Lessons From A Reading List

Following up a recent post, dealing with summer reading, just finished one that seems to ring pretty true based on today's atmosphere.

The book, Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend by Larry Tye, is a very in-depth biography on Negro Leagues pitcher Leroy "Satchel" Paige. Even a non-baseball fan would find this an interesting read. Paige growing up in the south, dealing with Jim Crow laws and prejudice. It's a worthy biography written on a guy who was clearly larger-than-life in his heyday.

Born in 1906, Paige pretty much pitched 12 months a year for most of his career, which amazingly wrapped up in his 60s. Loved by the minority he represented, Paige was larger-than-life and denied the ability to compete against the white stars of his day until he was signed, at age 42, by the Cleveland Indians. By his estimation (and keep in mind records and newspaper coverage was spotty at best), Paige says he pitched in over 2,500 games (keep in mind he often pitched 4 innings or less as team owners would rent him out for a game just to help boost attendance), winning 2,000 or so. He said he played for 250 teams and threw 250 shutouts.

I'd believe that, since he played all year around,  heading out to California for winter leagues; playing in Bismark, North Dakota (on a mixed white/Black team long before Blacks were allowed into the MLB. And without issue, it should be noted); playing in Cuba, Puerto Rico...well, all over. Baseball was his job and he did it well.

Throughout the years, he had barnstormed against white stars like Dizzy Dean, Ted Williams, Bob Feller and the like, earning their respect along the way.

But the door to the Majors remained shut. Over and over he heard "If you were white..."