Silas Simmons, former Negro leagues player, dies at 111

[LTR]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Silas Simmons, a pitcher-outfielder in Negro leagues who was said to be the oldest living professional baseball player, died two weeks after his 111th birthday.

He died Sunday in a retirement nursing home, Zion Hill Mortuary said Wednesday.

Simmons, a left-hander, played for several teams from 1912-29, including the New York Lincoln Giants of the Eastern Colored League, the Cuban Stars and the Blue Ribbons of Germantown, who later became the Homestead Grays.

He was born in Middleton, Del., in 1895, the same year as Babe Ruth, and honored by the Center for Negro League Baseball Research on his birthday Oct. 14. A Tampa Bay Devil Rays fan, Simmons was presented with a No. 111 jersey. Researchers this year identified him as the oldest living man to have played professionally.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-obit-silassimmons&prov=ap&type=lgns

[YDogg]

1. Here's to Mr. Simmons.

:thumbsup:

[Divine Discontent]

2. dang

another good guy gone... 111!!! wish he coulda made it a week to see the dems take back the house! I wonder if you even care about politics at that age or you're just looking to what you might do for your day you've been given "extra"? regardless, what a longevity!

[chelsea0011]

3. one hundred and effin' eleven! Here's to you.

:grouphug:

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. amazing

wow, what a life. To think he's as old as Babe Ruth is amazing.

[Judi Lynn]

5. There's a photo of him from 1913!

Chip Litherland for The New York Times
Silas Simmons identified himself as the second player from the right in the middle row in this 1913 photograph
of the Homestead Grays.

Amazing. Rest in Peace, Mr. Simmons.

[Jcrowley]

7. Fantastic photo

Thanks for that.

RIP Silas Simmons

K&R

[Blue_Tires]

19. great photo!

[pitohui]

6. WOW!

can you imagine the stories he had to tell?

talk about an incredible journey -- to travel from 1895 to 2006

[daleo]

8. Talk about extra innings - 111 years

He must have seen a lot. Here's to you, wherever you are.

[LordLovesAWorkingMan]

12. Nice touch.

I like it.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. Rest in peace, Mr Simmons...

Here's hoping that you're a baseball player in your next life, too! :toast:

[fortyfeetunder]

10. I bet Buck was at the pearly gates, welcoming Silas in

Buck O'Neil (another Negro League great) passed away almost a month ago.

[Drum]

11. K & R for a pioneer!

[MinneapolisMatt]

13. Holy smokes!

111 ?!?!?!

What an amazing life.

[Mind_your_head]

14. Wow - 1895 - 2006

Not too many people can lay claim to having lived in three centuries! (19th, 20th, and 21st century)

RIP Mr. Simmons.

[wicket]

16. Whoa, very cool

He got to see some quite interesting things in his time on this earth.

[flyarm]

Silas, may you now run the bases and throw nothing but no- hitters for infinity!

RIP ..you gave so much to all of us!!

You will be missed dear man..you will never be forgotten!!


fly

[goforit]

15. Speechless!!...... This is encouraging for all the southpaws out there!!!

Hats off to Mr. Simmons!!!!

[goclark]

17. What a legend, RIP your life was a Home Run! nt

[Odin2005]

18. Wow, what an amazing person.

111 years, damn, just damn. We all wish to live as long.