(LOT 35)
1949 Bowman #224 Satchel Paige Rookie PSA 8 NM-MT
SATCHEL ROOKIE!!! This sensational Satchel Paige inaugural 1949 Bowman #224 offering continues to reside as one of the most coveted rookie cards on the planet, with PSA's Pop Chart only listing 14 higher graded examples! Its unequivocal prestige is substantiated by numerous examples selling in the $30K range over the past several years, joining the '48 Leaf Paige as one of his two most coveted cardboard issues. Hall of Famer Satchel Paige arguably resides as the most celebrated Negro Leagues player in their illustrious history, even outdistancing the revered Josh Gibson in popularity. Born Leroy Robert Page on July 7, 1906, Page changed the spelling of his name to "Paige" in the mid-1920s. His friends tagged him with the iconic "Satchel" nickname because of an early job whereby he was paid for each suitcase carried and ingeniously rigged a pole to carry additional suitcases at the Mobile train station.

His four-decade professional pitching stint commenced in 1926 with the Chattanooga White Sox of the Negro Southern League, ending some 40 years later with the Peninsula Grays of the Carolina League at the age of 60! After finally reaching the majors in 1948 with the Cleveland Indians, he became the oldest MLB rookie ever at the age of 42, and his professional career would certainly not end following those six seasons with the Indians and St. Louis Browns. He continued to barnstorm and pitch professionally until he was called up by the Kansas City A's in 1965 at the incredible age of 59, pitching three scoreless innings in his final Major League appearance. His uncanny success was attributed to a vast assortment of pitches, tantalizing arm angles, and speeds. Regarding the latter, Joe DiMaggio was quoted as saying "Paige was the fastest and best pitcher I ever faced", after hitting against him in a 1935 six-game tour that included one of baseball's foremost hurlers, Dizzy Dean. The card itself reveals Paige's portrait image in brilliant fashion, with the sparkling facial hues and bold blue and red Indians cap well projected via the cool mint hued background.

Square corners consistent with the grade, an impeccable obverse side surface, fine clarity and a relatively clean verso are the final noteworthy attributes. Several imperfections include two side edges depicting somewhat rough factory cuts, as well as the image modestly favoring the upper left edges. Along with Paige's '48 Leaf subject, the crafty right-hander's '49 Bowman firmly resides as one of Satchel's two most valuable cardboard heirlooms, issued during the era when Paige would finally be signed to an MLB contract, courtesy of Jackie Robinson's iconic 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers debut. One of the most renowned rookie cards extant, it represents a pitcher who many historians arguably claim to be the greatest of them all, with this spectacular PSA 8 inaugural Bowman Paige offering proudly standing tall as one of the most exalted rookie cards on the planet!

MIN BID $7,500

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