He broke in with the Giants in 1952.

I can say with 100% certainty I saw Al Kaline play and he broke in with the Tigers in 1953.

Oh, and Jeff Fasero. ;-)

I saw a few games at Griffith Stadium in DC, but I couldn't tell you which team played the Senators back then.

1936 was indeed DiMaggio's first year. There will be a Random Game Callback involving the 1936 Yankees soon.

My grandfather had a picture of Babe and Lou (if I have to give last names, you are on the wrong website) that he got during a barnstorming tour in 1930's.

Jon, I believe you are doing the spanning So Cal bit on 710, you will have about 10 seconds to answer 1 or 2 questions, if they have not prepped you, I could probably guess the questions,

Jon Weisman from CNNSI.com and Dodgerthoughts, Jon, Jeff Kent got hit on the head on Sunday, when will he back in the lineup? Question 2, the team is off to a slow start, do you think they will have to make a move soon so they don't fall too far behind?

If I don't get at least one out of two right I will ban myself for the rest of today.

If my parents took me any games before that one, I have no memory of it at all.

I saw a few Portland Beavers AAA games in 1980. A team that featured Tony Pena, Rick Rhoden, Vance Law, and Mickey Mahler was their best pitcher. They played an exhibition game that year against the Pirates and Willie Stargell played, so I suppose if you allow exhibition games, technically Stargill (1962) would be as far back as I go.

My first game was in 1973, in Philly, but no one on that team was older than Aaron, and I don't remember who they played.

First game I ever saw was Astros at Reds, Aug 10, 1971, while visiting my uncle in Ohio.

Retrosheet's box score for the game reveals that the player in that game who had been in the major's longest was Reds CF Ty Cline, who entered the game in the 8th inning.

Cline's first year in the majors was 1960, with the Indians. And then he bounces around until 1971, his final season.

Some famous players were in that game who entered the majors the year I was born, 1963 -- Jesus Alou, Joe Morgan (then still an Astro), Jimmy Wynn, and Pete Rose.

As for Durocher's Astros, I'm pretty sure I missed the Astros at the time. I saw them a ton during the Bill Virdon era.

my grandfather (dad's dad) was born in 1883.

And I'm only 24. Go figure.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B09170CAL1993.htm

As for this baseball game, I believe my first games were in 1983 but I don't really remember any of them till '85. I have weird memories of Dodger games...for example, I still remember being at Astacio's major league debut (I had to have been like ten). As far as the oldest player I've seen, I'll have to do some serious research.

Bob has an uncanny ability to always win these little "games". You've seen a lot of good stuff my friend.

Are there any greater advances from electricity, flight, automobiles, to social changes such as slavery?

he is 65. But his dad was something like 55 or 60 when he was born. I don't know the exact dates, but that's why everything is so spread out for me.

On a side note, my 65 year old dad is a freak of nature. He's in better shape than anyone I know, runs 5 miles a day, and looks like he's about 45. The lesson: everyone needs to get off their butts if they want to live a long healthy life.

yeah I was born about 98 years after my grandfather. He died in..I want to say 1978 which would put him at about 95 or 96. Sadly, I wasn't born until '81 and never had the chance to meet him.

I was hoping it would be Jesse Orosco.

The first one I'm sure of is Hank Aaron, as well: Hank debuted on April 13, 1954.

Second place is likely Harmon Killebrew, who debuted on June 23, 1954, but I'm not 100% sure about that, either.

That does not sound good.

ugh. I thought he'd be back tonight.

All -- what do I need to know about Stan Kasten beyond "professional baseball guy"; "built the Braves dynasty"; "built Turner Field"; "hired John Scheurholz"?

I'm really starting to wonder when this is all going to stop. We've been one continuous injury for an entire calendar year now...

But let's say he went to a game for the first time in 1933. He would have been six. He potentially could have seen Dolf Luque pitch. He started in 1914. He might have also seen Dazzy Vance (who was on St. Louis in 1933). He started in 1915.
There is a remote chance he could have seen Jack Quinn pitch in a game for the Reds that year. Quinn broke in in 1909.

64 - Grandma Sue definitely went to games in New York as early as the 1920s.

I will disqualify myself from this.

I'll have to go home and check, but I believe Ron Cey and Dusty Baker are on the same ball.

My first Dodgers game was probably in the late 90's, and again, I don't recall who played.

I would guess therefore that the farthest back I have seen would be Brian Downing.

I use to pitch to Brian Downing in American Legion.

Second place is a tie between Jose Cardenal who appeared for the Cubs in my first game (8/29/77), and Vic Davalillo who played for the Dodgers. Both players debuted in 1963.

I don't think I ever saw the Red Sox in my youth, so that would rule out Yaz, though I'm pretty sure he's the longest running player I remember seeing on TV. I think the back of his baseball card had a second page. The only other doubt in my mind is whether I ever saw Jim Kaat (rookie class of 59).

In looking into this, I learned some things I didn't know about the second game I ever attended - the final game of the 1977 season. This game was famous for Baker homering and thus establishing the 4 man 30 homer club. For me it was memorable for seeing my favorite player (Yeager) knocked unconscious. First, I learned that I saw JR Richard pitch. Second, I learned that I saw the afforementioned Mota hit a pinch homer. I only remembered seeing him once, after he broke the pinch hit record. On that occassion, he struck out on three pitches.

Man, the Coliseum was a bad place for baseball.

The oldest player I've met, I never saw play. His name was Carl Hubbell and I met him at a fundraiser I was working in Scottsdale, Arizona. I think he played in the 20s and/or 30s and was actually a fair player, but for some no account team that may not really even qualify as Major League.

I saw Mantle vs. the Angels at the Big A in his final season (1968). Saw Mays at Dodger Stadium several times between 1967-1972.

I'd have to say Rusty Staub whose debut was '63, 12 years before I was born (or Charlie Hustle, also '63).

Ive meet Jessie Orosco, does that count?

"He is out there somewhere in spring training. He's probably 20 or 21, maybe 22. And he will retire in the year 2016. He will be the grand old man of baseball. And they will say, 'He's so old that the year he broke in, Eddie Murray was still playing.' And he will become the ninth man. Eddie Murray's the eighth man. When he broke in, Brooks Robinson was still playing. And when Robinson broke in, Bob Feller was still playing. And when Feller broke in, Rogers Hornsby was still playing. And when Hornsby broke in, Honus Wagner was still playing. And when Wagner broke in, Cap Anson was still playing. And when Anson broke in, Dickey Pearce was still playing. And when Pearce broke in, Doc Adams was still playing. Adams played for the Knickerbocker club inthe first organized game of baseball in 1846, number one of the eight men whose careers cover the 152 seasons since. And somewhere out there is the ninth man.–Keith Olbermann, 1997"

(I hope that wasn't too much quote to reasonably paste.)

As for me, I know I saw the Cubs vs. the Pirates at Wrigley in about 1976, which would mean that my old-timer is probably Willie Stargell. First old guys I really remember, though, were Reggie Jackson and Rod Carew, who was my favorite player as a kid. Both were 1967, four years before I made my debut.

So anyway, Stargell is tied with Mota for me.

This is only possible because according to Retrosheet, Larry Anderson did not pitch in whichever Phils/Astros game I have very hazy memories of from September '93...

I think Hobos may win this by a fair margin, although I have met Jim Palmer (at a signing) who debuted 19 years before I was born. I suspect the average age of posters on this thread looks a lot like the Giants outfield today!

At least we didn't pick the same person.

I guess I'm just older than you guys.

Elgin

Of the lefties who pitched in the NL in 1997, the following are still active:
Rheal Cormier
Joey Eischen
Alan Embree
Shawn Estes
Tom Glavine
Mike Hampton
Felix Heredia (nominally)
Steve Kline
Tom Martin
Kent Mercker
Terry Mulholland
Mike Remlinger
Billy Wagner

From the AL:
Scott Eyre
Jeff Fassero
Chris Hammond
Randy Johnson
Ron Mahay
Jamie Moyer
Mike Myers
Andy Pettitte
Arthur Rhodes
Kenny Rogers
Mike Stanton
Ron Villone
David Wells

I may have missed a few here and there.

'97 debuts:
Millwood, Kotsay, Konerko, Vidro, Jose Guillen, Derrek Lee, Morris, Sexson, Torii Hunter, David Ortiz, Tejada, Carpenter, Escobar.

'96 debuts:
Andruw Jones, Felix Heredia (the obligatory LHRP), Vlad Guerrero, Renteria, Rolen, Kendall.

'95 debuts:
Jeter

'94 debuts:
A-Rod

All of these guys would be 41 or younger going into 2016, so far as I can tell. I figure the Ninth Man will be one of these guys, and Konerko, Lee, Sexson and Ortiz have some built-in advantages of being 1B/DHs. Can you imagine the response here in ten years (knock wood) if it turns out to be Konerko?

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=1856715&page=1

Frank McCourt can thank me later.

You know, when they ask you whether your blog helps you get chicks, there are two ways to go with your answer.

I could not tell a lie.

But seriously folks, as a birthday present in 1972 my Dad drove the four plus hours from Albany to NYC to see the Mets play the Braves. The first thing my Dad did was to point out Mays to me. His implication was that those other guys are ballplayers but THAT'S Willie Mays. But I think my Dad was more excited to see Henry Aaron. I don't think Mays played in that game but I did get to see Hank hit one out. My Dad started cheering so I did too. That got some angry stares from the Mets fans.

Nice job Jon, though I'm disappointed that you didn't mention Ramon Martinez's nickname (just kidding).

By the way, I believe our favorite black widow has killed another show ... I think Out of Practice is out of luck.

I won't say it. I won't. I won't...er

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B04060HOU1982.htm

Off for bedtime duties. Actual dodger game on actual tv for me tonight, though! See you later.

apparently, that guy wanted to be the next Dahmer. Pretty gruesome.

Game thread open up top.

As far as Robles/Aybar go my take on it is that Ned knew he only needed a player for one game and didn't want to bring up Aybar who until yesterday hadn't played 2nd all year. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if they just release Robles after this stint. He has no future here with Ramon filling his spot. Once Nomar comes off the DL, Loney will head back to AAA and I'm hoping the Dodgers trade Ross to Seattle for Petagine. Seattle could use a RH bat and we could use a LHB. Supposedly Seattle is looking to deal either Petagine or Lawton since they have to many LH bats. A simple deal that would help both teams. Sure eveyone will say we should have just kept Choi but past is past, lets talk about the future. If Nomar gets hurt again Petagine/Saenz would be a better platoon then Loney/Saenz for 2006.

I hear it depends on the weather forcast.

Hank Sauer for the Giants also broke in during the '41 season, though I'm not sure he was the oldest. Never saw Ted Williams in person though I certainly saw him on TV many times playing against the Yankees.

actually, i saw minnie minoso bat for the st. paul saints a couple of years ago. he debuted in 1949, 31 years before i was born.

in major league action, it would have been stargell i believe.

family wise, my dad's side came to america in the 1600s, settled on cape cod, but decided they were loyalists and moved to canada around the time of the french-indian war. he moved to california in the sixties, and i was born in 1970. i am a first generation american, second time around.

Maybe that is your next one, Jon, "Most Hall of Famers on the field at the same time"

My father took me to one in 1949 at Yankee Stadium. I remember it as being a festive night - accuracy throws by catchers into a barrel at 2nd base; 3-man (CF - SS - C) relay throws from the outfield - even an egg throwing contest.

The unique thing I remember is there were 3 teams playing in 1 nine inning game.

"How do you do that" is the most asked question - it was easy - I don't remember how the set-up was in 1949, but, for instance, the first 3 innings were Giants vs Yankees; middle 3 were Dodgers vs Yankees and the final 3 were Dodgers vs Giants.

Team with most runs in their 6 innings wins.

How far back do I go? Born: 1939 - earliest baseball thing I remember was the 1947 World Series - first one televised (in NYC only) - we didn't have a TV then, but on the way home from school we passed a bar that let a few of us watch - standing on the outside.

Another memory was Hank Greenburg Day at the Polo Grounds - yes, Polo Grounds - Hank was near the end of his career playing for Pittsburgh and during the last visit to NY by Pittsburgh the Giants honored him - I believe it was the only time a home team had given a "Day" to a visiting player.

oldtimer