Leroy "Satchel" Paige was probably the best known Negro Leaguer for at least two decades. He was a pitcher, and played on about 250 different teams. Satchel believed baseball should be fun, so he would occasionally have a conversation while pitching. Other times he would place a gum wrapper on home plate, indicating where the ball was to be pitched. Paige also developed many pitches such as "long tom" his terrific fastball, another fastball, "little tom" just not as fast as "long tom", "bee ball", "the hesitation pitch", "bat dodger", "trouble ball", "the two-hump blooper" his slithering change-up, and "thoughtful stuff". During his career, he played about 2,500 games, and won about 2,000 of them. This crushes Cy Young's 115 career wins! Plus, he had around 250 shutouts (a game where the pitcher allows no runs to score) and nearly 100 no-hitters, making Nolan Ryan's seven no-hitters look miniscule. Paige earned around $40,000 per year, which was much more than most Major League players (though, now, the Major Leaguers make a significant amount more money than before). A reporter once asked Satchel his secrets to success; he was given six guidelines:

1. "Avoid fried meats that angry up the blood.
2. If your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts.
3. Keep the juices flowing by jangling gently as you walk.
4. Go very lightly on the vices, such as carrying-on in society - the society ramble ain't restful.
5. Avoid running at all times.
6. Don't look back, something may be gaining on you."

In 1948, Satchel was drafted as a 42 year-old rookie to the Cleveland Indians during a pennant race against the Chicago White Sox. At Comiskey Park on August 13, the attendance was 51,013 - the most ever at Comiskey at that time. People came from all over to see "The Master" at work.