The baseball great nicknamed Satchel was the first African American pitcher to be drafted into the major leagues (and that at age 42), the first Black to pitch in a major league World Series, and the first Black Baseball Hall of Fame inductee. This account of Leroy “Satchel” Paige’s journey to white baseball’s record books traces his early years in a picture-book biography illustrated with beautiful oil paintings. The Ransomes make it clear that although Satchel made some mistakes early in his life, he had the will to claim the opportunities that could and did make all the difference. They bring him to life as a unique, complicated man through a well-written narrative and warm paintings. They also pay tribute to the many accomplishments of Paige’s contemporaries in the former Negro Leagues. (Ages 8‑11)