Satchel Paige was a star pitcher for the Kansas City Monarchs in the 1930s.

Joe Dimaggio called Satchel Page "the best and fastest pitcher I've ever faced." In 1933, in the Negro Leagues, he pitched 64 consecutive scoreless innings, had 21 consecutive wins, and compiled a 31-4 record.

On being denied access to Major League Baseball, he remarked: "They said I was the greatest pitcher they ever saw. I couldn't understand why they couldn't give me no justice."

In 1948, as the oldest rookie ever in the majors, he registered a 6-1 record with a 2.48 ERA to help the Indians to the pennant and World Series title.

In 1965, "Satch," at the dubious age of 59, pitched three innings for the A's to become the oldest person to pitch in a major league game.

In 1971, on what he called 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.

Though few knew his true age, his true greatness was undisputed.

By most accounts, Leroy Robert Satchel Paige was born July 7, 1906, in Mobile, Ala. He died June 8, 1982, in Kansas City, Mo.