Satchel Paige was 42 years old in 1948 when he became the first black pitcher in the American League.  He quickly became a legend.  For 22 years, beginning in 1926, Paige won over baseball fans around the country with his performances in the Negro Baseball Leagues.  Then, he outlasted everyone by playing professional baseball until 1965.

Among his many accomplishments, Paige was the oldest rookie at age 42, the first black man to pitch in the World Series, and the first Negro League player elected to the Hall of Fame.  Paige fought against racial discrimination and poverty, and his indefatigable spirit has served as a reminder of the virtues of courage and persistence.