Satchel Paige: The Face of Negro League Baseball

During 2020, The Community Cup Classic Foundation, in partnership with The Josh Gibson Foundation, Lifeline Sports and several core partners, planned to host multiple events throughout the calendar year to celebrate the Negro League Baseball Centennial in Cleveland and the 75th Anniversary of the Cleveland Buckeyes first and only Negro League World Series title.

Along with many other national events, COVID-19 seriously impacted the implementation of these signature events. However, despite the grim realities of the health crisis, these core partners remain steadfast and committed to continue with our efforts to commemorate these monumental dates and educate the community and raise awareness of the impact these important historical events had on America as well as Cleveland, Ohio.

As such, we transition to a virtual worldwide platform to celebrate these historical accomplishments with a series of presentations by Ike Brooks, Negro League Baseball Historian.

About Satchel Paige: The Face of Negro League Baseball

There are those who will argue that Satchel Paige was the greatest Pitcher in baseball history. Greater than Walter Johnson or Christy Mathewson or Bob Feller or Sandy Koufax? No one will ever know. But no one doubts that he ranks in the top handful, even if he never got a chance to prove it in his prime against the best of competition.This presentation will discuss the life and times of Leroy ‘Satchel’ Paige a legendary storyteller and one of the most entertaining pitchers in baseball history. A tall, lanky fireballer, he was arguably the Negro leagues’ hardest thrower, most colorful character and greatest gate attraction. In the 1930s, the well-traveled pitcher barnstormed around the continent, baffling hitters with creatively named pitches such as the ‘Bat Dodger’ and ‘Hesitation Pitch’. In 1948, he was signed by Cleveland on his 42nd birthday, becoming the oldest player to make his Major League debut while helping the Indians win the pennant.

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