On July 7, 1948 The Indians stun the baseball world by signing Satchel Paige, veteran Negro League pitcher. The move is ridiculed by some as a Bill Veeck publicity stunt, and J.G. Taylor Spink in The Sporting News editorializes, “Veeck has gone too far in his quest for publicity. To sign a hurler at Paige’s…
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On July 21, 1942, in one of the most famous moments in the history of the Negro leagues, Satchel Paige strikes out Josh Gibson on three pitches with the bases loaded, fulfilling a prediction he had made years earlier.
Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson are among 18 black players who jump to the Dominican Republic league. Negro League owners regard this as desertion and plan to ban the players from the league. In May, Paige will be banned for life.
Just four days after throwing a no-hitter, Satchel Paige finds himself on the short end of another no-hitter, thrown by Willie “Sug” Cornelius. However, Cornelius’ Chicago American Giants are unable to score, and the game is a scoreless tie after nine innings. Paige’s Pittsburgh Crawfords break open the no-hitter in the 10th inning, and Paige beats Cornelius, 3 – 0.
In a Negro National League game, Satchel Paige pitches a 4 – 0 no-hitter for the Pittsburgh Crawfords against the Homestead Grays in Pittsburgh, with only a walk and an error spoiling a perfect game. He strikes out 17. Josh Gibson is his catcher, the only time in Negro league history in which battery-mates in a no-hitter are both members of the Hall of Fame, something which has never happened in the white majors. Legend claims that Paige then drives to Chicago to shut out the Chicago American Giants, 1 – 0, in 12 innings, giving him two shutouts in two different cities in the same day, but the claim has since been disproved. The no-hitter, however, is documented.
“Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” – SATCHEL PAIGE, commenting on his longevity.The California Winter League holds Satchel Paige Day to honor the legend’s accomplishments in this multi-racial circuit. The right-hander takes no prisoners, throwing a three-hit 5-0 shutout with 14 strikeouts in the Armistice Day contest, against Joe Pirrone’s All-Stars, a team made up of big leaguers who came to the west coast to play winter league ball to earn some extra money.
In the second game of a doubleheader, Satchel Paige pitches the first no-hitter in Greenlee Field as the Pittsburgh Crawfords defeat the New York Black Yankees, 6 – 0. Three Hall of Famers support Paige: Oscar Charleston at first base, Judy Johnson at third, and Josh Gibson in left field. Ted Radcliffe, who pitched in the first game, is behind the plate for Paige’s gem.
1929 – Cool Papa Bell, playing for Cienfuegos, becomes the first slugger to connect for three home runs in a single game during Cuban professional play. A Negro Leaguer and future Hall of Fame member, Bell accomplishes his feat at Aida Park during the 15 – 11 slugfest victory over Habana. All three are inside-the-park efforts. Oscar Levis, Cliff Bell and Martin Dihigo surrender the homers. Satchel Paige once quip about Bell ,…
Legendary pitcher Satchel Paige makes his debut in the Negro Southern League. Paige, at 19 years of age, leads Chattanooga to a 5 – 4 win over Birmingham.