Baseball fans, history enthusiasts, and collectors have an opportunity to celebrate Satchel Paige‘s upcoming 98th birthday with a special bobblehead commemorating the pitcher’s extraordinary career and one particular legendary Major League Baseball appearance.
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum announced the release of a Satchel Paige Kansas City A’s Rocking Chair Bobblehead and a Satchel Paige Mystery Bobblehead Box offer. The offerings are being released in celebration of Paige’s 98th birthday on July 7.
“Satchel’s bobbleheads have been the most popular in our Negro Leagues bobblehead collection, and we thought this was the perfect way to commemorate his birthday,” says Phil Sklar, co-founder and CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.
The Kansas City A’s bobblehead captures a remarkable moment in baseball history. On Sept. 25, 1965, at the age of 59, Paige became the oldest player to make an MLB appearance when he came out of retirement to take the mound for the Kansas City Athletics against the Boston Red Sox.
In front of 9,289 fans at Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium. Paige faced ten batters and famously “relaxed” in a rocking chair between innings. Paige joked that he was “…close enough to below the surface as is,” opting for the comfort of a rocking chair instead of sitting in the subterranean dugout.
Paige allowed a first-inning double to Hall of Fame outfielder Carl Yastrzemski but retired the Red Sox in both the second and third innings before exiting the game to a standing ovation.
The Kansas City A’s bobblehead is priced at $30, while the Mystery Bobblehead Boxes offer options for one ($20), three ($50), or five ($75) bobbleheads. Each box contains Satchel Paige bobbleheads produced by the Museum over the past five years, providing fans with a chance to collect various depictions of the baseball legend.
Born on July 7, 1906, in Mobile, AL, Paige’s journey through professional baseball is a testament to his skill and perseverance. He was a star pitcher in the Negro Leagues from 1926 to 1947, showcasing his talents with teams like the Kansas City Monarchs, Birmingham Black Barons, and Pittsburgh Crawfords.
Paige’s Major League debut came in 1948 with Cleveland, where he contributed to the team’s pennant win that year and was the first Black pitcher to appear in the MLB.Paige’s career was marked by longevity and excellence.
His appearance at 59 for the Kansas City A’s underscored his enduring skill and popularity. In recognition of his contributions to the sport, Paige was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971, cementing his legacy in baseball history.
The bobbleheads were produced in collaboration with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Dreams Fulfilled, and Paige’s family. This partnership ensures that the items not only celebrate Paige’s career but also support the ongoing mission of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
To learn more or to purchase the Satchel Paige bobbleheads, visit bobbleheadhall.com.
