Tommy Reis, the last Phillie to perform in Baker Bowl when it was the Phillies' home park, died at age 95 on November 6.
Reis was a right handed rookie pitcher in 1938. Coincidentally, that season was the last one where the Phillies operated out of Baker Bowl, or at least the first half of that season. The Phillies hosted their final game at The Bowl on June 30 of that year, before moving to Shibe Park (later renamed Connie Mack Stadium). four days later, hosting an Independence Day doubleheader at their new home. They would continue to share the stadioum with the American League's Philadelphia Athletics until 1954.
Reis appeared in four games as a Phillie before being traded to the Boston Braves, where he also appeared in four games. Those eight games and one season represents Reis' entire major leagues career. He was 24 that season.
Reis later served in World War Two with the Army. He was from Newport, Kentucky, which is directly across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Ohio. He spent most of his life living and working in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area before moving to Ocala, Florida at about age 90. He was an executive with Federated Department Stores in Cincinnati for decades.
At the time of his passing Reis was the ninth oldest living major leaguer and third oldest living Phillies. Among living Phillies Only Art Mahan, 96 (Phils first baseman,1940), Reis' senior by 14 months, and Stan Benjamin. 95, (Phils outfielder, 1939-42) Reis' senior by three months, were older.