Satchel Paige

No one pitched like Leroy "Satchel" Paige. Fans packed the stands to see how many batters he could strike out in one game. He dazzled them with his unique pitching style, and he even gave nicknames to some of his trademark pitches -- there was the "hesitation," his magic slow ball, and the "bee ball," named because it would always "be" where he wanted it to be.

Follow Satch's career through these beautiful illustrations as he begins playing in the semipros and goes on to become the first African American to pitch in a major League World Series, and the first Negro Leaguer to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Lesa Cline-Ransome is the author of many books for children, including?My Story, My Dance: Robert Battle & Journey to Alvin Ailey, which was an ALA Notable Book, an IRA Notable Book for a Global Society, and an NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended title for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children;?Satchel Paige, an ALA Notable Book and a Top 10 Sports Book for Youth; and?Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass, which?The New York Times Book Review?called, “visceral, intimate, and plainly told, this story is sure to move young children, and also motivate them to read more.”?Her books were all illustrated by her husband, James E. Ransome. A graduate of the Pratt Institute, she holds a master’s?degree in early childhood and elementary education from NYU. She lives with her family in upstate New York. Visit her at LesaClineRansome.com.

James E. Ransome’s highly acclaimed illustrations for?Before She Was Harriett?received the 2018 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. His other award-winning titles include Coretta Scott King Honor Book?Uncle Jed’s Barbershop;?Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt; and?Let My People Go, winner of the NAACP Image Award. He frequently collaborates with his wife, author Lesa Cline-Ransome. Some of their titles include?Game Changers: The Story of Venus Serena Williams, which received four starred reviews;?My Story, My Dance: Robert Battle’s Journey to Alvin Ailey; and?Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass. Mr. Ransome teaches illustration at Pratt Institute and lives in upstate New York with his family. Visit James at JamesRansome.com.