age. 119 mph is ridiculous an impossible for a human. Without actual measurements, all the other stuff was embellished anecdotes. There is absolutely no basis for having him in the Hall of Fame.

 

[Mashmont]

Joe DiMaggio once called Paige “the best and fastest pitcher I’ve ever faced.” Someone did not read the full text or chose to ignore it.

Anecdote. It doesn't change Paige's lack of stats. Paige's stats were not even close to other hall of famers.

 

[Winston]

He was brought back in 1965 for one game in a ceremonial move and allowed a single at bat. He actually retired in 1953. Numerous players have played at an older age. 119 mph is ridiculous an impossible for a human. Without actual measurements, all the other stuff was embellished anecdotes. There is absolutely no basis for having him in the Hall of Fame.

Yes, I agree, 119 mph is impossible, but so is 100. Damn, a pitcher can actually break their arm throwing a fastball. Muscle overpowering bone, it is just humanely impossible.

Here is the thing with Paige. It wasn't just velocity, it was placement. He could put it where he needed it to be, and that means something. And I have kind of an inside track. My grandfather pitched opposite of Paige, in the Carolina leagues. Grandpaw threw junk, curves, knuckles, sliders. He made the ball move. Paige brought heat, even then. So yeah, notch another victory for Paige.

 

[0311]

Yes, I agree, 119 mph is impossible, but so is 100. Damn, a pitcher can actually break their arm throwing a fastball. Muscle overpowering bone, it is just humanely impossible.

Here is the thing with Paige. It wasn't just velocity, it was placement. He could put it where he needed it to be, and that means something. And I have kind of an inside track. My grandfather pitched opposite of Paige, in the Carolina leagues. Grandpaw threw junk, curves, knuckles, sliders. He made the ball move. Paige brought heat, even then. So yeah, notch another victory for Paige.

IF "Joltin" Joe DiMaggio could get a hit of Paige, he was very good.