Satchel Paige

AUGUST 3, 1948 — Despite being regarded as a world-renowned pitching talent for the majority of his career in the Negro leagues, it was not until July 6, 1948, that Bill Veek of the Cleveland Indians signed 41-year-old Satchel Paige to an MLB contract. Mobile, Alabama, native and would make his first big-league start against the Washington Senators in front of 72,434 fans at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Paige was terrific and fired seven innings of three-run ball with six strikeouts to earn the win.