When I was about 11 years old my family and I went out for dinner to a local favorite in Illinois. It is called White Fence Farm and is in the outskirts of Illinois. Some of the best comfort food one could ever dream of, however that is the small part of this story.

There was a machine there where you could put a quarter in and get a printed baseball card of a player from the past. I put my quarter in and out came a printed baseball card of a player named Satchel Paige (Leroy Robert Paige). I thought nothing of it and brought it home that night. The depth of what that card meant did’t sink in until I showed my father the card later that evening. I pulled out the card and my dad’s eyes lit up with excitement and he just could not stop talking about Satchel and what he meant to the game. You see, Satchel was one of many players who played in the Negro leagues, however was unequivocally skilled enough to play in the MLB. His unorthodox pitching style was different….stretched leg….high kick…..and unmatched velocity to each pitch. This is very much a Jackie Robinson kind of story and also helped open doors for many other fine players who were at times forced to play in the Negro leagues. Leroy Doby was another fine player who also broke barriers and paved the way to bring some level of justice to the major leagues. I in fact, had the honor to meet Larry Doby when I was a kid when he was honored inCleveland on “Larry Doby Day”. A day I will never forget, along with the many players I got to meet that played during his era for the Indians. Unfortunately, Satchel Paige was not there and that was all I cared about, however that day I was around rich history that stood for more than baseball.

You may wonder why I write about Satchel Paige when he has been gone from the game for so long. Today, it is clear we still have a division in some ways in our country. I am an adult now, but still struggle with why people find differences in people….and why people often don’t get the opportunities others do. Perhaps this means doing what it takes to break down those walls and not let others stop you. Satchel was determined to take his skill level to the big leagues and he did. Nothing was going to stop him….not even the color of his skin. What defined him was his determination and focus in where he wanted his life to head. Any kid should leverage this mindset to get what they want out of life. I still have that card today and often look at it to remind of who Satchel Paige was and still is. It takes courage to create equality for us all.