On August 6, 1952, St. Louis Browns hurler Satchel Paige pitched a 12-inning, complete game shutout, beating the Detroit Tigers, 1-0. Paige became the oldest pitcher ever to accomplish this feat. Official baseball records show that he was 46 years old at the time. Or maybe he was 49. The Associated Press said he was “43 going on 49.”
Today in Baseball History: Ageless Browns Pitcher Satchel Paige Tossed 12-Inning Shutout
The eyes of the nation weren’t necessarily on this game. Entering the day’s action, the Browns were 44-63, in seventh place in the eight-team American League, and 19 ½ games out of first place. Meanwhile, the Tigers were 36-68, in last place and 26 games out. The Tigers pitcher on this day was Virgil Trucks. Despite his 4-13 record, “Fire” Trucks was always a tough draw. He would finish 5-19 in 1952. His five victories included two no-hitters, a one-hitter, and a two-hitter. No less an expert than Ted Williams said that Trucks was the hardest thrower he ever faced.
The scheduled pitcher for the Browns was Duane Pillette (7-10). Why Browns player/manager Marty Marion switched to Paige at game time is lost to history.
A History with Veeck
Paige had a history with Browns owner Bill Veeck, a great promoter who had previously owned the Cleveland Indians. After a successful 17-year career in the various Negro Leagues, Veeck brought Paige to Cleveland in 1948. The Indians had already broken the color barrier in the American League by adding Larry Doby in 1947. Paige was brought to Cleveland to help the Indians win the pennant at a time when they needed a shot in the arm. As a starter and reliever, he went 6-1 over July and August. He began September with a rough start against the Browns and was seldom used thereafter.
Later, Paige was bitter about his inactivity down the stretch and in the World Series, which the Indians won in six games over the Boston Braves. In the Series, he pitched in one game. That was Game 5, which the Braves won, 11-5. Paige pitched two-thirds of an inning, putting the brakes on a six-run Braves uprising before leaving for a pinch hitter. Indians player/manager Lou Boudreau had bypassed Paige in Game 4 in favor of Steve Gromek. Boudreau’s hunch paid off, however, as Gromek pitched the Indians to a complete game, 2-1 victory. The iconic photo that ran in newspapers across the country showed Gromek hugging cheek-to-cheek with Doby, whose third-inning home run was the difference in the game.
Fans file out of Cleveland Stadium during the 1948 World Series. The Indians, led by Larry Doby, Bob Lemon, Bob Feller and Satchel Paige, defeated the Boston Braves in 6 games. It was the only World Series between ’47-’58 without a team from New York. pic.twitter.com/LJqI0ixKHQ
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However Paige felt about Boudreau, he had no ill will toward Veeck. Paige happily joined Veeck’s Browns as a free agent in 1951 after not playing in the majors in 1950. Browns manager and legendary curmudgeon Rogers Hornsby didn’t want Paige. Nevertheless, Veeck reminded Hornsby who the boss was.
A New Browns Manager and a Shutout for Satchel Paige
Paige pitched in just 23 games, three of which were starts, in 1951. Hornsby was fired after 51 games in 1952. With a new manager in Marion, there was increased usage for Paige.
On August 6, Paige and Trucks battled hard for nine innings, both men refusing to cave in. Trucks left for a pinch-hitter after nine, but Paige remained. Paige had just pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief three days before.
The only big threat Paige faced came in the Tigers’ 10th. Cliff Mapes led off with a double, at which point the United Press reported that “it appeared that Satch might be getting weary.” He walked Joe Ginsberg and was slow to field a bunt single by Al Federoff. Apparently, Marion had no thoughts of removing Paige from the game. Paige then induced Johnny Pesky to hit a grounder to first baseman Gordon Goldsberry, who forced Mapes out at the plate. Next, Johnny Groth hit a slow chopper to third baseman Jim Dyck, who managed to barely get Ginsberg out at home. Paige then fired three straight strikes past Neil Berry.
The Browns finally won the game with two outs in the twelfth when Bob Nieman hit a pop-fly, bases-loaded single off Tigers pitcher Hal White.
In gaining his hard-earned shutout for the Browns, Paige gave up seven hits (six singles) and two walks and faced just 44 batters in his 12 innings. He was helped by a double play and two baserunners caught stealing. Except for Dyck’s play in the 10th, there’s no record of any spectacular defensive plays behind Paige. That’s not hard to believe, given that the Browns were last in the AL in fielding percentage and made the second-most errors.
“I Will, Burr Head”
Marion had a strictly enforced rule that the team would undergo a morning workout the day after a Browns loss. After the game, Paige told United Press, “I made up my mind that there wasn’t gonna be no morning workout.”
“I’d much rather go fishing than take morning practice,” Paige told The Afro American.
“That’s the greatest exhibition of pitching I’ve seen,” cried Veeck. “That’s one of the greatest thrills I’ve gotten out of baseball.” He then told Paige to go into town and buy himself the best new suit he could find. Veeck’s treat.
“Yeah, I will, Burr Head,” replied Paige, using his nickname for Veeck, “but I’m gonna put it off a day or two. I’m tired.”
Photo Credit: © Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
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