(Pitcher) Purportedly bom July 7, 1906, in Mobile, Alabama, Satch began his professional career in 1926 and soon thereafter established himself as a gate attraction and began playing the year around. His greatest popularity came when he joined the Pittsburgh Crawfords during the earty 1930s and for whom he compiled records of 32-7 and 31-4 in 1932-33. His stay there was interrupted with frequent salary disputes, during which intervals Satch would barnstorm against all levels of competition.
Ultimately he jumped to the Dominican Republic, and then to Mexico where he developed a sore arm in 1938. After signing with the Kansas City Monarchs, his arm 'came back' and he also developed a curve and his famous hesitation pitch to add to his 'bee-ball,' 'jump-ball, 'trouble-ball,' 'long-ball' and the other pitches in his repertoire.
For the next nine seasons, he pitched for the Kansas City Monarchs pitch- ing them to four consecutive Negro American League Pennants (1939-42), culminating a clean sweep of the powerful Homestead Grays in the 1942 World Series, with Satchel himself winning three of the games in 1946 he helped pitch the monarchs to their fifth pennant during his tenure with the team. Satchel also pitched in five East-West Blade All-Star games, being credited with two victories in the mid-season classic.
Finally, at an undetermined age, Bill Veeck brought him to the major leagues in 1948 and the rest is history. As the oldest rookie to ever play major league baseball, he registered a 6-1 record and a 2.48 ERA to help pitch the Indians to the pennant and World Series victory that year.
Going to the St. Louis Browns in 1951, where he relaxed in his own person- al rocking chair in the bullpen when not in action..Satchel kept the legend going. Twelve years after making appearances in the All-Star games of 1952-53, Satch, at the dubious age of 59, pitched three innings for the A's to become the oldest man to pitch in a major league game, contributing still another chapter to the ever-expanding collection of 'Satchel stories'.
In 1971, on the proudest day of his life, Satchel was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, becoming the first player elected from the Negro Leagues. In the years after his induction, Satch was continuing to follow his own rare advise,'Dont look back, something might be gaining on you.' when indeed, something finally did catch up with him. On June 8, 1982, death stilled the baseball immortal.