On this day in history, Satchel Paige paved way for Negro Leaguers

On this day 45 years ago, hard-throwing right-hander Satchel Paige became the first player selected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Committee on Negro Baseball Leagues.

Revered for his quotable personality and exceptional pitching talent, Paige's Negro Leagues success helped pave the way for other Negro League stars to earn plaques in Cooperstown, as well as other legendary African-American players in the majors.

During his Hall of Fame acceptance speech, Paige said that in the Negro Leagues, "there were many Satchels and many Joshes," referring to legendary Negro League catcher and fellow Hall of Famer Josh Gibson.

After 18 seasons dominating the Negro Leagues, Paige agreed to a $40,000 deal with the Cleveland Indians to pitch for the final three months of the 1948 season. Paige became the oldest player ever to make his major-league debut when, at the age of 42, he tossed two shutout innings of relief for the Indians on July 9, 1948. He'd go 6-1 with a 2.48 ERA across 72 2/3 innings that year, helping the Indians win their second - and most recent - World Series title.

As good as Paige was on the mound, he was arguably even better in front of the microphone, offering up numerous one-liners that have stood the test of time.

• "Just take the ball and throw it where you want to. Throw strikes. Home plate don't move."

• "I never rush myself. See, they can't start the game without me."

• "My pitching philosophy is simple - keep the ball way from the bat."

Despite missing out on pitching in the majors during the prime of his career, Paige was able to defy age and toss parts of six seasons in the big leagues. He even became the oldest player to ever appear in a major-league game when he pitched three innings for the Kansas City Athletics as a 58-year-old in 1965.

He gained a reputation for being one of the best pitchers in the game even into his 40s, and earned the respect of some of the game's biggest legends.

• "The best and fastest pitcher I've ever faced." - Joe DiMaggio

• "Satch was the greatest pitcher in baseball." - Ted Williams

• "Like Joe Louis, only one arm like this comes along in fifty years." - Red Smith

Paige finished his major-league career with a 28-31 record to go with a 3.29 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 288 strikeouts over 476 innings. He died of a heart attack in 1982.