Honolulu Record, September 2, 1948, vol. 1 no. 5, p. 6
When Leroy (Satchel) Paige, all-time Negro pitching great, was signed by the Cleveland Indians as insurance in their quest for the American League pennant, some criticism was raised as to the sounds ness of such a move.
In an editorial in the July 14th edition "of The Sporting News, the Baseball Bible, Editor J. G. Taylor Spink wrote: "In criticizing the acquisition of Satchel Paige by Cleveland, The Sporting News believes that Bill Veeck has gone too far in his quest for publicity, and that he has done his league's position no good insofar as public reaction is concerned. To bring in a pitching "rookie" of Paige's age casts a reflection on the entire scheme of operation in the major leagues. To sign a hurler of Paige's age is to" demean the standards of baseball in the big circuits."
Draws Crowd
Ol' Satch must have read that editorial with burning eyes and must've buried it deep in the back of his head because he has literally set the junior circuit on fire with his sparkling performances, to make Spink and other skeptics think twice before they do or say anything more about him.
A new record night game crowd of 78,832 fans jammed spacious.
Municipal Stadium in Cleveland to watch Paige hurl the pacemaking Indians to a three-hit shutout 1-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox, It was Paige's second straight shutout and it ran the Negro ace's scoreless inning string to 26 1-3 innings.
Paige is presently one of the best drawing cards in the game. In his second appearance, in an exhibition game against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Cleveland, the night of July 16, 64,877 fans turned out to see him. When he was announced as the starting pitcher in the Indians' game against the Washington Senators, a crowd of 72,434 mobbed the Municipal Stadium for the nocturnal tilt.
Thus far, Paige has drawn 201,829 fans through the turnstiles in his three starting assignments. His age has been quoted by various sportswriters, anywhere from 42 to 50. Be that as it may, Paige, who personally claims to be 42, is doing a truly magnificent job, despite the fact that he got into the majors 21 years too late. It makes one wonder what he would have done had he been permitted to perform at the height of his career.
Among the Greatest
He has been tabbed by many major league stars as one of the greatest pitchers the game has seen. Paige, who performed for the Kansas City Monarchs, of the Negro National League, hurled against many top major loop players in exhibition games.
Paige is only one of four Negro ball players who have made the grade in the majors so far. The others are Jackie Robinson, who was voted "Rookie of the Year" in 1947, and Roy Campanella, both of the Dodgers, and Larry Doby, who is a teammate of Paige.