Indisputable, though, is this: Paige reached the major leagues at an age when most pitchers have long stopped stressing their rotator cuffs. Also inarguable: the 6-foot-3, 180-pound right-hander is remembered as much for his witticisms as his extraordinary pitching talent and longevity.
Only four black men and women were elected to the United States Senate in all of American history â former Sens. Edward William Brooke (R-MA) and Carol Moseley Braun (D-IL) join Booker in this very exclusive group, along with President Barack Obama.
Since then, the percentage of seats won by African-Americans has increased during each subsequent 10-year redistricting period culminating with the 43 black U.S. Representatives (9.8 percent) who have been elected to serve in the U.S. House for the 113th Congress (although two did not serve: Jesse Jackson, who resigned, and Tim Scott, who was appointed to the U.S. Senate).