View Full Version : Si Simmons, oldest pro baseball player...
Gee Walker
10-31-2006, 03:42 PM
Si Simmons played in the Negro Leagues. His career as a pro dated back as far as 1912. He died today, aged 111. He played against Pop Lloyd and Oscar Charleston - and he was born the same year as Babe Ruth. Amazing...
The full link is here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/31/sports/baseball/31cnd-simmons.html?ex=1319950800&en=b51820d61342e17b&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss
Would anybody recognize any of the players in the 1913 picture of the Homestead Greys?
rsuriyop
10-31-2006, 03:55 PM
Interesting story. Makes me wonder why everyone used to consider "Double-Duty" to be the all-time oldest when apparently he wasn't.
hudsonharden
10-31-2006, 04:17 PM
At the time, Ted Radcliffe was thought to be the oldest. It wasn't until recently that Silas Simmons was discovered to still be alive and to be the same Silas Simmons who played in the Negro Leagues.
RIP i would have loved to sit with that guy for a chat..
Atlanta Braves Freak
10-31-2006, 05:08 PM
RIP i would have loved to sit with that guy for a chat..
I watched an interview that Buck O'Neil had done and it amazes me how those guys could recall their careers so vividly, despite it being over 50 years ago.
rsuriyop
10-31-2006, 06:13 PM
Here's some more info on him that I've found: http://www.tbo.com/sports/MGBVTHIG9TE.html
hudsonharden
10-31-2006, 07:44 PM
I watched an interview that Buck O'Neil had done and it amazes me how those guys could recall their careers so vividly, despite it being over 50 years ago.
I know, I can barely tell you what I was doing 5 years ago. Guys like these must not only have a vast perspective of baseball through the years, but of American history in general.
Just think about it, when Si was a young'n he basically had none of the rights that African-American citizens enjoy today, automobiles and airplanes didn't exist (although I do believe they had zeppelins), there hadn't been ANY World Wars, and Mark Twain was still alive and well. Really makes me think what the world will be like 111 years after my birth (that'll be, oh, 2094).
KCGHOST
10-31-2006, 09:20 PM
I know, I can barely tell you what I was doing 5 years ago. Guys like these must not only have a vast perspective of baseball through the years, but of American history in general.
Five years ago?! Heck, I can hide my own Easter eggs.
RIP, Si.
hellborn
11-03-2006, 12:40 PM
How wonderful that the researchers found Si before he died and gave him a little time in the limelight in his old age. Good job, whomever they were.
I was sad when I read that Si was survived by grandchildren, but no children...I can't imagine outliving my daughter. Perhaps long life can be a curse as well as a blessing.
hudsonharden
11-03-2006, 01:51 PM
How wonderful that the researchers found Si before he died and gave him a little time in the limelight in his old age. Good job, whomever they were.
I was sad when I read that Si was survived by grandchildren, but no children...I can't imagine outliving my daughter. Perhaps long life can be a curse as well as a blessing.
Si's grandchildren are probably already considered "senior citizens." Baseball aside, this is a great story on longevity.