A Paige turner

After starring for more than 20 years in the Negro Leagues, Cuba, Latin America and, really, any place where there is a pitcher’s mound, Satchel Paige finally gets his chance 76 years ago today to start a game in the major leagues.

The 42-year-old Paige, who arrives in the major leagues less than four weeks earlier as a reliever, works the first seven innings of the Cleveland Indians’ 5-3 victory over Washington at Municipal Stadium.

In those seven innings, Paige strikes out six, while allowing three runs on seven hits and four walks.

All to the delight of a home crowd of 72,434 that turns out for this Tuesday night game in the middle of the 1948 American League pennant race.

Prior to his first start in the majors, Paige works eight games out of Cleveland’s bullpen, allowing only four earned runs over 18 innings.

Paige’s first victory as a starter also moves Cleveland into a four-way tie for first place in a pennant race the Indians eventually win on their way to beating the Boston Braves in the World Series.

Satchel Paige in 1966 with Peninsula

The Series title turns out to be Cleveland’s last … well, to date anyway.

Paige ends up pitching in all or parts of another 18 seasons in the majors and minors before making his final appearance in 1966 as a 59-year-old starter with Cincinnati’s Class A team in Peninsula.

His teammates during his brief time in Peninsula include a 18-year-old catcher named Johnny Bench, who like Paige eventually reaches the Hall of Fame.

Alas, Bench – then all of 18 years old – does not play in the one game Paige pitches for Peninsula.