MLB's oldest player turns 100: Art Schallock's complete retirement

Art Schallock has the easy laugh of someone as delighted with his current circumstances as he is with his memories.

“I'm still alive and I'm healthy,” he said, beginning the words with a smile.

Schallock, the oldest living former major league player, has certainly had the last laugh. He celebrated his 100th birthday with a party Thursday at Cogir on Napa Road, the Sonoma assisted living facility he calls home.

The Dodgers, who signed Schallock in 1946, sent him a gift jersey: number 100, of course. A representative of the New York Yankees, who won three World Series with Schallock on the roster, made a surprise visit and presented him with a signed 2024 team jersey.

The party, adorned with Schallock's important collection of memorabilia, was open to the public and attracted a large crowd. Because Sonoma was Sonoma, the wineries set up stands and the stadium food (hot dogs, peanuts, and popcorn) was free. The mayor said a few words. People lined up to shake Schallock's hand. He signed baseballs, books and photographs, chatted and laughed amiably while he drank first a glass of wine and then a beer.

Art Schallock talks with former MLB coach and player Dusty Baker, left.

(Josh Edelson / for The Times)

Former MLB manager and player Dusty Baker, a longtime Northern California resident, came to congratulate Schallock, whose memories remain as clear as a summer afternoon playing under the lights of Yankee Stadium, which he did from 1951 to 1955. In fact, his favorite I remember walking into the Bronx baseball cathedral for the first time, “The House That Ruth Built.”

“I was excited just walking into Yankee Stadium,” he said during an interview with The Times. “I got to play with Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle. It was a pleasure to watch those guys play. They were the best players in baseball, simply the best. “I was amazed.”

Art Schallock walks away in his wheelchair in front of a balloon display.

Nearly five years after signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the left-handed pitcher was traded to the Yankees in 1951, where he played with legendary manager Casey Stengel, roomed with Hall of Fame catcher Berra and learned his trade with the veteran pitcher Allie Reynolds. .

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

Schallock couldn't remember if Berra blurted out any of his famous yogis, like “It ain't over 'til it's over” or “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” But he vividly remembered going to find Berra's favorite reading material: comics.

“He called them his funny books,” Schallock said. “He would go down and buy some and take them to the hotel room.”

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

He retired Robinson on a lineout and struck out Hodges before walking Campanella and allowing a scoring double to Snider. They were four straight Hall of Famers before facing Furillo, who grounded out. Schallock pitched a scoreless eighth, retiring Billy Loes, Jim Gilliam and Pee Wee Reese.

In short, quite a flirtation with the Summer Boys.

“That was very exciting,” Schallock said. “The reason Casey Stengel called me to pitch was because I was the only one in the bullpen who knew the Dodger hitters. I played with the Brooklyn players and grew up with them.”

Schallock was familiar with the Dodgers because he spent four and a half seasons in their farm system, advancing to Triple-A Montreal, where his teammates included future Cy Young Award winner Don Newcombe and first baseman Chuck Connors, who later would star in “The Rifleman.” and Hollywood stars.

When Schallock was traded to the Yankees for catcher Eddie Malone, pitcher Bob Landeck and effective July 12, 1951, they made room on the roster by sending Mantle, then a fading rookie, to the minors. Mantle was soon called back and he and Schallock became friends.

“I drank root beer soda back then,” Schallock said.

A photograph of Art Schallock from his time as a player.

Four years later, Schallock was with the Baltimore Orioles and faced Mantle, who by then was a feared slugger. The switch-hitter threw an 0-1 pitch well beyond the left-field wall and smiled at Schallock as he rounded the bases.

In total, Schallock played alongside 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 a handful of other established players in Cooperstown.

As for opponents, one Hall of Fame hitter in particular didn't fare well against Schallock. Ted Williams went 0-for-2 in the regular season and also had no hits in spring training meetings. Schallock said he got Williams to chase changeups and curveballs out of the strike zone.

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

A commemorative baseball jersey is on display.

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

Schallock's major league career might have started earlier, but like so many players, he served in the Army in World War II. Two weeks after graduating from Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, he was drafted into the Navy and spent three years as a radio operator on the USS Coral Sea, an aircraft carrier deployed to the Pacific.

After returning home, Schallock went on a blind date with Mrs. Bernard and they married a year later. The couple had two daughters and was married for 76 years until Doña Ella passed away a year ago.

Art Schallock is surrounded by family and friends.

Schallock became the oldest living major league player when George Elder, who played 41 games in 1949, died at age 101 in 2022.

According to the Baseball Almanac, 78 former players are over 90 years old and 17 are at least 95. No. 2 on the list with 99 is Bill Greason, a pitcher who made three appearances in 1954, and No. 3 with 98 is Bobby Shantz. – 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 aged 90 or older has three World Series rings. Someone at the party mentioned that Schallock was wearing a championship ring.

He smiled and replied, “Just one! “My daughter has another one and I don’t know where the third one is.”

Freelance journalist Bob McGregor contributed to this report.

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