The Federal Writer’s Project journey continues with the reading about Isaiah Butler’s difficult experiences from slavery to freedom.

Leroy Satchel Paige was in my opinion the greatest professional baseball player in this nation’s history. You name the player Babe Ruth, Willie May, Cy Young, Nolan Ryan, Barry Bonds, Mickey Mantle, Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, and so many more and Satchel surpassed them on the baseball diamond. At a time when the baseball was by far the most popular sport in this nation. Players such as Paige were barred from the playing in the major leagues. Players like Paige had to craft their amazing skills on the backwoods fields of small town America. Players like Paige were forced to go to Latin America to be treated as equals to white players on the winter circuit. Players like Paige weren't able to earn major league salaries because of the color of their skin. Satchel Paige came to the major leagues not at the apex of his baseball career but towards its finality. Yet, Satchel Paige did amazing things nevertheless.
In 1965 on a September night Satchel Paige, did something that should never be forgotten. Leroy Paige at the age of 59, or 65, or 69 pitched 3 innings against the Boston Red Sox. Paige retired 9 of 10 batters and allowed only one hit. Listen as I read an article that appeared on the 50th anniversary of that feat today. The article appeared in the Kansas City Star and was written by sports reporter the Sam Mellinger. I know many young people don’t know the name Leroy Satchel Paige but he is a legend in our illustrious African American history.

These stories from our enslaved ancestors was the result of interacting between the researchers of the Federal Writer’s Project and those black ancestors held in bondage. This is a continuation of my daily blog posts. Stay with through this momentous journey.