When he was
seven, Paige went to work at the local railroad station, contributing to the family income by carrying passengers' luggage for tips. He earned the nickname "Satchel" (a satchel is similar to a duffel bag) after he invented a special sling that allowed him to carry more bags at once; his friends said that he looked like a "satchel tree."
As an elementary school student, Paige was not particularly interested in either perfect attendance or studying, but he did enjoy playing on his school's baseball team. He started as an outfielder and first baseman but eventually became a pitcher, practicing his aim by throwing stones at tin cans. Throughout his life, Paige would stress the value of practice, telling a Sports Illustrated reporter, "I practiced all the time. … Anything you practice you begin to come good at, regardless of what it is."
When he was twelve, Paige was arrested for pocketing some toy rings from a glittering store display. He was sentenced to attend the Industrial School for Negro Children in Fort Meigs, Alabama. The school's strict discipline and the stable life it provided proved to be just what the unruly young boy needed.
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