The final Paige of a classic

The incomparable Satchel Paige, whose Hall of Fame career includes barnstorming stops on Harrisburg’s City Island in 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s, pitches in his final game in the major leagues 59 years ago today for the Kansas City Athletics.

Paige, whom Kansas City signs 15 days earlier, starts at home against the Boston Red Sox and throws three shutout innings in the Athletics’ 5-2 loss.

Paige, a spry 59 years old at the time, allows only one hit while striking out one before a Saturday night crowd of 9,289 at Kansas City’s old Municipal Stadium.

The last hit off Paige – pictured here against the Red Sox that night – comes on a first-inning double by future Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski.

Paige picks up his final strikeout against Bill Monbouquette, Boston’s starting pitcher that night, for the second out in the third inning.

Jim Gosger, the last batter Paige faces in the majors, follows Monbouquette’s strikeout with a groundout to shortstop Bert Campaneris.

Gosger, who at 22 is 37 years younger than Paige, also starts the game with an out on a pop-up to first baseman Santiago Rosario.

“I didn’t give a damn if I made an out,” Gosger says years later in an interview with Baseball Digest. “You were facing someone of his stature who’d been around so long, and he was a gentleman. An absolute gentleman. It’s something you just never forget.”