Satchel Paige, born in Mobile, AL, was the seventh of twelve children. At the age of twelve, he was sentenced to five years at the Industrial School for Negro Children in Mount Meigs, Alabama, where he learned the value of education baseball. He went on to become one the greatest baseball pitchers of all time, with a career spanning four decades and culminating his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.

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In many respects Satchel Paige was to Negro League baseball what Babe Ruth was to the majors -- a rare combination of talent and personality that captured the imagination of fans across America. Paige's unique brand of showmanship combined with his remarkable skills on the mound to fill ballparks everywhere and keep the fans coming through the turnstiles through even the darkest days of the Great Depression. So great was the drawing power of Satchel Paige that he was often "loaned" to struggling teams who needed a quick boost in attendance to stay afloat.

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Satchel Paige's explosive fastball, athletic ability, perfect control and showmanship guaranteed large crowds wherever he pitched and made him a legend.  He earned the respect of sportswriters, owners, fans and baseball players. Joe DiMaggio called him, “The best I’ve ever faced and the fastest.”  

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One of his many, many accomplishments is that he was the first black pitcher to pitch in a World Series game. Satchel pitched for the Cleveland Indians when they won the series in 1948. Satchel was 46 at the time.

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Satchel Paige was an amazing pitcher, but he was also a husband, a father to 6 children, a friend, and a mentor. The SPF takes great care to touch on all of the wonderful qualities of Satchel Paige in its endeavors to ensure that his legacy continues for generations.