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Sweet home Alabama
The Sporting News, November 18, 1924
Now that the major leagues have opened their doors to Negro ball players, wise scouts are expanding their pursuits of the finest talents among the colored ranks. Such promising young players as "Cool Papa" Bell, "Turkey" Stearnes, "Judy" Johnson, and Bill Foster have been discovered and signed to contracts, and are beginning to make their presences felt at the highest levels of the game.
The latest "find" might be the most exciting of all. From the sandlots near Mobile, Alabama comes news of a young righthanded pitcher, Leroy Paige, whose skill and mound savvy belie his years, supposedly only eighteen in number.
Paige, who has been nicknamed "Satchel" for his suitcase-sized feet, is a tall, lanky twirler with impressive speed and a variety of curves. Undoubtedly Paige will trigger a lively competition between the sixteen major league clubs, any of whom would be willing to see if his alleged skills and potential will translate to major league success.
Next on their shopping list will likely be George Suttles, a powerful batter who plays the outfield and first base. Suttles, dubbed "Mule" for the authority with which he "kicks" the sphere over the fence, is a somewhat more polished talent than Paige. At age twenty-three, Suttles might be more ready for the rigors of "big league" ball...
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