When peak Aaron faced the ageless Paige

The matchup came to fruition because of a roster technicality. As most baseball fans know, Paige became a legend in the Negro Leagues and while barnstorming during the 1930s and 40s, but he didn’t make his Major League debut until 1948, a year after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Paige was 41 when he debuted with the Cleveland Indians, going 6-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 72 2/3 innings. He appeared in parts of six MLB seasons over the next 17 years, and made his last big league appearance in 1965 for the Kansas City Athletics. He was 58 that season with the A’s and pitched three innings in one game, giving up zero runs and one hit.

But before he could officially retire, the ageless wonder still needed 158 days on a Major League roster to qualify for a pension. Nineteen teams said no until Atlanta Braves owner Howard Bartholomay stepped in to sign the Negro Leagues legend in August 1968.

“Satchel Paige is one of the greatest pitchers of all time,” Bartholomay told United Press International. “Baseball would be guilty of negligence should it not assure this legendary figure a place in the pension plan.”

Although he signed on as a coach/trainer for the pitching staff, players on the team don’t remember it being that way.

“He didn’t really work with anybody, he just hung around,” former Braves pitcher George Stone laughed over the phone. “He did throw a little bit though, and, let me tell you, the guy could still pitch.”

Hall of Famer Henry “Hank” Aaron dies at 86.

Hall of Famer and one-time home run king Atlanta Braves legend Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron passed away this morning at the age of 86, CBS46 has learned. He leaves behind an indelible legacy on and off the baseball diamond.

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It was the 1974 season that saw Aaron smash his way into the national consciousness. On April 8, 1974 Hammerin’ Hank, as he was known, crushed a 1-0 pitch from Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing over the left field wall at Fulton County Stadium and broke Babe Ruth’s long-time home run record of 714 home runs in a career.

—and we’ve lost another one.