Satchel Paige finally got a tryout on his 42nd birthday on July 7, 1948, when Bill Veeck, owner of the Indians brought him in. And that was mainly because the Indians were in the midst of a pennant race and he thought Paige could help. Paige was impressive and signed a contract that day become seventh black player overall and the first black pitcher in the American league. The 42-year-old Negro Leagues icon also became the oldest rookie in Major League history, but the signing quickly showed it was far from a gimmick.

Paige made his MLB debut on July 9, 1948, stunning fans in Cleveland. In just 21 appearances, 7 starts, that season, he posted a sparkling 6–1 record with an ERA of 2.48, including two complete-game shutouts that went along way in helping the Indians take the pennant. Crowds flocked to see him, over 72,000 attended his night debut, setting a franchise record.

Paige’s impact wasn’t just statistical, it transcended baseball. He became the **first Black pitcher to appear in a World Series, helping the Indians win the 1948 World Series, the franchise’s first since 1920, and still most recent. His debut came as MLB was integrating, and he became a pioneering role model and a crucial bridge between the Negro Leagues and the majors .

Satchel would later pitch three scoreless innings in the majors at the age of 59, a record that will surely never be broken along with debuting at the age of 42. Paige’s story is an unfortunate one in the fact that it could’ve been even better, but it’s one of resilience that went well past baseball.

Mike Redmond has the record for the most games caught in a row without an error at 253. Doing so for the Marlins, Twins, and Indians.