Editing Satchel Paige (section)

===Kansas City Monarchs: 1940–1947===
[[File:Satchel Paige 1942 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Paige, circa 1942]]
Paige returned to the Travelers for the 1940 season. [[Abe Manley|Abe]] and [[Effa Manley]], owners of the Newark Eagles, still claimed that they still held the rights to Paige's Negro league contract, and retaliated against Wilkinson by signing players from Wilkinson's Negro American League. In late June, the NNL and NAL leaders met to discuss the situation and reached an agreement that allowed Paige to advance to the Kansas City Monarchs and let the Manleys keep the players they had recruited in violation of the inter-league rules.<ref>Ribowsky 1994, pp. 184–187; Tye 2009, pp. 144–146.</ref> Late in the 1940 season, Paige was promoted to the Monarchs. On September 12, Paige made his debut with the Monarchs against the American Giants and pitched a five-inning darkness-shortened complete game. The Monarchs won 9–3 and Paige struck out ten.<ref>Ribowsky 1994, p. 193.</ref>

Because of Paige's strong gate appeal, there was considerable demand by outside teams to lease Paige's services to pitch for a single game. With infrequent league games, Wilkinson booked Paige to pitch for small-town teams or other Negro league teams at rates ranging from a third of the total receipts to a fixed fee $250 to $2,000 per game, plus expenses. Wilkinson purchased a [[Douglas DC-3]] airplane just to ferry Paige around to these outside appearances. Because of the larger gate when Paige pitched, the Monarchs' owners could also insist on a larger share of the receipts from their road games. Wilkinson and Paige each kept a share of the fees. By the early 1940s, Paige's estimated annual earnings were $40,000, which was four times the pay of the average player on the major league New York Yankees and nearly matched the pay of their top star, Joe DiMaggio.<ref>Ribowsky 1994, pp. 195–198; Tye 2009, pp. 163–164.</ref>

Hoping for some publicity for Paige, who had received relatively little coverage while pitching in the hinterlands with the Travelers, Wilkinson arranged for Paige to pitch on opening day of 1941 for the New York Black Yankees. Appearing in front of a crowd of 20,000 fans at Yankee Stadium, Paige pitched a complete game, 5–3 victory, striking out eight. As intended, the contest brought considerable coverage from both the black and white media, including a pictorial by ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]'' magazine.<ref>Ribowsky 1994, pp. 195–197; Tye 2009, pp. 146–147.</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Satchel Paige, Negro Ballplayer, Is One of Best Pitchers in Game|magazine=[[Life (magazine)|Life]]|location=Chicago| date=June 2, 1941|pages=90–92|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i0wEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA90}}</ref>

Paige took over the role of [[ace (baseball)|ace]] pitcher for the Monarchs, while [[Hilton Smith]], their former ace, dropped to number two pitcher and sometimes was relegated to relieving Paige. Because of Paige's ability to draw a crowd, he would often be scheduled to start a game and pitch for three innings, with Smith or another teammate assigned to pitch the last six.<ref>Holway 2001, p. 384; Tye 2009, pp. 156–157.</ref> In addition to Smith, Paige's teammates included first baseman [[Buck O'Neil]], shortstop and manager [[Newt Allen]], and center fielder [[Willard Brown]].<ref>Holway 2001, p. 384.</ref> In 1941, the Monarchs won their third consecutive Negro American League championship. Though no standings were published, according to historian John Holway, they had a 24–6 team record for a winning percentage of .800, placing them five games ahead of the second-place [[St. Louis Stars (baseball)|New Orleans/St. Louis Stars]].<ref>Clark and Lester 1994, pp. 163–165; Holway 2001, p. 383.</ref>

On August 1, 1941, Paige made his first appearance in the East–West All Star Game in five years, collecting 305,311 votes, 40,000 more than the next highest player, Buck Leonard. Paige entered the game at the start of the eighth inning with the East leading 8–1 and pitched the last two innings. The only hit he gave up was a slow roller to the NNL's new starting catcher, the [[Baltimore Elite Giants]]' [[Roy Campanella]].<ref>Ribowsky 1994, pp. 201–202.</ref>

With America's entrance into World War II, [[Dizzy Dean]] came out of retirement, forming an all-star team consisting of recently drafted white major league and minor league players. On May 24, Dean faced Paige and the Monarchs in an exhibition game at [[Wrigley Field]], the first time a black team ever played at Wrigley. The Monarchs defeated Dean's All-Stars 3–1 in front of a crowd of 29,775. On May 31, Paige teamed up with the [[Homestead Grays]] to face Dean's All-Stars again before 22,000 fans at [[Griffith Stadium]]. The Grays won 8–1, with Paige striking out seven (including [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]] star [[Cecil Travis]]) in five innings of work.<ref>Snyder 2003, pp. 114–116. {{cite news|title=22,000 See Paige and Grays Rout Dean's Stars, 8–1: Satchel Fans 7 in 5 Innings on Hill: Sam Bankhead Paces 13-Hit Attack; Grays Shell Dizzy|newspaper=[[Afro-American (newspaper)|The Afro American]]|page=23|date=June 6, 1942|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Dh0mAAAAIBAJ&pg=5927,3206823}}</ref>

In the 1942 East-West All-Star Game, Paige entered in the top of the seventh with the score tied 2–2. Pitching the last three innings, he allowed three runs on five hits and was charged with the loss in the 5–2 game.<ref>Clark and Lester 1994, p. 249.</ref>

====1942 Negro World Series====
The Monarchs won the Negro American League pennant again in 1942. For the first time since 1927, the champions of the two leagues, Kansas City and [[Homestead Grays|Washington/Homestead]], met in the [[1942 Negro World Series|Negro World Series]]. Paige started game one in Washington and pitched five shutout innings. The Monarchs scored their first run in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the frame, Jack Matchett relieved Paige and finished the game, with Kansas City adding seven more runs to win 8–0.<ref>Holway 2001, p. 398; Peterson 1984, p. 138; Snyder 2003, pp. 140–141.</ref>

Game two was played two days later in Pittsburgh, and a highlight was Paige's dramatic showdown with Josh Gibson. In the bottom of the sixth, Paige relieved starter Hilton Smith with the Monarchs ahead 2–0. In the seventh inning, he gave up three singles and faced Gibson with the bases loaded and two outs. Gibson fouled off the first two pitches, then whiffed on the third.<ref name="42wsgm2">{{cite news|title=Kaysees Win 2nd Tilt, 8–4: Satch Paige Fans Josh Gibson with Three on Base |newspaper=[[Afro-American (newspaper)|The Afro American]]|page=31|date=September 19, 1942|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iRAmAAAAIBAJ&pg=2747,1252335}}{{cite news|title=Grays Laced by Monarchs|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Press]]|page=38|date=September 11, 1942|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4yobAAAAIBAJ&pg=2167,345836}}</ref> When Paige told the story in his autobiography, he mythologized the story. According to Paige, the strikeout came in the ninth inning with a one-run lead, and he walked the three batters ahead of Gibson in order to face him.<ref>Paige and Lipman 1993, p. 152.</ref> The mythical version was retold by [[Buck Leonard]] and Buck O'Neil in their memoirs.<ref>Tye 2009, p. 250.</ref> In the actual game, the Monarchs added three runs in the top of the eighth to take a 5–0 lead, then Paige gave up four in the bottom of the frame to make it 5–4. The Monarchs added another three in the top of the ninth and won 8–4.<ref name="42wsgm2"/>

After two days rest, Paige started game three, which was played in Yankee Stadium. Paige gave up two runs in the first and was pulled after two innings. Matchett pitched the remainder of the game, which the Monarchs won, 9–3, giving them a 3–0 lead in the series.<ref>{{cite news|title=Grays Drop 3 in a Row: Blanked in Fourth Game but Latter Is Non-Series Contest|newspaper=[[Afro-American (newspaper)|The Afro American]]|page=31|date=September 19, 1942|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iRAmAAAAIBAJ&pg=1328,1251079}}</ref> The next series game was played a week later in Kansas City. When the injury-plagued Grays brought in star players from other teams, including pitcher [[Leon Day]], second baseman Lenny Pearson, and outfielder Ed Stone of the [[Newark Eagles]] and shortstop [[Buster Clarkson|Bus Clarkson]] of the Philadelphia Stars, the Monarchs played under protest. Day and Paige both pitched complete games, with Paige giving up four runs on eight hits and Day giving up one run on five hits for a Grays victory.<ref>{{cite news|title=Grays Win, 4–1, But Monarchs Protest Use of Day: Leon Fans 12; Gives Five Hits: 3 Other Borrowed Players Protested by Kansas City|newspaper=[[Afro-American (newspaper)|The Afro American]]|page=22|date=September 26, 1942|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ihAmAAAAIBAJ&pg=5633,1763249}}</ref> The Monarchs' protest was upheld and the game was disallowed. Game four took place in [[Shibe Park]] in Philadelphia, and Paige was scheduled to start, but he did not show up until the fourth inning. According to his autobiography, Paige was delayed in [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]] by an arrest for speeding.<ref>Paige and Lipman 1993, pp. 146–148.</ref> The Grays had taken a 5–4 lead, and Paige immediately entered the game. In the remainder of the game, he did not allow a hit or a run and struck out six, while the Monarchs' hitters scored two runs in the seventh to take the lead and three more in the eighth to win, 9–5, and sweep the series.<ref>{{cite news|title=Satchel Paige Victorious in World Series|newspaper=[[Afro-American (newspaper)|The Afro American]]|page=23|date=October 10, 1942|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jBAmAAAAIBAJ&pg=5017,2250234}}</ref> Paige had pitched in all four official games in the Series (as well as one unofficial one), going 16 innings, striking out 18, and giving up eight hits and six runs.<ref>{{cite news|last=Roberts|first=Ric|title=Monarchs Hit .354 Against Grays' .204 in World Series: Kansas City Clouted Ball in Every Game Whereas Big Guns of Grays Failed Badly|newspaper=[[Afro-American (newspaper)|The Afro American]]|page=12|date=October 6, 1942|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Mp4lAAAAIBAJ&pg=931,4853275}}</ref>

====1943–1946====
[[File:Robinson paige monarchs.jpg|thumb|left|Paige (left) and [[Jackie Robinson]] in the uniform of the [[Kansas City Monarchs]], 1945]]
Paige was the West's starting pitcher in the 1943 East-West All-Star Game, played before a record 51,723 fans in [[Comiskey Park]]. He pitched three scoreless innings without giving up a hit, struck out four, walked one, and was credited as the winning pitcher in the West's 2–1 victory. As a batter, he hit a double to lead off the bottom of the third, then was lifted for a pitch runner to "thunderous applause."<ref>{{cite news|last=Carter|first=Art|title=51,000 See West Upset East, 2–1, in Annual Tilt: Satchel Paige Star of Diamond Classic: Buck Leonard Smacks Homer in Ninth for East's Lone Run|newspaper=[[Afro-American (newspaper)|The Afro American]]|page=19|date=August 7, 1943|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4ugmAAAAIBAJ&pg=4092%2C5035298|access-date=September 6, 2010}}</ref>

World War II caused a large number of baseball players to be inducted into military service. Among Paige's Kansas City teammates, [[Connie Johnson (baseball)|Connie Johnson]], Buck O'Neil, and Ted Strong entered military service that year, and Willard Brown followed them the following season.<ref>Holway 2001, p. 404.</ref> Paige's Selective Service records show that during the war his draft status evolved from 1-A (available to be drafted) to 2-A ("deferred in support of national health, safety, or interest") to the final 4-A (too old for service, even though when he registered he gave a birth date of 1908, two years younger than his actual birth date).<ref>Tye 2009, p. 179.</ref> Paige continued to play, and the available statistics show a slip in performance in 1943, with a 6–8 record and a 4.59 [[run average]] (his highest average since 1929) reported for the Monarchs.<ref name="Hogan stats"/> The Monarchs' string of four straight pennants ended, as the Negro American League title was captured by the Birmingham Black Barons in 1943 and 1944 and by the [[Cleveland Buckeyes]] in 1945.<ref>Clark and Lester 1994, p. 165.</ref> In 1944, Paige won six games while striking out 85 batters with a 0.72 ERA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NAL/1944-standard-pitching.shtml|title = 1944 Negro American League Standard Pitching}}</ref>

Before the 1944 East-West All-Star Game—black baseball's most lucrative event—Paige grabbed headlines when he demanded that the owners contribute the receipts to the war relief fund, threatening a player strike if they did not accede. The owners were able to turn the other players and fans against Paige, however, when they revealed that Paige had received $800 for participating in the 1943 game (in contrast to the $50 paid to the other players) and had demanded an extra cut for the 1944 game as well. Paige was removed from the roster and the strike was averted when the owners agreed to raise the player payments (the East's team accepted $200 each, while the West's players agreed to $100).<ref>Tye 2009, p. 178.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Can Satchel Paige Stop the East-West Classic? Star Hurler Says Chicago Game's Off; League Heads Say It's On|newspaper=[[Afro-American (newspaper)|The Afro American]]|page=18|date=August 12, 1944|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qB0mAAAAIBAJ&pg=3837%2C4060552|access-date=September 19, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=East-West Strike Barely Averted|newspaper=[[Afro-American (newspaper)|The Afro American]]|page=18|date=August 19, 1944|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qR0mAAAAIBAJ&pg=5784%2C4254893|access-date=September 19, 2010}}</ref>

In 1946, many of the Monarchs' players, including Willard Brown, Connie Johnson, Buck O'Neil, Ford Smith, and Ted Strong, returned from military service, and the team led the NAL in both the first and second halves, capturing the league pennant.<ref>Riley 2002, pp. 127, 430, 589, 725, 750; Clark and Lester 1994, p. 165.</ref> O'Neil led the league in batting average, Brown in home runs, Johnson in wins, and Paige in [[run average|total run average]].<ref>Holway 2001, p. 433.</ref>

====1946 Negro World Series====
The Monarchs faced the Newark Eagles in the [[1946 Negro World Series]]. The first game was played at the Polo Grounds and Hilton Smith started for the Monarchs. The Monarchs held a 1–0 lead in the bottom of the sixth, when Smith walked [[Larry Doby]] to lead off the inning, and Paige was called in to relieve. Paige struck out [[Monte Irvin]] and Lenny Pearson, but Doby stole second and Paige gave up a single to Johnny Davis, which tied the game. In the top of the seventh, the Monarchs got the lead back when Paige hit a single, advanced to second on an error, and scored on a hit by Herb Souell. Paige shut down the Eagles for the rest of the game, striking out eight and allowing four hits over four innings, and was credited with the win.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lacy|first=Sam|title=19,423 Fans See Paige in Brilliant Performance: Errors Pave Way for Eagles' Defeat; Each Team Loses Player in Hot Tilt|newspaper=Baltimore Afro-American|date=September 21, 1946|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=87UlAAAAIBAJ&pg=901%2C5828738|access-date=November 6, 2010}}</ref>

Two days later, Paige came into the second game in a similar situation as the first, but the result was quite different. Ford Smith started the game for the Monarchs, and he had a 4–1 lead entering the bottom of the seventh. After allowing two runs and with Irvin on first, Paige was brought in to protect the 4–3 lead. This time, however, Paige gave up four hits before the end of the inning, and four runs crossed the plate. Paige finished the game, but was charged with the loss in the 7–4 game.<ref>{{cite news|title=Birds Rap Paige to Even Series|newspaper=Baltimore Afro-American|date=September 21, 1946|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=87UlAAAAIBAJ&pg=901%2C5828738|access-date=November 6, 2010}}</ref>

The next two games were played in Kansas City, and the Monarchs won game three, getting a complete game from [[Jim LaMarque]]. Ted Alexander started game four, but gave way to Paige in the top of the sixth with the Monarchs trailing 4–1. Paige gave up three runs on three hits in the sixth, including a home run to Irvin. He went on to finish the game, giving up one more run in the seventh, and the Monarchs lost 8–1.<ref name="Holway 46CWS">Holway 2001, pp. 438–440.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=K.C. Monarchs Take 3–2 World Series Lead: Kansas City Regains Lead After Dropping 4th Tilt|newspaper=Baltimore Afro-American|date=September 28, 1946|page=31|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9LUlAAAAIBAJ&pg=1288%2C6005490|access-date=November 6, 2010}}</ref>

Kansas City won the fifth game and Newark won the sixth. For the deciding game seven, Paige was missing. Buck O'Neil believed Paige was meeting with Bob Feller about their upcoming barnstorming tour. With Ford Smith pitching, the Monarchs lost 3–2, and the Eagles claimed the championship.<ref name="Holway 46CWS"/>

====Barnstorming with Feller: 1946–1947====
In late 1946, Bob Feller organized the first barnstorming tour to use airplanes to travel from site to site. His tour has been described as "the most ambitious baseball undertaking since [[John McGraw]] and [[Charles Comiskey]] dreamed up their round-the-world junket in 1913."<ref>Gay 2010, p. 221.</ref> For his team, Feller recruited all-stars from both major leagues. As his main opponent, he asked Paige to head a team of Negro league all-stars.

Feller's team included 1946 American League batting champion, [[Mickey Vernon]], at first base, [[John Beradino|Johnny Beradino]] at second, [[Phil Rizzuto]] at shortstop, and [[Ken Keltner]] at third. The outfielders were [[Jeff Heath]], [[Charlie Keller]], and [[Sam Chapman]]; after the [[1946 World Series|World Series]] was over, National League batting champion [[Stan Musial]] would also join the tour. Catching was shared by [[Jim Hegan]] and [[Frankie Hayes]]. In addition to Feller, the pitching staff included [[Bob Lemon]], [[Dutch Leonard (right-handed pitcher)|Dutch Leonard]], [[Johnny Sain]], [[Spud Chandler]], and [[Fred Hutchinson]].<ref>Gay 2010, pp. 221–222.</ref>

With help from J.L. Wilkinson and Tom Baird, Paige assembled a team that included first baseman [[Buck O'Neil]], second baseman [[Hank Thompson (baseball)|Hank Thompson]], shortstops [[Chico Renfroe]] and [[Artie Wilson]], third basemen Howard Easterling and Herb Souell, outfielders Gene Benson and Johnny Davis, catcher Quincy Trouppe, and pitchers Barney Brown, [[Gentry Jessup]], Rufus Lewis, Hilton Smith, and [[Neck Stanley]].<ref>Tye 2009, pp. 171–172; Holway 2001, pp. 433–443.</ref>

Feller scheduled 35 games in 31 cities in 17 states, all to be played in 27 days. The tour would require 13,000 miles of travel. Several same-day multi-city doubleheaders were to be played. Feller leased two [[Douglas DC-3|DC-3]] airplanes, with "Bob Feller All-Stars" painted on one fuselage and "Satchel Paige All-Stars" on the other. While Feller's team would face several other opponents, the majority of the games were against Paige's team. Feller and Paige would start each game whenever possible and usually pitch one to five innings.<ref>Gay 2010, pp. 224–227.</ref>

The first game was played at [[Forbes Field]] in Pittsburgh on September 30, two days after the end of the major league season and one day after the final game of the Negro World Series. Paige and Feller each pitched three innings and left the game with the score tied 1–1. Feller struck out three and gave up two hits, while Paige struck out four and gave up only one hit. Paige's team broke the tie in the seventh inning when Hank Thompson walked and stole second and Souell drove him home with a single up the middle.<ref>Gay 2010, pp. 227–228.</ref>

Over the next six days, Feller's team won games in Youngstown, Cleveland, Chicago, Cincinnati, New York, and Newark, before Paige's team won a second game in New York. Paige pitched five shutout innings in Yankee Stadium before a crowd of 27,462. After the game they flew to Baltimore, where that same evening Paige's team beat Feller's. The next day, Paige's team won again in Columbus. From there, Feller's team won games in [[Dayton, Ohio]], [[Richmond, Indiana]], [[Council Bluffs, Iowa]], and [[Wichita, Kansas]]. They then played two games in Kansas City, with Paige's team winning the first game on a three-run [[walk-off home run]] by Johnny Davis, and Feller's team winning the second. After that series, Feller's team continued on to Denver and California, while most of Paige's team left the tour. Paige, however, continued on to California where he joined a lesser team, Chet Brewer's Kansas City Royals, which was scheduled to play Feller's All-Stars.<ref>Gay 2010, pp. 228–239.</ref>

Paige faced Feller in Los Angeles and in San Diego and lost both games. Another scheduled match-up was cancelled when Paige filed a lawsuit against Feller, claiming that Feller had not paid some of the money he was owed.<ref>Gay 2010, pp. 239–243.</ref> Overall, Feller had pitched 54 innings against Paige's team and given up 15 runs, an average of 2.50 per nine innings. Paige had pitched 42 innings and allowed 18 runs, or 3.86 per nine innings.<ref>Tye 2009, p. 173.</ref>

After the 1947 season, Feller organized another all-star team for a barnstorming tour. This time, Paige was not invited to tour with him, with Feller opting to play more games in the South against white opponents. Paige did face Feller twice, however, while playing with Chet Brewer's Kansas City Royals in Los Angeles. In the first game, on October 15, both pitchers went four innings. Feller gave up four hits and one walk and struck out two, while Paige gave up just two hits and one walk and struck out seven. Nevertheless, Paige took the loss when he gave up a run in the fourth when Keltner singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Heath. On October 19, they again faced each other in front of a crowd of 12,000-plus. Both pitchers went five innings. Paige allowed three hits and no walks, and struck out eight, including [[Ralph Kiner]] twice. He left the game with a 1–0 lead, but Feller's team came back in the late innings to win 2–1.<ref>Gay 2010, pp. 246–256.</ref>