Satchel Paige

Satchel Paige was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971. Today, Paige's plaque sits alongside the other great major leaguers who grace the halls in Cooperstown. Though he never played major league ball in his prime, Paige will stand in his rightful place forever as one of the greats. "Baseball turned Paige from a second-class citizen to a second-class immortal," he said in his induction speech.

Paige was one of the game's true talents, and in spite of almost insurmountable odds, he dominated a sport and was instrumental in helping break down the color barriers—not through any activism, but by sheer talent, showmanship and determination. The first black pitcher to play in the major leagues and a man who pitched—and won—more games than any other baseball player in history, Paige's accomplishments and his contributions to making baseball what it is today will not be forgotten.