Deadspin
This bespeckled elderly gentleman is Silas Simmons, and he was recently discovered to be the oldest living Negro Leagues ballplayer. He is 110 ... wha? He's 110??!! And he's 111 next month? Jesus.
Anyway, he played for the Homestead Grays in 1913, the New York Lincoln Giants in 1926 and the San Francisco Giants in 2005.
Simmons held that old sepia photo of the 1913 Homestead Grays for those long 20 seconds, he gradually decided that one face did ring a bell. He fixed on it and pointed his weathered hand at the player sitting in the middle row, second from the right. He said nothing as he pointed.
Who is that? he was asked.
"That's Si Simmons," he said.
Really? Was he sure?
"That's me," he declared. "Oh, we had good times."
What's the secret to Simmons' longevity? He watches Tampa Bay Devil Rays games. Honestly: That's pretty much the last thing on earth we would have thought would keep someone alive.
Baseball's Oldest Old-Timer Opens a Window [New York Times]
Comments
Actually Devil Ray games have been proven to slow down the rotation of the Earth, thus prolonging one's life. Not a very fun way to do it, though.
Hey, it's better than playing for the Devil Rays.
Cooper held that old wrinkled penis for those long 20 seconds... He said nothing as he had sex with himself.
Who is that? he was asked.
"That's Mike Cooper," he said.
Really? Was he sure?
"That's me," he declared. "Oh, we had good times."
Does anyone else remember when Benny pickled the Beast and then we found out Ol' Silas was blind?
Julio Franco thinks these kids like Si Simmons don't have proper baseball fundamentals.
Wasn't this guy Mr Burns's teammate on the Zephyrs?
Playing for the SF Giants at age 109, huh? So was it the clear or the cream?
(waits for obligatory JoePa incontinence joke)
You're killing me Smalls!
Better keep him away from Browns games if he wants to keep his ride
Jesse Orosco owned him though.
From the looks of that picture, this whole ESPN thing has really taken a toll on Jason Whitlock.
Mole Man is not just a cartoon character anymore.
I wonder what the Negro League groupies were like.
Hope you happy with his loose skin and old...balls. Gross!
"Baseball's Oldest Old-Timer Opens a Window"... 'cause he farted? Because the old people, they're known to do that-a lot.
"That's me," he declared. "Oh, we had good times." And then he pooped his pants.
What does this have to do with Bill and Bobby Simmons?
Speaking of old sports stars, Byron Nelson just died...
+1, Dennis. I couldn't think of the team name.
This reminds me of when the White Sox reacquired Harold Baines.
And he's 111 next month? Jesus.
No, his name is Si. But he did meet Jesus once.
I think Byron just got done watching a replay of this year's Ryder Cup.
Sports Dad?
"And when I played, the bases were rocks!"
I was saying Boo-urns...
The funny thing is, I don't remember reading anything about Silas Simmons on Caste Sports.
He kept asking the reporter, "Hey, where the white women at?"
Dear Mr. President, There are too many states nowadays. Please eliminate three.
P.S. I am not a crackpot.
This guy looks a lot like Danny Almonte ...
He actually remembers when the chicago cubs fielded a world series bound team, now THAT'S old!
...recently discovered...
"Recently discovered"? I'm having this vision of a few guys standing around the field when all of a sudden one of them shouts, "Holy $hit! Hey guys, look at what I found!"
So anyway, I started to walk into town. I had an onion tied to my belt, which was the style at the time. We didnt have any white onions on account of the war. All we had were those big yellow ones.
Since he watches Devil Ray games, I'm assuming he lives in Florida. If this is the case, do he travel via underground railroad? or does he know he can take the bus nowadays?
Now, my story begins in 19-dickety-two. We had to say "dickety" because that Kaiser had stolen our word "twenty". I chased that rascal to get it back, but gave up after dickety-six miles...
His head sort of looks like an empty Hefty bag.
IT'S THE DEVIL rays...
Love the Giants reference... oldest team on earth, heh heh.
back then we called it liberty cabbage...
You don't want to take a bus in Tampa or St. Pete. Worst. Mass-Transit. Ever.
Psh. Satchel Page was older than this when he played.
That is one messed up Mr. Potato head doll...
I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missoura!
No respect for the elders...I love this place.
"I had an onion tied to my belt, as was the style at the time."
You know why he'll never see 120? Because the Devil Rays play in an f-in dome, that's why.
Is his color wearing off? He just looks like he has a bunch of freckles.
The surviving members of the Lollypop Guild are not impressed.
He looks like an overripe banana.
Its "bespectacled." Oh, wait ... no, you're right. Its "bespeckled."
"I'm so ronery..."
He's awful jowly.
that guy's almost as old as "you're with me leather" oddly enough, they're both still funny
On a more serious note...here's hoping Buck O'Neil lives for a long time. To hell with this geezer who had a hard time identifying himself in a picture; Buck O'Neil's a true living legend.
Well, I suppose I could name it the "Matlock Expressway."
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