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The Pitcher and the Dictator: Satchel Paige's Unlikely Season in the Dominican Republic
Soon after Satchel Paige arrived at spring training in 1937 to pitch for the Pittsburgh Crawfords, he and five of his teammates, including Josh Gibson and Cool Papa Bell, were lured to the Dominican Republic with the promise of easy money to play a short baseball tournament in support of the country’s dictator, Rafael Trujillo. As it turned out, the money wasn’t so easy. After Paige and his friends arrived on the island, they found themselves under the thumb of Trujillo, known by Dominicans for murdering those who disappointed him.
In the initial games, the Ciudad Trujillo All-Star team floundered. Living outside the shadow of segregation, Satchel and his recruits spent their nights carousing and their days dropping close games to their rivals, who were also stocked with great players. Desperate to restore discipline, Trujillo tapped the leader of his death squads to become part of the team management.
When Paige’s team ultimately rallied to win, it barely registered with Trujillo, who a few months later ordered the killings of fifteen thousand Haitians at the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Paige and his teammates returned to the states to face banishment from the Negro Leagues, but they barnstormed across America wearing their Trujillo All-Stars uniforms.
The Pitcher and the Dictator is an extraordinary story of race, politics, and some of the greatest baseball players ever assembled, playing high-stakes games in support of one of the Caribbean’s cruelest dictators.
For more information about The Pitcher and the Dictator , visit
In the initial games, the Ciudad Trujillo All-Star team floundered. Living outside the shadow of segregation, Satchel and his recruits spent their nights carousing and their days dropping close games to their rivals, who were also stocked with great players. Desperate to restore discipline, Trujillo tapped the leader of his death squads to become part of the team management.
When Paige’s team ultimately rallied to win, it barely registered with Trujillo, who a few months later ordered the killings of fifteen thousand Haitians at the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Paige and his teammates returned to the states to face banishment from the Negro Leagues, but they barnstormed across America wearing their Trujillo All-Stars uniforms.
The Pitcher and the Dictator is an extraordinary story of race, politics, and some of the greatest baseball players ever assembled, playing high-stakes games in support of one of the Caribbean’s cruelest dictators.
For more information about The Pitcher and the Dictator , visit
240 pages, Hardcover
Published April 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 21, 2018
Satchel Paige is one of the most talented and entertaining players to have participated in the Negro Leagues before Major League Baseball became integrated. However, in 1937, he and several other Negro League players, including Josh Gibson and James “Cool Papa” Bell, left the Pittsburgh Crawfords to play in the Dominican Republic. However, this was no ordinary league in which they participated – it was a baseball tournament in support of the country’s dictator, Rafael Trujillo. The account of Paige and his teammates, as well as the brutal regime of Trujillo, is told in this excellent book by Averell Smith.
The players, starting with Paige, were lured to the island with the promise of easy money. Paige was offered $30,000 to play in the tournament and immediately broke his contract with the Crawfords and went to the Dominican Republic. His salary was much better than he could make in the United States, without the racism he was experiencing. He found he could stay in any hotel he wished, go to any restaurant or club, and walk the streets being accepted for who he was. He was able to convince his personal catcher, William Perkins, and the aforementioned Gibson and Bell to join him.
However, this isn’t to say that all was happy for the players in the Dominican Republic. The manager of the dictator’s baseball team, Dr. Jose Aybar, recruited Paige in New Orleans and let him and the other players know that they were being watched closely and that they had to perform well for the dictator. Armed soldiers with guns and machetes were always in sight. This atmosphere and the background behind Trujillo’s rise to power is also described in the book, so when Paige arrives on the island, the reader has an inkling of what he is feeling.
This also affected Paige’s performance in the first few games he pitched as he was nervous and knew that anything short of winning the tournament would result in dire consequences. However, once Gibson and Bell arrived for reinforcements, Trujillo’s team got hot and won the tourney. Gibson’s bat provided the spark for the championship game against a team that featured the best Cuban player in the game at that point, Martin Dihigo. The baseball passages were written well, with the reader feeling the drama of the games. The talents of Paige, Gibson and Dihigo were certainly on display throughout the book, with short chapters written after the tourney on each player’s career and life after the end of the tourney.
The book is not just about the baseball as it will tell the reader about the brutal regime of Trujillo, including the slaughter of Haitians who were attempting to return to their home country after the dictator took power. While the brutality is well illustrated, as well as the romantic interests and military might of Trujillo, this part of the book, like the chapters on the three ballplayers noted above, left me wanting to know more as it felt like more could be written about his dictatorship.
If a reader wishes to learn more about this season in the Dominican Republic for three of the greatest stars of the Negro Leagues as well as the first Cuban player inducted into the American Baseball Hall of Fame, this is a good book to start that journey. While it doesn’t get into great detail about any of the topics, it is nonetheless a very informative book to introduce the reader to the baseball played in or the politics of the Dominican Republic at that time.
I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
The players, starting with Paige, were lured to the island with the promise of easy money. Paige was offered $30,000 to play in the tournament and immediately broke his contract with the Crawfords and went to the Dominican Republic. His salary was much better than he could make in the United States, without the racism he was experiencing. He found he could stay in any hotel he wished, go to any restaurant or club, and walk the streets being accepted for who he was. He was able to convince his personal catcher, William Perkins, and the aforementioned Gibson and Bell to join him.
However, this isn’t to say that all was happy for the players in the Dominican Republic. The manager of the dictator’s baseball team, Dr. Jose Aybar, recruited Paige in New Orleans and let him and the other players know that they were being watched closely and that they had to perform well for the dictator. Armed soldiers with guns and machetes were always in sight. This atmosphere and the background behind Trujillo’s rise to power is also described in the book, so when Paige arrives on the island, the reader has an inkling of what he is feeling.
This also affected Paige’s performance in the first few games he pitched as he was nervous and knew that anything short of winning the tournament would result in dire consequences. However, once Gibson and Bell arrived for reinforcements, Trujillo’s team got hot and won the tourney. Gibson’s bat provided the spark for the championship game against a team that featured the best Cuban player in the game at that point, Martin Dihigo. The baseball passages were written well, with the reader feeling the drama of the games. The talents of Paige, Gibson and Dihigo were certainly on display throughout the book, with short chapters written after the tourney on each player’s career and life after the end of the tourney.
The book is not just about the baseball as it will tell the reader about the brutal regime of Trujillo, including the slaughter of Haitians who were attempting to return to their home country after the dictator took power. While the brutality is well illustrated, as well as the romantic interests and military might of Trujillo, this part of the book, like the chapters on the three ballplayers noted above, left me wanting to know more as it felt like more could be written about his dictatorship.
If a reader wishes to learn more about this season in the Dominican Republic for three of the greatest stars of the Negro Leagues as well as the first Cuban player inducted into the American Baseball Hall of Fame, this is a good book to start that journey. While it doesn’t get into great detail about any of the topics, it is nonetheless a very informative book to introduce the reader to the baseball played in or the politics of the Dominican Republic at that time.
I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
July 20, 2020
In 1948 Satchel Paige became the first African-American to pitch in the modern Major Leagues. This central story in this book however is the 1937 season when Satchel Paige left the Negro Leagues in America for a $30,000 paycheck to play in the Dominican Republic for the dictator Trujillo. He sponsored a team so that he could win his re-election campaign. After arriving in the Dominican Republic Satchel soon intuited that he and his teammates might end up dead if they failed to win the championship. And since Trujillo was hand picked by an American administration, he probably would get away with it.
An interesting and intriguing twin tale. The story of Trujillo and his regime was probably more suspenseful than that of Satchel Paige. A little incongruity in the writing there.
So a good job of research by the author amidst a hopelessly jumbled timeline. The story jumped from one decade to the next and back as the chapters progressed. The writing itself was solid enough and the author has the nose for a good story.
3.5 stars
An interesting and intriguing twin tale. The story of Trujillo and his regime was probably more suspenseful than that of Satchel Paige. A little incongruity in the writing there.
So a good job of research by the author amidst a hopelessly jumbled timeline. The story jumped from one decade to the next and back as the chapters progressed. The writing itself was solid enough and the author has the nose for a good story.
3.5 stars
August 25, 2018
An inspiring read
With pretty much no interest in any sport, I read “con gusto” this book with the promise from my friend, Ace Smith, the author, that his book’s focus is not on baseball but more about the unique confluence of a brutal dictator who made it possible for Page to escape racism’s cruelty back then and to build a spectacular career. But of course Page never eluded the cruel effects of racism when back in the US, our nation where that mean bias remains.
With pretty much no interest in any sport, I read “con gusto” this book with the promise from my friend, Ace Smith, the author, that his book’s focus is not on baseball but more about the unique confluence of a brutal dictator who made it possible for Page to escape racism’s cruelty back then and to build a spectacular career. But of course Page never eluded the cruel effects of racism when back in the US, our nation where that mean bias remains.
December 27, 2022
This was...odd.
The baseball stuff was great, but felt like more of a summary essay about a topic than a complete book. The Trujillo stuff was... weirdly simplified? And weirdly unrelated to the baseball stuff considering the title and the early noted fact that Trujillo didn't care about baseball (would love to dive into the 'why', too lower class? something he couldn't fake an immense talent at? general indifference in a very boring way? I will have to find the answer in another book). This almost felt like a cliffs notes of a very long book that someone didn't read for class. And what was and wasn't emphasized was equally baffling - pages and pages (and a full page photo) of Lina Lovaton but literally one sentence about the Mirabals, who "died because they wouldn't stop supporting their husbands" (???). Why? Why is the dictator's mistress so important in a book about a dictator that doesn't care about baseball (and therefore is not personally involved in the events of the book) and a baseball player playing a championship?
I kept flipping back to the publication page to confirm that the book wasn't written in the 70's or 80's because a lot of the sentiment felt very dated.
I recommend (which I will do) reading more thorough books about Satchel Paige (maybe his biography) or Dominican history separately.
The baseball stuff was great, but felt like more of a summary essay about a topic than a complete book. The Trujillo stuff was... weirdly simplified? And weirdly unrelated to the baseball stuff considering the title and the early noted fact that Trujillo didn't care about baseball (would love to dive into the 'why', too lower class? something he couldn't fake an immense talent at? general indifference in a very boring way? I will have to find the answer in another book). This almost felt like a cliffs notes of a very long book that someone didn't read for class. And what was and wasn't emphasized was equally baffling - pages and pages (and a full page photo) of Lina Lovaton but literally one sentence about the Mirabals, who "died because they wouldn't stop supporting their husbands" (???). Why? Why is the dictator's mistress so important in a book about a dictator that doesn't care about baseball (and therefore is not personally involved in the events of the book) and a baseball player playing a championship?
I kept flipping back to the publication page to confirm that the book wasn't written in the 70's or 80's because a lot of the sentiment felt very dated.
I recommend (which I will do) reading more thorough books about Satchel Paige (maybe his biography) or Dominican history separately.
September 15, 2020
A strange book, made up to two almost unrelated, but simultaneous parts. There is the part of the book about Satchel Paige and his biography. I don't know how much of his life story is available so I can't comment on how complete the biography portion is, but the whole book is short.
Then we have the story of Trujillo, and the horrors of his rule, largely made possible (and even encouraged?) by the United States, from the 1930s to 1970s. I am sure there is much more written and available on this aspect of history but I can honestly say I am glad more of the inhumane suffering wasn't included. It is criminal what the we, the United States, did and the suffering we caused, much of it deliberately.
Either story could be told independently, as Trujillo had little interest in baseball and, except for them both being in the Dominican Republic at the same time, it seems they never met or interacted in any significant way.
Still an interesting, and blessedly short, book that tells a story and doesn't draw it out or linger too long.
Then we have the story of Trujillo, and the horrors of his rule, largely made possible (and even encouraged?) by the United States, from the 1930s to 1970s. I am sure there is much more written and available on this aspect of history but I can honestly say I am glad more of the inhumane suffering wasn't included. It is criminal what the we, the United States, did and the suffering we caused, much of it deliberately.
Either story could be told independently, as Trujillo had little interest in baseball and, except for them both being in the Dominican Republic at the same time, it seems they never met or interacted in any significant way.
Still an interesting, and blessedly short, book that tells a story and doesn't draw it out or linger too long.
December 19, 2020
A great read. The book was very topical with MLB finally giving the Negro Leagues the recognition that they deserved. Satchel Paige was an all-time great. He must have been an artist on the mound.
Satchel was an icon for the sport even before Jackie Robinson. It is a shame he did not pitch in "Majors" during his prime. I am sure he is looking down from above with a big smile along with his fellow teammates & all the players of color from this era that they finally have gained their long-awaited due.
God Bless Them All!
Satchel was an icon for the sport even before Jackie Robinson. It is a shame he did not pitch in "Majors" during his prime. I am sure he is looking down from above with a big smile along with his fellow teammates & all the players of color from this era that they finally have gained their long-awaited due.
God Bless Them All!
October 5, 2022
A quick read covering the intersection of Satchel Paige, the nominal 'Pitcher' and Trujillo, the nominal and monstrous, 'dictator'. While there paths did not cross directly, the book does a good job of tying the fates of these two men, plus those they both knew, over the course of one season as the dictator tried to use the skills of the ball players to further his brutal regime in the eyes of the public. A little known piece of history that was incredibly interesting.
June 30, 2025
As much about the turmoil of early to mid century Dominican Republic as it was about Satchel Paige.
I love history and I love baseball, so this was great.
Trujillo was a piece of shit.
The Americans and their bankers were also pieces of shit that opened the door for Trujillo.
Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and Cool Papa Bell are idols, and their work in the Dominican speaks for itself. Great little read.
I love history and I love baseball, so this was great.
Trujillo was a piece of shit.
The Americans and their bankers were also pieces of shit that opened the door for Trujillo.
Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and Cool Papa Bell are idols, and their work in the Dominican speaks for itself. Great little read.
December 28, 2018
Was disappointed in what was more a regurgitated Paige biography than new story. Felt at times baseball stories were repeated and book jumped all over the place from a timeline perspective. Some really interesting Dominican history mixed around Paige stories from previous books.
February 8, 2024
Extremely interesting story on a part of both baseball and real history, but not a great or consistent read. I recommend the Mobituary podcast to learn about the baseball part and looking for a better book on Trujillo to learn about the politics.
August 2, 2018
Incredible history of an incredible ball player!! A little too technical for me but a history well worth knowing.
June 9, 2019
An entertaining, fast paced work that is written in an engaging style but sadly tends to be superficial an adds little to what is already in the literature.
February 4, 2020
Outstanding research on a tough topic by the author.
September 21, 2020
Solid book. The appendix that focuses entirely on Paige’s pitching repertoire should be a stand-alone piece. An excellent documentation of Paige’s methods.
May 27, 2023
Fun story that any negro league, latin american baseball fan should know!
May 21, 2024
Great read for fans of Satchel and the Negro Leagues.
December 9, 2024
very interesting.
November 20, 2019
Maybe 2 1/2 stars. I so wanted to like this book. Trujillo and Satchel Paige? How could a book about these two characters end up being a slog? I know enough about these two men to know they are both fascinating subjects. The idea that these Negro League players had to travel to a dictatorship to find freedom is beyond ironic. But somehow the author wasn’t able to make these characters come to life.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews