Kansas City Athletics pitchers long time veteran Satchel Paige (left) and rookie Jim “Catfish” Hunter sits for a photo op in this 1965 photo (file photo from MLB Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum)
Satchel Page at 59 with the Athletics
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
If age is a state of mind or like some say “age is just a number”, Satchel Paige proved it when at 59 years of age started a game for the Kansas City Athletics in 1965, becoming the oldest player to see action in a Major League game.
History has it that on September 29, 1965 Paige started a game against the Boston Red Sox. He pitched three complete inning allowed just one hit to lead off hitter and center fielder Jim Gosger and was relieved by Diego Segui.
That 1965 Kansas City Athletics team had such popular players as Dagoberto “Campy” Campaneris and Dick Green who were two of the players that would make the transition from Kansas City to Oakland when the franchise moved to the Bay Area in 1968.
Satchel Paige dominated the Negro Leagues in the 1920’s and 1930’s way before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier with the LA Dodgers in 1947. His real name was Leroy Paige, who got his nickname Satchel, from carrying suitcases at the Union Railroad Station in Mobile, Alabama as a teenager, where he was born in 1906.
Leroy “Satchel “Paige was truly one of the great characters of the game, here are some of his famous quotes: “I never threw and illegal pitch. The trouble is, once in a while I toss one that ain’t never been seen by this generation”
“I don’t generally like running. I believe in training by rising gently up and down from the bench.” said Paige
“Just take the ball and throw it where you want to. Throw strikes. Home plate don’t move.”
“My pitching philosophy is simple – keep the ball way from the bat.”
“My feet ain’t got nothing to do with my nickname, but when folks get it in their heads that a Feller’s got big feet, soon the feet start looking big.” said Paige
“The only change is that baseball has turned Paige from a second class citizen to a second class immortal.”
“When a batter swings and I see his knees move, I can tell just what his weaknesses are then I just put the ball where I know he can’t hit it.”
“Money and women. They’re two of the strongest things in the world. The things you do for a woman you wouldn’t do for anything else. Same with money.”
“I’ve said it once and I’ll say it a hundred times, I’m forty-four years old.”
“Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it don’t matter.”
“Avoid running at all times.”
“If your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts.”
“Avoid fried foods, which angry up the blood.”
“Not to be cheered by praise, not to be grieved by blame, but to know thoroughly one’s own virtues or powers are the characteristics of an excellent man.”
Note: Cuban-born Diego Segui who came to relieve Paige during this historical game, was also the only Opening Day pitcher for two different teams in the same city. Segui was Opening Day pitcher in the history of the Seattle Pilots in 1969 (only year of their existence) and nine years later when baseball returned to Seattle in 1977 with the Seattle Mariners. Seguí a member the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame. He threw one of the most famous fork-balls.
Stay well and stay tuned.
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
