U.S. Census Bureau Black History Month Feature for Feb. 3

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily Black History Month feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3: SATCHEL PAIGE

Profile America for the third day of Black History Month.  In February, 1971, Leroy Robert Paige — better known as "Satchel," was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York.  While he was not the first African American to enter major league baseball, Paige's election capped a legendary career. He pitched for 25 years in baseball's professional Negro League and once threw 64 scoreless innings in a row.  He also once won 21 games in a row. He was 42 when he came to the majors with the Cleveland Indians, but even so, Joe DiMaggio called him the "the best and fastest pitcher I ever faced." Today, African Americans contribute to every team in major league baseball, which draws nearly 81 million fans to games each year. This special edition of Profile America is a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau, conducting the 2010 Census beginning April 1st.  

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2010, p. 361

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 1205

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau