The Resume

(July 7, 1906-June 8, 1982)
Birth name is Leroy Paige
Played in the Negro Leagues (1924-47)
Played in the Major Leagues (1948-53, 65)
Elected to the Hall of Fame (1971)

Why he might be annoying:

He lied about his age.
He was arrogant and would sometimes tell his infielders to go sit in the dugout because he was going to strike out the side.
Many people consider him the greatest pitcher of all time with almost no statistical evidence to back it up.

Why he might not be annoying:

He had a brief comeback in 1965.
He got his nickname from carrying suitcases at the Union Station after school.
Joe DiMaggio called him 'the best and fastest pitcher I've ever faced.'
He started 29 games in one month in Bismarck, North Dakota.
His most famous delivery was the hesitation pitch, which he threw after deliberately pausing as his left foot hit the ground.
He was brought into the major leagues in 1948 by Bill Veeck to play for Cleveland.
He holds the record for being the oldest rookie in the Major League at forty-two.
He was the American League's first African American pitcher.
He made his final appearance in 1965, pitching 3 innings for the Kansas City Athletics at fifty-nine.
He was the first Negro League player elected to the Hall of Fame.
His motto was 'Don't look back - something might be gaining on you.'

Credit: Jon Mullich

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Alta Cockers
• Baltimore Orioles
• Baseball Hall of Famers (Ranked: 1971)
• Baseball Players
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [July] (Ranked: 7071906)
• Cleveland Guardians
• Complex.com's 50 Cockiest Athletes of All-Time (Ranked: 47)
• Dick Cavett Show Guests
• ESPN Sports Century (Ranked: 63)
• ESPN's Who's #1 Top 20 40-Something Performances (Ranked: 13)
• I am on a U.S. Postage Stamp [M-Q]
• I Died in 1982 (Ranked: 76)
• I Played Negro League Baseball
• Jon Mullich's Profiles
• Look At My Trading Card
• My Nickname is Part of My Name [M-Z]
• Oakland Athletics
• Profiles 4501-4750 (Ranked: 4587)
• Sporting News' 100 Greatest Baseball Players (Ranked: 19)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 11 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 26.67% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 181 Votes: 50.28% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 49 Votes: 36.73% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 158 Votes: 54.43% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 78 Votes: 48.72% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 109 Votes: 58.72% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 147 Votes: 36.05% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 50 Votes: 36.00% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 194 Votes: 44.33% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 183 Votes: 39.89% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 386 Votes: 42.23% Annoying
In 2004, Out of 400 Votes: 42.25% Annoying
In 2003, Out of 1801 Votes: 42.20% Annoying
In 2002, Out of 1584 Votes: 35.67% Annoying