Manufacturer: Leaf (Chicago Leaf Gum Company)
Set: 1948 Leaf Baseball ➡️
Player Name: Leroy (Satchel) Paige
Position/Team: Pitcher for Indians
Card #: 8
Card Size: 2-3/8” x 2-7/8”
Card Value Snapshot: Raw/Ungraded: $5,000 | Grade 7: $158,000
⬇️ See More Pricing Data Below
Leroy Robert “Satchel” Paige was an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played baseball for five decades and is considered one of the oldest players to play the game professionally. He began his MLB career at the age of 42 for the Indians and played up until the age of 59. Paige was the first black pitcher to play in the American League and was the seventh black player to play in Major League Baseball. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Joe DiMaggio famously called Paige the “best and fastest pitcher I’ve ever faced.” Yet, because of the baseball color line, Paige spent his prime barnstorming and dominating the Negro Leagues before finally getting his shot in Major League Baseball at an age when most players were long retired.
Perhaps the most famous aspect of Satchel’s legend is his age. Because records from his youth in Mobile, Alabama, were scarce, his true birthdate was a constant source of debate. He used this mystery to his advantage, keeping opponents guessing and maintaining an aura of timelessness.
The Oldest Rookie: On July 7, 1948 (his documented 42nd birthday), Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck signed Paige. He debuted as the oldest rookie in MLB history, pitching to a 6-1 record with a 2.48 ERA and helping Cleveland win their last World Series title.
The 1965 Encore: To qualify for a pension, Paige returned to the majors for one final, legendary stunt. On September 25, 1965, at the age of 59, he started a game for the Kansas City Athletics against the Boston Red Sox. He threw three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit (to Carl Yastrzemski) and proving that the magic in his arm was truly timeless.
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Pricing Data For This Rookie Card
Tracking the current market value for the 1948 Leaf Satchel Paige Card #8. Below, find updated pricing data for ungraded (raw) copies, as well as verified PSA graded sales trends collected from secondary marketplaces.
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Raw/Ungraded: $5,000
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Grade 1: $20,000
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Grade 2: $32,000
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Grade 3: $45,000
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Grade 4: $50,000
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Grade 5: $66,000
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Grade 6: -
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Grade 7: $158,000
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Grade 8: $432,000
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Grade 9: -
Data Updated: July 2026
➡️ See All 1948 Leaf Rookie Card Prices
Pricing data includes raw card price & some graded card value estimates.
These values are collated from a variety of resources including recently sold listings, sales averages and a variety of other sports card pricing data sources. Please see full disclaimer on “Terms Page” for more information. (Rookiecardprices.com only shows values for regular base set cards. No prices are shown for errors, parallels, subsets, misprints or other cards unless noted.)
DISCLAIMER: This data is not intended as financial advice and should not be used as such. Please do your own research before making any investment or selling/buying decisions.
Did You Know? Paige didn’t just throw fastballs; he gave them names based on how they moved or how they felt to the hitter.
The “Bee-Ball” (because it hummed right where he wanted it)
The “Jump Ball,” the “Trouble Ball,” and the “Whip-De-Doodle”
The “Hesitation Pitch”: His most famous offering, where he would pause mid-delivery, throwing off the batter’s timing so drastically that MLB eventually banned it.
He was also the ultimate showman. During barnstorming tours, Paige would frequently wave his outfielders and infielders to sit on the grass behind him, leaving only his catcher active. He would then proceed to strike out the side with absolute pinpoint control.
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