1927 – 1931 Satchel Paige

The great Satchel Paige played for the Birmingham Black Barons from 1927 – 1931. Paige became one of the greatest players of his time. Paige was immensely popular and began drawing such large crowds that R. T. Jackson, owner of the team, and Paige agreed to rent Paige out to other teams to boost their attendance with Jackson and Paige receiving a cut of the profits. Paige remained with the Black Baron’s until the 1931 when the Great Depression hit and Jackson was forced to temporarily suspend baseball at Rickwood. Paige went on to achieve baseball greatness and, in 1971, he made history by being the first Negro League player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.