“Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you.”Satchel Paige
Rules For Staying YoungMoving Forward
Satchel Paige Quotes
American - Baseball Pitcher|July 7, 1906 - June 8, 1982
50 FAMOUS QUOTES · BASEBALL PITCHER
Satchel Paige Quotes
Read 31 Satchel Paige quotes on age, pitching, staying young and never looking back from the legendary Negro leagues pitcher and Hall of Famer.
“How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?”Satchel Paige
AgePerspective
“Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter.”Satchel Paige
“Avoid fried meats which angry up the blood.”Satchel Paige
Rules For Staying YoungHealth
“If your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts.”Satchel Paige
Rules For Staying YoungCalm
“Keep the juices flowing by jangling around gently as you move.”Satchel Paige
Rules For Staying YoungMovement
“Go very light on the vices, such as carrying on in society. The social ramble ain't restful.”Satchel Paige
Rules For Staying YoungModeration
“Avoid running at all times.”Satchel Paige
Rules For Staying YoungHumour
“Ain't no man can avoid being born average, but there ain't no man got to be common.”Satchel Paige
ExcellenceCharacter
“Don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines.”Satchel Paige
FaithGratitude
“Don't go to college, unless to get knowledge.”Satchel Paige
EducationPurpose
“I ain't ever had a job, I just always played baseball.”Satchel Paige
PassionBaseball
“My pitching philosophy is simple: keep the ball away from the bat.”Satchel Paige
PitchingSimplicity
“Just take the ball and throw it where you want to. Throw strikes. Home plate don't move.”Satchel Paige
PitchingFocus
“You gotta keep the ball off the fat part of the bat.”Satchel Paige
PitchingBaseball
“If a man can beat you, walk him.”Satchel Paige
StrategyBaseball
“When a batter swings and I see his knees move, I can tell just what his weaknesses are, then I just put the ball where I know he can't hit it.”Satchel Paige
ObservationPitching
“I ain't as fast as I used to be, but I'm a better pitcher. I used to overpower them; now I out-cute them.”Satchel Paige
AgeingExperience
“I never threw an illegal pitch. The trouble is, once in a while I toss one that ain't never been seen by this generation.”Satchel Paige
PitchingHumour
“It's funny what a few no-hitters do for a body.”Satchel Paige
SuccessHumour
“I never rush myself. See, they can't start the game without me.”Satchel Paige
PatienceHumour
“I don't generally like running. I believe in training by rising gently up and down from the bench.”Satchel Paige
TrainingHumour
“You may be right, man, but 22 years is a long time to be a rookie.”Satchel Paige
ExperienceHumour
“The only change is that baseball has turned Paige from a second-class citizen to a second-class immortal.”Satchel Paige
EqualityHall Of Fame
“They said I was the greatest pitcher they ever saw... I couldn't understand why they couldn't give me no justice.”Satchel Paige
InjusticeSegregation
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About Satchel Paige
American - Baseball Pitcher | July 7, 1906 - June 8, 1982
Satchel Paige (July 7, 1906 – June 8, 1982), born Leroy Robert Paige in Mobile, Alabama, was an American baseball pitcher. He earned his nickname as a boy carrying bags, or satchels, for travellers at the local train station, and became the most famous star of the Negro leagues, pitching for teams like the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Kansas City Monarchs.
Because Major League Baseball was segregated, Paige spent his best years in the Negro leagues and barnstorming tours, often pitching almost every day. When he finally joined the Cleveland Indians in 1948, aged 42, he became the oldest rookie in MLB history and helped them win the World Series. In 1965, at 59, he pitched three scoreless innings for the Kansas City Athletics. In 1971 he became the first Negro leagues star inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Famous for his wit and the mystery surrounding his real age, here are 31 Satchel Paige quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Satchel Paige and these famous quotes.
Who was Satchel Paige?
Satchel Paige was an American baseball pitcher and one of the greatest stars of the Negro leagues. He later played in Major League Baseball and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.
Why was he called "Satchel"?
Paige said he got the nickname as a boy in Mobile, Alabama, when he earned money carrying luggage for travellers at the train station, rigging a pole to carry several satchels at once.
How old was Satchel Paige when he played in the major leagues?
He made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians in 1948 at age 42, becoming the oldest rookie in major league history. In 1965 he pitched for the Kansas City Athletics at age 59.
What were Satchel Paige's rules for staying young?
In a 1953 *Collier's* magazine article, Paige shared six rules: avoid fried meats; pacify your stomach with cool thoughts; keep the juices flowing by jangling around gently; go light on the vices; avoid running at all times; and "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you."
Did Satchel Paige say "Dance like nobody's watching"?
No. "Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching" is often credited to Paige, but it comes from later sources, including a 1980s country song.
Why was Satchel Paige's age a mystery?
Paige enjoyed keeping his age a secret and gave different birth years over the years, adding to his legend. Records later confirmed he was born on July 7, 1906.