LEROY “SATCHEL” PAIGE
â² Due to the color barrier, didn't reach the majors until the age of 42
â² Helped pitch Cleveland to the 1948 pennant his rookie season
â² Hall of Fame: 1971
Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY
JOEL ZUMAYA
â² Was clocked at 104.8 miles per hour in Oakland in 2006
â² Has spent much of early career on the disabled list
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
AMOS RUSIE
â² Knicknamed â²The Hoosier Thunderboltâ²
â² Led National League in strikeouts five times and led or tied for most shutouts five times
â² The top fireballer of the 19th century
â² Won 20 or more games eight consecutive times
â² Hall of Fame: 1977
Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY
RICHARD “GOOSE” GOSSAGE
â² Rated the top fastball reliever of all time by Rob Neyer
â² Rated to have the second-best fastball for 1975â1984 (behind Nolan Ryan) by Bill James
Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY
BOB GIBSON
â² Had a basketball scholarship to Creighton University
â² Played a season with the Harlem Globetrotters
â² Recorded 13 shutouts during the 1968 season
â² No-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971
â² Won nine consecutive Gold Gloves (1965â1973)
â² Hall of Fame: 1981
Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY
J. R. RICHARD
â² Passed on 200 basketball scholarships to sign with Houston
â² Fanned 15 batters in his major league debut
â² Led the National League in strikeouts in 1978 and 1979
â² Suffered a stroke in 1980
Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY