Leroy Page was born July 7, 1906, in Mobile, Alabama. Due to his father’s unsavory character, the family wanted to distance themselves from the last name, changing it from Page to Paige. Leroy was busy working on his own delinquent reputation, getting himself into trouble every step of the way. At one point, his antics became too much, and he was shipped off to the Industrial School for Negro Children in Mount Meigs, Alabama.
This was perhaps one of the best things that could have happened to him.
The school had a ball team where Leroy learned to pitch. Before long, he was an unstoppable pitcher and found his way into the Negro minor leagues. “From 1927 to 1948 Paige served as the baseball equivalent of a hired gun: He pitched for any team in the United States or abroad that could afford him. He was the highest paid pitcher of his time, and he wowed crowds with the speed of his fastball, his trick pitches and his considerable bravado. Just for fun, Paige would sometimes call in his outfield and then strike out the side. From 1939 to 1942, the Kansas City Monarchs paid up for his services and were justly rewarded: Paige led the team to four consecutive Negro American League pennants from 1939 to 1942. In the 1942 Negro League World Series, Paige won three games in a four-game sweep of the Homestead Grays, led by famed slugger Josh Gibson.”1
Two days after his 42nd birthday, Paige went into the history books as the oldest rookie in the major leagues, playing for the Cleveland Indians. Besides many baseball records, Paige went into the history books for another reason. Not only is he the youngest rookie, but he also wins the prize for being the oldest major leaguer, playing his last game at the age of 59 years and 80 days old for the Kansas City Athletics on September 25, 1967. He played three innings and only gave up one hit.2
Leroy Paige was an amazing player. However, this isn’t the name by which we recognize him. Before he was 12 years old and prior to being sent to the Industrial School for Negro Children, Leroy worked as a luggage carrier at the Mobile train station. This earned him the nickname Satchel and for the rest of his life, he was known by this name, Satchel Paige.
Many Bible characters found their spiritual stride later in life. One such character is Abraham. Genesis 25:7-8 says, “And these are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years. (8) Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.” One hundred and seventy five years is a long life! But when did Abraham start serving the Lord?
Genesis 12:1-4 says, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: (2) And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: (3) And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (4) So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.” This journey of faith began when he was 75! What was Abraham doing before this calling? Joshua 24:2 tells us. “And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.”
God calls a pagan idol worshipper to be the father of many nations! And for the next 100 years, Abraham lived for God, serving Him, and experiencing the promises of God through his son, Isaac. Abraham was not a perfect patriarch. It took him nearly 38 years to “get it together.” But he was faithful according to Hebrews 11.
Today’s devotional is just a reminder that age is only a number. Our heart must desire to serve the Lord regardless of our number of years. If we have life and breath, we have purpose. Don’t ever succumb to thinking that you are too old to be used of God.
If you are getting up there in years, make Psalms 71:18 your life verse. “Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.”
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1https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fifty-nine-year-old-satchel-paige-pitches-three-innings
2https://clutchpoints.com/10-oldest-players-to-ever-play-in-mlb
