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Paige Signs Globetrotter SemiPro Baseball Pact PactPrize Prize Negro Antique Will Pitch As Well as Be General Manager ManagerBy By ED SAINSBURY SAINSBURYUnited United Press Sports Writer WriterBaseballs Baseballs prize antique Leroy Satchel Paige who recently spurned a 20000 con ¬ tract offered by the Los Angeles Angels still will make a living as a pitcher it was announced yesterday yesterdayDespite Despite his age estimated from his ad ¬ mitted 46 to nearly 60 Paige signed a con ¬ tract with the rejuvenated Harlem Globe ¬ trotters team agreeing to act as general manager as well as pitch pitchI I can make anywhere from 25000 to 30000 with this team during the coming season he said So why should I pitch in organized baseball for less lessThe The return to semipro ball will carry Paige backward along his path to diamond success He built his fame as a semipro player then augmented it in the Negro American League before Bill Veeck finally brought him into the major leagues with the Cleveland Indians IndiansIn In 1948 he won six and lost only one as a relief hurler with the Indians who won the World Series He also pitched for Cleveland in 1949 and for the St Louis Browns in 1951 1952 and 1953 1953Made Made 70000 Barnstorming Each Year YearAbe Abe Saperstein owner of the Globetrot trotters said that Paige turned his back on organized baseball because they dont want to pay Satchel what he thinks he is worth worthDuring During World War II he made 70000 each season barnstorming When he joined the Cleveland Indians and St Louis Browns he earned 25000 That was a big loss but he wanted to prove he could pitch bigleague ball ballHe He proved his point so now he is re ¬ turning to independent ball and big money He should make about 45000 or more this season He cant make that kind of money in the big leagues or minors Yet some of the contending teams could still use him He could be the difference between the pennant and second place placePaige Paige won 28 and lost 31 in five years of major league competition and had an earned run average of 331 Before the season is over theyll be try ¬ ing to lure Satchel back to the majors manager Winfield Welch predicted Hes still the smartest most intelligent pitcher in baseball But we wont give him up upWelch Welch will serve as field manager of the Globetrotters He said that while fans will come out to see the team play because of Satchel I have some other players who will make their eyes pop This team is isloaded loaded with young boys hoping for a achance chance in the majors majorsThe The team will open at Cincinnati May 30 against the House of David club and before the season ends in September play more than 100 games gamesPaige Paige was figured to pitch two or three innings at a time four or five times a week
