{"id":82274,"date":"2024-08-06T16:51:29","date_gmt":"2024-08-06T20:51:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=82274"},"modified":"2024-08-06T16:51:50","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T20:51:50","slug":"browns-satchel-paige-12-inning-shutout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/08\/06\/browns-satchel-paige-12-inning-shutout\/","title":{"rendered":"Today in Baseball History: Ageless Browns Pitcher Tossed 12-Inning Shutout"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On August 6, 1952, <a href=\"https:\/\/thestlbrowns.com\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">St. Louis Browns<\/a> hurler <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/p\/paigesa01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Satchel Paige<\/a> pitched a 12-inning, complete game shutout, beating the Detroit Tigers, 1-0. Paige became the oldest pitcher ever to accomplish this feat. Official baseball records show that he was 46 years old at the time. Or maybe he was 49. The Associated Press said he was \u201c43 going on 49.\u201d<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/I3q2TeFuTq8?si=YcFJzAlf1QW9j_q_\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Today in Baseball History: Ageless Browns Pitcher Satchel Paige Tossed 12-Inning Shutout<\/h2>\n<p>The eyes of the nation weren\u2019t necessarily on this game. Entering the day\u2019s action, the Browns were 44-63, in seventh place in the eight-team American League, and 19 \u00bd games out of first place. Meanwhile, the Tigers were 36-68, in last place and 26 games out. The Tigers pitcher on this day was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/truckvi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Virgil Trucks<\/a>. Despite his 4-13 record, \u201cFire\u201d Trucks was always a tough draw. He would finish 5-19 in 1952. His five victories included two no-hitters, a one-hitter, and a two-hitter. No less an expert than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willite01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ted Williams<\/a> said that Trucks was the hardest thrower he ever faced.<\/p>\n<p>The scheduled pitcher for the Browns was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/p\/pilledu01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Duane Pillette<\/a> (7-10). Why Browns player\/manager <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/marioma01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Marty Marion<\/a> switched to Paige at game time is lost to history.<\/p>\n<h3>A History with Veeck<\/h3>\n<p>Paige had a history with Browns owner Bill Veeck, a <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/2014\/04\/09\/mlb-needs-bill-veeck-7-inning-games\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">great promoter<\/a> who had previously owned the Cleveland Indians. After a successful 17-year career in the various Negro Leagues, Veeck brought Paige to Cleveland in 1948. The Indians had already broken the color barrier in the American League by adding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/d\/dobyla01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Larry Doby<\/a> in 1947. Paige was brought to Cleveland to help the Indians win the pennant at a time when they needed a shot in the arm. As a starter and reliever, he went 6-1 over July and August. He began September with a rough start against the Browns and was seldom used thereafter.<\/p>\n<p>Later, Paige was bitter about his inactivity down the stretch and in the World Series, which the Indians won in six games over the Boston Braves. In the Series, he pitched in one game. That was Game 5, which the Braves won, 11-5. Paige pitched two-thirds of an inning, putting the brakes on a six-run Braves uprising before leaving for a pinch hitter. Indians player\/manager <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/boudrlo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lou Boudreau<\/a> had bypassed Paige in Game 4 in favor of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/gromest01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Steve Gromek<\/a>. Boudreau\u2019s hunch paid off, however, as Gromek pitched the Indians to a complete game, 2-1 victory. The iconic photo that ran in newspapers across the country showed Gromek hugging cheek-to-cheek with Doby, whose third-inning home run was the difference in the game.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Fans file out of Cleveland Stadium during the 1948 World Series. The Indians, led by Larry Doby, Bob Lemon, Bob Feller and Satchel Paige, defeated the Boston Braves in 6 games. It was the only World Series between &#8217;47-&#8217;58 without a team from New York. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LJqI0ixKHQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/LJqI0ixKHQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lost Ballparks (@lost_ballparks) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/lost_ballparks\/status\/1667517720982683650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 10, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>However Paige felt about Boudreau, he had no ill will toward Veeck. Paige happily joined Veeck\u2019s Browns as a free agent in 1951 after not playing in the majors in 1950. Browns manager and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2022\/06\/03\/rogers-hornsby-an-unstoppable-season\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">legendary<\/a> curmudgeon <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hornsro01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rogers Hornsby<\/a> didn\u2019t want Paige. Nevertheless, Veeck reminded Hornsby who the boss was.<\/p>\n<h3>A New Browns Manager and a Shutout for Satchel Paige<\/h3>\n<p>Paige pitched in just 23 games, three of which were starts, in 1951. Hornsby was fired after 51 games in 1952. With a new manager in Marion, there was increased usage for Paige.<\/p>\n<p>On August 6, Paige and Trucks battled hard for nine innings, both men refusing to cave in. Trucks left for a pinch-hitter after nine, but Paige remained. Paige had just pitched 1 2\/3 innings of relief three days before.<\/p>\n<p>The only big threat Paige faced came in the Tigers&#8217; 10th. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mapescl01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cliff Mapes<\/a> led off with a double, at which point the United Press reported that \u201cit appeared that Satch might be getting weary.\u201d He walked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/ginsbjo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joe Ginsberg<\/a> and was slow to field a bunt single by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/f\/federal01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Al Federoff<\/a>. Apparently, Marion had no thoughts of removing Paige from the game. Paige then induced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/p\/peskyjo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Johnny Pesky<\/a> to hit a grounder to first baseman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/goldsgo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gordon Goldsberry<\/a>, who forced Mapes out at the plate. Next, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/grothjo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Johnny Groth<\/a> hit a slow chopper to third baseman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/d\/dyckji01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jim Dyck<\/a>, who managed to barely get Ginsberg out at home. Paige then fired three straight strikes past <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/berryne01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Neil Berry<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Browns finally won the game with two outs in the twelfth when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/n\/niemabo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bob Nieman<\/a> hit a pop-fly, bases-loaded single off Tigers pitcher <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/w\/whiteha01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-08-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hal White<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In gaining his hard-earned shutout for the Browns, Paige gave up seven hits (six singles) and two walks and faced just 44 batters in his 12 innings. He was helped by a double play and two baserunners caught stealing. Except for Dyck\u2019s play in the 10th, there\u2019s no record of any spectacular defensive plays behind Paige. That\u2019s not hard to believe, given that the Browns were last in the AL in fielding percentage and made the second-most errors.<\/p>\n<h3>&#8220;I Will, Burr Head&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p>Marion had a strictly enforced rule that the team would undergo a morning workout the day after a Browns loss. After the game, Paige told United Press, \u201cI made up my mind that there wasn\u2019t gonna be no morning workout.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d much rather go fishing than take morning practice,\u201d Paige told <em>The Afro American<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s the greatest exhibition of pitching I\u2019ve seen,\u201d cried Veeck. \u201cThat\u2019s one of the greatest thrills I\u2019ve gotten out of baseball.\u201d He then told Paige to go into town and buy himself the best new suit he could find. Veeck\u2019s treat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, I will, Burr Head,\u201d replied Paige, using his nickname for Veeck, \u201cbut I\u2019m gonna put it off a day or two. I\u2019m tired.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Photo Credit: \u00a9 Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On August 6, 1952, St. Louis Browns hurler Satchel Paige pitched a 12-inning, complete game shutout, beating the Detroit Tigers, 1-0. Paige became the oldest pitcher ever to accomplish this feat. Official baseball records show that he was 46 years old at the time. Or maybe he was 49. The Associated Press said he was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5010,"featured_media":82305,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4454,3,1071],"tags":[2774,253,6172],"class_list":["post-82274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-baseball-history","category-orioles","category-mlb","tag-bill-veeck","tag-rogers-hornsby","tag-satchel-paige"],"modified_by":"Lewis Masella, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82274","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5010"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82274"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82274\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/82305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82274"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}