That's the trouble with becoming "the oldest living" anything. There's only one more story left.

Stiles played with Rick Ferrell, who played with Early Wynn, who played with Tommy John, who played with Rickey Henderson, who we all hope will play in September.

He also played with Teenwolf, who played with Martin Sheen, who played with Marlon Brando, who played with Jack Webb.

so, who's the oldest now?

Julio Franco?

He played with Frank O'Rourke, who played with Johnny Kling, who played with Jimmy Ryan, who played with Cap Anson.

He played with Frank O'Rourke, who played with Johnny Kling, who played with Jimmy Ryan, who played with Cap Anson.

That's Stiles. Julio Franco played with Cap Anson, though Cap wasn't happy about it.

Mr. Stiles often was matched against Philadelphia Athletics Hall of Famer Lefty Grove.

Not sure how true that is. Stiles faced him twice in his last year in the majors and that was it. Before that I believe the best pitcher was Hoyt when he was washed up.

“I had a great game against him,” Mr. Stiles told the Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold last November. “I held him to three hits

I believe the first time Stiles faced the Yanks was on May 5th, 1931. At best he gave up one hit to Babe.

Stiles I believe never started against the Yanks and it is virtually impossible that he gave up 3 hits to Ruth in one game.

Perhaps this can be one of Neyer's tracers.

Wow, so Stiles is not allowed to make a joke at his own expense to describe Babe Ruth's greatness?

Julio Franco played with Cap Anson, though Cap wasn't happy about it.

Julio Franco played with the New York Knickerbockers. In fact, Julio Franco had to wait around for several years for baseball to be invented.

When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Julio Franco.
Julio Franco doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.
There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Julio Franco has allowed to live.
Julio Franco counted to infinity - twice.
Julio Franco is so fast, he can run around the world and punch himself in the back of the head.
Julio Franco doesn’t wear a watch, HE decides what time it is.

so, who's the oldest now?

I believe the oldest is Billy Werber born June 20th, 1908

He wasn't cheated.

There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Julio Franco has allowed to live.

I'm pretty sure Julio initiated evolution.

So, is Billy Werber the only player left who was alive when the Cubs won a World Series title?

Yes

Stiles was great at the baseball writers association dinner in St Louis.

That's the trouble with becoming "the oldest living" anything. There's only one more story left.

yeah...Oldest Living Player Found to Have Falsified Birth Records -- Actually Eighth-Oldest.

Are there any pitchers left that faced Babe Ruth? Eldon Auker died recently, now this man. BTF never lets me down, so...

I thought it was widely reported that Auker was the last pitcher to face Ruth. So, I don't think so.
The only players left who were active when Ruth played are Werber and Lonny Frey. I suppose Connie Marrero might have faced Ruth somewhere.

1 Bill Werber 6/20/1908 1930, 1933-42
2 Tony Malinosky 10/5/1909 1937
3 Lonny Frey 8/23/1910 1933-43, 1946-48
4 Herb Hash 2/13/1911 1940-41
5 Connie Marrero 4/25/1911 1950-54
6 Nino Bongiovanni 12/21/1911 1938-39
7 Ace Parker 5/17/1912 1937-38
8 Don Gutteridge 6/19/1912 1936-48
9 George Cisar 8/25/1912 1937
10 Tommy Henrich 2/20/1913 1937-42, 1946-50

Werber was a hitter...he had two really short stints with the Yanks (1930, 1933) and was probably in the opposing lineup from Ruth in some Yankees/Red Sox games.

Frey was a hitter too. He was on the Dodgers when Ruth was on the Braves in 1935. Did the Braves play the Dodgers in one of the 28 games before Ruth retired?

Neither of them ever pitched.

So anyway, the last pitcher alive who faced Ruth in a real MLB game was either Stiles, or Auker. Presumably Auker since all the news stories said so when he died.

Thank you.

No there are no pitchers left that faced Babe Ruth in a major league game.

Bob Feller is probably the closest. He debuted in 1936 in the AL and Babe played his last season in 1935 in the NL. Or I should the most famous one, you also have Randy Gumpert and Pete Naktenis. I'm sure there are still some pitchers alive from exhibition games though. Who was the pitcher that pitched to Ted Williams and Babe Ruth in home run hitting contest in 1942?

I'm pretty sure Stiles faced Ruth.

Werber and Frey were teammates on the 1940 world champion Reds. Werber played third and Frey played second; both were converted shortstops, fitting Bill McKechnie's desire to put as much leather in the field as possible. Frank McCormick, a Keith Hernandez-type (possibly the greatest-fielding RH first baseman of all time) drove in 127 runs and was the MVP.

I'm sure there are still some pitchers alive from exhibition games though.

Well unfortunately I found some names so far that pitched to Ruth in the 40's and they are all dead too. Dave Odom, Red Barrett, Walter Johnson, and Johnny Sain.

Though he did hit a homer off of Walter Johnson

How do you know who pitched in exhibition games in the 40's?

From Retrosheet I see a 1933 SLB/NYY game in which Stiles came out of the pen to get the win in extra innings. No info on length of Stiles' stint, but closest I could come to validating a Ruth/Stiles matchup.

That game Stiles pitched the 10th inning and did not face Ruth. I believe the first time he faced Ruth was on May 14th 1931. He also faced Ruth on August 15th, 1933 as wells as the August 17th game in which Stiles got the decision.

How do you know who pitched in exhibition games in the 40's?

The New York Times

McCoy: Where did you find the batter/pitcher matchup info? NYT, as well?

Frank McCormick, a Keith Hernandez-type (possibly the greatest-fielding RH first baseman of all time) drove in 127 runs and was the MVP.

As a player, McCormick always reminded me of Steve Garvey Sr.

McCoy: Where did you find the batter/pitcher matchup info? NYT, as well?

Yes

As a player, McCormick always reminded me of Steve Garvey Sr.

IOW, he has alot of grandkids?

Or I should the most famous one, you also have Randy Gumpert and Pete Naktenis.

It's possible that Naktenis faced Ruth in an exhibition in Hartford before his ML debut, but I couldn't find anything. I had no idea he was still alive.

Obviously 'sheet doesn't have box scores from the '30s, but the gamelogs list the starters. However, you can look through boxscores at the paperofrecord.com's archives of The Sporting News. But I hope that your eyes are in good shape.

But I hope that your eyes are in good shape.

Which is why the New York Times is a better way to go on this Vastly better search engine and the image quality is superior.

It's possible that Naktenis faced Ruth in an exhibition in Hartford before his ML debut

I couldn't find any mention Naktenis facing Ruth in exhibition games though it appears Naktenis played basketball for Duke as well as baseball.

As a player, McCormick always reminded me of Steve Garvey Sr.


IOW, he has alot of grandkids?

I knew I should have had that first part of my sentence in bold, Jon. :-)