CHICAGO -- Rockies coach and longtime baseball veteran Rene Lachemann feels fortunate to have learned of pre-integration baseball from one of the greatest witnesses and participants -- Hall of Famer Satchel Paige.
Lachemann was a catcher for the Kansas City Athletics in 1965 under promotion-oriented owner Charlie Finley. Future Hall of Fame pitcher Catfish Hunter was 19 and pitched to Lachemann, who was all of 20. So with Paige, listed at 58 although no one was sure, hoping to build service time toward a pension, Finley decided to bring him back for the final days of the season, when he would pitch to 32-year-old veteran Johnny Blanchard.