Satchel Paige

by Lesa Cline-Ransome, James E. Ransome (Illustrator)

Play ball with Satchel Paige with this nonfiction picture book biography from two Coretta Scott King Award–winning creators.

No one pitched like Leroy “Satchel” Paige. Fans packed the stands to see how many batters he could strike out in one game. He dazzled them with his unique pitching style, and he even gave nicknames to some of his trademark pitches—there was the “hesitation,” his magic slow ball, and the “bee ball,” named because it would always “be” where he wanted it to be.

Follow Satch’​s career through these beautiful illustrations as he begins playing in the semi-pros and goes on to become the first African American to pitch in a major League World Series, and the first Negro Leaguer to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Genres: Picture Books, Sports, Biography, Nonfiction, Baseball, Biography Memoir, Childrens

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really good beginner's biography of baseball great, Satchel Paige. From very humble beginnings to the Negroe Leagues and then the World Series in MLB.

I didn't like the illustratiosn much but that's my issue!!

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Satchel Paige. He was the best pitchers in his league. No one could throw like he could his fast ball was super fast and he could strike out everyone he even stroked out the best hitter in his league. His slow ball was a really good pitch and he fast ball was super fast and he had a pitch call a bee ball and it would go were ever he wanted. He could not play in the white league because his skin was black and white would not let blacks play with them so the blacks made there own league.

I think people will like this book because it was a very good book. I say it was very good because he did a lot of amazing stuff like killed a chicken with a rock because with arm was so strong. He was the first black person to be in baseball hall of fame. He was also one of the best pitchers ever. And he had his own style of pitching and it was very cool.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ain't no man can avoid being average, but ain't no man got to be common."

Neither average nor common, this biography of one of the first black baseball players in the (white) major leagues is informative, open-hearted, easy to read, and frank. The reader is left feeling familiar with the long tall pitcher with an impatience for rules and the broad smile.

I looked this book up so that I could compare it - and several other kids biographies of ballplayers - to Jane Yolen's biography of Honus Wagner, All Star! This Satchel Paige bio was the best of those surveyed. Just a touch wordy, but with such strong, open paintings illustrating it, I would recommend it on a top-50 list for bios in a school library.

[Tristian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Satchel Paige and how he was growing up he and his mom knew he had a talent for throwing. When he was young he could throw a rock at a chicken and kill it in one throw. When he was young he tried to help provide for his family but he did not get enough money so he took into stealing and eventually was caught and sent to a school for badly behaved negro children. When he got back from the school he wanted to get a job so he went to try-out for a minor baseball team his brother played for. When he tried out he had ten pitches and ten pitches later he was the starting pitcher. He grew up and got drafted into the negro National Baseball League. Satchel was so good that people would crowd the stands just to watch and see how many people he could strike out in one game. Eventually, he went to the MLB and after 2 seasons he retired but a couple of years later he was the first African American to be inducted in the hall of fame.

I think this book is great I would definitely read it again. I would recommend this book to baseball lovers. It is a great book and shows not to give up at hard times. This book is during the time of segregation and that's why it teaches you not to give up.

[Angelee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This man was a legend, he played baseball since he was a kid. This man did everything he could to win every game he played. His name was Leroy Paige. He was a player that always persevered through all games he played, he always tried and did everything possible to win. He created his own team of A A men to play in the baseball league. This man was a hard working man.

I recommend this book to people who may love sports and history especially baseball. This book would be a great choice for those people because this book can help you to know that to never give up. Even if you loose at a game, then that can help you push your self and try harder and to never give up. I really enjoyed this book because it helps you understand how ¨satchel¨ lived his life and how he always kept going. I hope whoever reads this enjoys this book.

[Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about Satchel Paige also known as Leroy Paige. Leroy Paige was a young boy when he started playing baseball. When he started playing he stuck with it till adult hood. His nickname ¨ Satchel Paige¨ he got when he was hoping to get money while helping with bags from the train station. He was playing baseball whenever he had a chance to play. His days sometimes consisted of multiple games.

A gave this book a 3 star because this book was good and interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes baseball. I would also recommend this book to anyone who wants to follow their dream. I liked this book because of the talent he had. I also liked this book because of the creativeness and the courageousness he shows.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this biography about Satchel Paige, the author Lesa Cline - Ransome, takes us on the this famous baseball players life, about how he got to be where he was. It starts off with him just being a young boy, about 10 - 11, being the best thrower his town knew. Then as he grew older, he was able to out-throw anyone, even adults. Then when he got even older he started playing in a travel league, he was with them or a few years. Then when he even older, he was playing with a national black league, but during that time he met a woman and settled down and had kids.


I liked this book, it was not the best, but that is only my opinion, because I don't exactly like sports. But I would recommend this book to sports readers, or anyone who enjoy baseball or jsut likes playing sports.

[Jack Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lord of the Negro Leagues, Satchel Paige pitched longer, tossed more diligently, and struck out a greater number of players than anybody in any association, dark or white. His status as a mythic figure was only made better by his swagger and his monumental stature on the mound. Satchel Paige really was a base ball star as a pitcher.

I did like this book because I like to learn about new people and just new stuff in general. I like this book specifically though because it talked about someone I didn't know. I would recommend this text to anyone who likes learning more about people like I do.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one pitched like Leroy "Satchel" Paige. Fans packed the stands to see how many batters he could strike out in one game. He dazzled them with his unique pitching style, and he even gave nicknames to some of his trademark pitches -- there was the "hesitation," his magic slow ball, and the "bee ball," named because it would always "be" where he wanted it to be.
Follow Satch's career through these beautiful illustrations as he begins playing in the semipros and goes on to become the first African American to pitch in a major League World Series, and the first Negro Leaguer to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leroy Paige was the seventh of twelve children in the family, and by the time he was 10 years old he could throw a ball better than anybody. This book is all about Leroy's years of playing baseball under the name of Satchel - a nickname he got from one of the jobs he'd worked to help his family.
Satchel was sure of his gift, confident in his ability, but he ended up in reform school. That served to teach him to work hard and where he also got experience playing on a baseball team.
Very well written interesting biography of a famous, unbeatable baseball pitcher, and so beautifully and realistically illustrated.

[Jo Oehrlein]

An older kid picture book with lots of information about the amazing Satchel Paige who played baseball for SO many years, mostly in the Negro Leagues, but a couple of years in the (newly desegregated) Major Leagues, too.

The illustrations are gorgeous.

Doesn't make Satchel out to be perfect, but maybe perfect at baseball.

Does point out the different way that Satchel played baseball (no need for signs, just put out your mitt) than how things went in the Major Leagues.

[Marianne Tabner]

Well written biography of Satchel Paige that invites the reader to explore through well illustrated pictures and to learn more about Satchel Paige, his life, his family and what it was like to grow with black in a time where blacks were completely segregated. Lots of great life lessons in this story that would appeal to children and adults who enjoy reading, learning and mastering the game of baseball.

[Darlena Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how Leroy got the name Satchel! Reform School was a good thing for him! Shocker! Scandalous! Young Satch was opportunistic...I liked learning this about him. "The more cheers he heard, the more his confidence grew."

"But for Satch good playing had nothing to do with rules. Pitching was a gift he was born with. It was buried deep in his bones, and you couldn't learn it or even shake it; it was just there."

Took me 22 minutes to read this book.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This inspirational story of the life and career of Satchel Paige, renowned pitcher, the first Black to pitch in a major league World Series, and the first player from the Negro Leagues inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, is well-written by Lesa Cline-Ransome and beautifully illustrated by James E. Ransome

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the paintings here.

Paige's incredible talent for pitching really comes through, as does just how long he was in the game and his attitude towards it. I also think it does a really good job of pointing out how the culture of a league matters to a player's success in it.

[Fausto Betances · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too short. Not sweet enough.

[Kitty Tomlinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's picture book biography of the the great Satchel Paige. Beautiful book.

[Bookdragonqueenljs22 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really like this book kinda boring Ok because it was funny at some parts.

[Kaylynn Johnsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Satchel's life told in poetic descriptive language.

[Cheryl Gladfelter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know anything about baseball. I found this really enjoyable and interesting. He sounded like he was amazing to watch!

[Penny Evenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting information about Satchel Paige!

[Valerie Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good biographical picture book of Satchel Paige. The story about his life in the beginning help you to understand just how important baseball was to him. He knew he had a gift for throwing when he was small. When you have a passion for something like he did, all you want to do is to practice it non-stop and that is what little Satchel did. When he was little he was a true hustler, trying to make a few cents. He was always trying to make money and he did. He loved to perform in front of fans, but he hate to practice. Because he was a negro, back in that time of the century, he did not have a easy time. Negro players was not treated the same as white players, but that did not stop him. He did not like rules, and that made it kind of hard on him. He was the first Black player that was in the baseball hall of frame in Cooperstown, New York.

[Ouida Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author: Leas Cline-Ransome

Title: Satchel Paige

Plot: This story is about the life of Leroy Satchel Paige. It tells about Satchel Paige life from Boyhood until manhood. The book depict his life in the Negro Baseball league until his time in the major leagues.

Setting: In Alabama and the deep South

Character: Leroy Satchel Paige

Theme: Negro Baseball League, Segregation

Style: Nonfiction

Copyright: 2000

Notes: I enjoyed reading this book. I use able to learn about the Negro Baseball League.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

-baseball, famous African-American/sports legend
-a good "boy" read
-use with a civil rights lesson/unit
-discuss overcoming adversity
-have students write their own autobiography or interview a classmate and write a biography
-choose a scene from the book and make an alternate illustration
-write a song or poem about Paige's life
-write a monologue about Paige and perform in front of a group

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent book. loved so many things about it, but this storytelling at its finest. i particularly loved how the book and narrator takes you from disliking satchel paige for his arrogant displays on the field to understanding that this is just a show to survive and get by as one of the best black pitchers in the time of jim crow.

also appreciated the glossary at the back, which explains the importance of the items and concepts inserted throughout the book.

[Tim Grimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love baseball books and learning about the players of the past. And, what a life this guy led. I, of course knew about Satchel but his life is interesting. He was a strange and odd character. I was intrigued and in to this book from page one.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book by Lesa Cline-Ransome I've read in as many days. I'm impressed. The depth of research evident in her writing is astounding. She is truly an exceptional writer. I'll be reading her other stuff as soon as I can get my hands on it.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPL

Biography as a picture book. Full page oil-paint-like illustrations.

[Kelly Triplett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be an excellent addition to a classroom library. Not only is it a quality biographical text, it is very likely that it will be of interest to children who have an interest in baseball.

[Andrea Labonte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very interesting but I love reading about people who try the best to accomplish want they belive in. Read this book about Satchel.