The Living Philadelphia Athletics

[Cowtipper]

I thought this thread might be of some use.

There are 29 Philadelphia Athletics players left:

(name, age)

Ace Parker, 98
Carl Miles, 92
Fred Caligiuri, 92
Bill Mills, 91
Dick Adams, 90

Larry Eschen, 90
Eddie Robinson, 90
Bob Savage, 89
Neal Watlington, 88
George Yankowski, 88

Bill Renna, 86
Lou Brissie, 86
Ed Samcoff, 86
Vern Benson, 86
Bill DeMars, 85

Bobby Shantz, 85
Tommy Giordano, 85
Ozzie Van Brabant, 84
Carl Scheib, 84
Jim Robertson, 83

Bill Harrington, 83
Johnny Gray, 83
Joe DeMaestri, 82
Bill Wilson, 82
Len Matarazzo, 82

Art Ditmar, 81
Skeeter Kell, 81
Bill Oster, 78
Hal Raether, 78

Reported deaths since this list began:

Ray Coleman: June 4, 1922 - September 18, 2010
Charlie Metro: April 28, 1919 - March 18, 2011
Eddie Joost: June 5, 1916 - April 12, 2011
Reno Bertoia: January 8, 1935 - April 15, 2011
Frank Fanovich: January 11, 1922 - August 27, 2011
Benny McCoy: November 9, 1915 - November 9, 2011
Sonny Dixon: November 5, 1924 - November 21, 2011
Dave Philley: May 16, 1920 - March 15, 2012
Allie Clark: June 16, 1923 - April 2, 2012
Al Brancato: May 29, 1919 - June 14, 2012
Bubba Harris: February 15, 1926 - January 12, 2013
Joe Astroth: September 1, 1922 - May 3, 2013

[bbxpert]

Ray Coleman is dead as well.

[Cowtipper]

Thanks for letting me know. So now there are only 37 living Philadelphia A's left, unless of course if there are some that I missed when compiling the list.

[bbxpert]

Actually, you did miss one. Bubba Harris is still alive.

[Cowtipper]

Alright, back to 38. Thanks again.

[philliesfiend55]

Ace Parker, the oldest living Phila. Athletic, is the 2nd oldest living major leaguer and more importantly recently became the oldest living Pro Football Player. He is also a Pro Football Hall Of Famer.

[BaronSamedi]

Any info on what teams they played for?

[philliesfiend55]

EDDIE JOOST (1916-2011)

The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News report that Eddie Joost passed away yesterday, Tuesday April 12 at age 94. (Born June 5, 1916).
He hit .239 lifetime with 134 home runs and with the Philadelphia Atrhletics he was an American League All-Star in 1949 & 1952. He played for one Worlds Champion: the 1940 Cincinnati Reds.
His MLB career spanned 20 seasons from 1936 to 1955 (Ages 20 to 39). He was the A's player-manager in 1954, the Athletics final season in Philadelphia. Up until the time of his death he was the third oldest Athletics player and the 10th oldest living former major leaguer.

[Cowtipper]

Updated to reflect the passing of Frank Fanovich.

[Cowtipper]

Updated to reflect the passing of Benny McCoy. 35 left

[Cowtipper]

Updated to reflect the passing of Sonny Dixon. 34 left

[Cowtipper]

Updated to reflect the passing of Dave Philley. 33 left

[Cowtipper]

Updated to reflect the passing of Allie Clark. 32 left

[Cowtipper]

Updated to reflect the passing of Al Brancato.

[philliesfiend55]

Tom Saffell, 91, passed away in Sarasota, Florida sometime around Mid-September 2012. He was an outfielder for 17 years in the minors and reached the majors for four seasons with the 1949-1951 Pittsburgh Pirates and as part of the first Athletics team after their move from Philadelphia to Kansas City in 1955.
His progress towards the major leagues was delayed by World War Two military service in the Army Air Corps and he debuted in the majors at age 28. He hit .238 with 6 home runs and 40 RBI in 602 major league at bats.
Saffell stayed active in the baseball world practically his entire life and enjoyed a very long career.. He was Gulf Coast League (Rookie) President for 31 seasons (1979 to 2009) retiring at the age of 88.

[Cowtipper]

Updated to reflect the passing of Bubba Harris.

[philliesfiend55]

15 former Philadelphia Athletics are currently listed among Wikipedia's list of the 100 oldest living major league baseball players. (as of 1/20/2013). The Oldest living Athletic is Clarence "Ace "Parker", a shortstop, who is the 2nd oldest living major leaguer (100 years, 248 days - birthdate 5/17/1912). The 15th oldest living Phila. A's player is Bill Renna, an outfielder, who is also the 100th oldest living major leaguer, according to Wikipedia. Wikipedia gives Renna's birthdate as 10/14/1924 and his age as 88 years, 98 days through January 20.

[Cowtipper]

Updated to reflect the passing of Joe Astroth.