The oldest living MLB player turns 100: Art Schlock’s total memory

Art Schlock is the spontaneous laughter of someone who is as pleased with his present circumstances as he is with his memories.

“I’m still alive and well,” he said, prefacing the words with a laugh.

Schlock, the oldest living former Major League Baseball player, certainly has the last laugh. He celebrated his 100th birthday Thursday with a party at Cogir on Napa Road, the Sonoma assisted-living facility he calls home.

The Dodgers, who had signed Schalock in 1946, sent him a gift jersey: number 100, of course. A representative of the New York Yankees – who won three World Series with Schlock on the roster – suddenly visited him and gave him a jersey signed by the 2024 team.

The party, decorated with a substantial collection of Schlock memorabilia, was open to the public and attracted large crowds. Sonoma being Sonoma, the winery set up booths and ballpark food — hot dogs, peanuts and popcorn — was gratis, The mayor said a few words. People were standing in line to shake Schlock’s hand. They signed baseballs, books and photographs, engaged in conversation and laughed cordially while drinking first a glass of wine and then a beer.

Former MLB manager and player Dusty Baker, a longtime resident of Northern California, came to congratulate Schlock, whose memories are as vivid as those summer evenings playing under the lights at Yankee Stadium, which he played from 1951 to 1955. did. In fact, his favorite is the memory of stepping into baseball’s Bronx cathedral, “The House That Ruth Built,” for the first time.

“I was so thrilled to walk into Yankee Stadium,” he said during an interview with The Times. “I got a chance to play with Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle. It was fun to watch those guys play. He was a top baseball player, absolutely top. I was surprised.”

About five years after signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the left-handed pitcher was traded to the Yankees in 1951, where he played under legendary manager Casey Stengel, worked with Hall of Fame catcher Berra, and steadying veteran hurlers. Learned his craft under Eli Reynolds. ,

“Yogi taught me how to pitch to major league hitters,” Schlock said. “He knew all the hitters, their strengths and weaknesses.”

Schlock can’t remember whether Berra broke any of his famous catchphrases, such as, “It’s not over until it’s over,” or “When you come to a fork in the road When you arrive, take it.” But he clearly remembered bringing Berra’s favorite reading material – comic books.

“He called them his funny books,” Schalock said. “I’ll go down and buy some and bring them back to the hotel room for him.”

Undersized at 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, Schalock relied on cunning, a fast-breaking curveball and a deceptive changeup. He was called up to Game 4 of the 1953 World Series against the Dodgers, facing Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges, Roy Campanella, Duke Snider, and Carl Furillo in the seventh inning.

He retired Robinson on a lineout and struck out Hodges before walking Campanella and giving up a run-scoring double to Snyder. He was a four-time Hall of Famer before facing Furillo, who was eliminated from the field. Schalock pitched a scoreless eighth behind Billy Loews, Jim Gilliam and Pee Wee Reese.

Overall, Summer gets along well with the boys.

“That was pretty thrilling,” Schalock said. “Casey Stengel called me up to pitch because I was the only one in the bullpen who knew the Dodger hitters. I played with and grew up with the players from Brooklyn.

Schalock was familiar with the Dodgers as he had spent four and a half seasons in their farm system, moving up to Triple-A Montreal – where teammates included future Cy Young Award winner Don Newcombe and first baseman Chuck Connors, who played “the Rifleman” – and Hollywood stars.

When Schlock was traded to the Yankees for catcher Eddie Malone, pitcher Bob Landeck and cash on July 12, 1951, they created a roster spot by sending Mantle, then a declining rookie, to the minors. Mantel was soon recalled and he and Schalock became friends.

“At that time he was drinking root beer floats,” Schlock said.

Four years later, Schlock was with the Baltimore Orioles and faced Mantle, who had by then become a dangerous slugger. The switch-hitter yanked an 0-1 pitch well past the left field wall and smiled at Schlock as he rounded the bases.

In total, Schalock played with seven Yankees Hall of Famers (DiMaggio, Berra, Mantle, Enos Slaughter, Johnny Mize, Phil Rizzuto and Whitey Ford) and another with the Orioles (Brooks Robinson). With the Dodgers, he spent spring training with some other established players in Cooperstown.

As far as opponents go, one particular Hall of Fame hitter did not fare well against Schlock. Ted Williams was 0 for 2 in regular season games and also did not hit in the spring training meetings. Schalock said he told Williams to chase changeups and curveballs out of the strike zone.

“I changed the tempo and kept the ball down,” he said.

After finishing 1955 with the Orioles, he set career highs with 24 starts and 163 innings in Triple-A a year before retiring at age 32. He and his wife eventually moved to Northern California, where he grew up.

Schlock’s major league career may have started early, but – like many players – he served in the Army in World War II. Two weeks after graduating from Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, he enlisted in the Navy and spent three years as a radio operator aboard the USS Coral Sea, an aircraft carrier deployed to the Pacific.

After returning home, Schlock went on a blind date with Donna Bernard and they married a year later. The couple had two daughters and were married for 76 years until Donna’s death a year ago.

When George Elder – who played 41 games in 1949 – died in 2022 at the age of 101, Schlock became the oldest living major league player.

According to the Baseball Almanac, 78 former players are over 90 years old and 17 are at least 95 years old. At No. 2 on the list is Bill Greeson – a pitcher who made three appearances in 1954 – and at No. 3 is Bobby Shantz at 98. – A pitcher whose long career included winning the American League Most Valuable Player award in 1952.

No one else on the list of former players age 90 and older has three World Series rings. Someone at the party mentioned that Schlock was wearing a championship ring.

Smiling, he replied, “Only one! My daughter has another one, and I don’t know where the third one is.”

Freelance reporter Bob McGregor contributed to this report.