3 weeks ago
By JANIE McCAULEY
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year]
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Whether astatine location aliases connected nan road, Art Schallock would statesman each time by taking nan elevator down to nan lobby and collecting nan latest comic books for roommate Yogi Berra.
“Every morning,” Schallock recalled, chuckling astatine nan thought decades later.
Schallock ne'er minded. It was each worthy it.
Just portion of being nan caller feline backmost successful nan day, a rite of transition for nan latest large leaguer getting promoted. Schallock sewage nan telephone successful 1951, replacing early Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle erstwhile nan New York Yankees optioned nan then-19-year-old to Triple-A. Schallock, past 27, roomed pinch Berra and was tasked pinch picking up Berra’s regular transportation of “funnies” arsenic they called them.
The oldest surviving erstwhile awesome leaguer, Schallock turns 100 connected Thursday and is being celebrated successful nan Bay Area and beyond arsenic nan milestone approaches.
The shot memories are still plentifulness fresh.
“That was rather a thrill, rather a thrill playing pinch those guys,” Schallock shared successful a video call. “I roomed pinch Yogi Berra erstwhile I sewage up location and he knew each nan hitters. We went complete each nan hitters connected each team. Besides that, I had to tally down to nan lobby and get his funny books. Every morning. Yogi knew each nan hitters, really to transportation to them, whether it’s low, precocious aliases whatever, he knew really to transportation to them. And I had to study from him.”
The Bay Area autochthonal went to Tamalpais High successful Mill Valley past College of Marin earlier becoming nan 10,823rd awesome convention subordinate erstwhile he debuted connected July 16, 1951. He sounded 2 2/3 innings for nan Yankees that time astatine Detroit, past earned his first profession triumph precisely 1 period later astatine Washington.
The left-hander won 3 World Series rings from 1951-53, though he only sounded successful nan ‘53 Series, retiring Brooklyn’s Jackie Robinson during a two-inning outing successful Game 4. He went 6-7 pinch a 4.02 ERA complete 5 seasons successful 58 games and 14 starts pinch nan Yankees and Orioles.
He still wears 1 of those World Series rings regularly connected his pitching hand.
“Here’s a crippled that I loved, I really enjoyed it and loved nan crippled of shot and they salary you for it. What much tin you inquire for?” Schallock said. “I wish I was playing coming and getting nan salaries that they get, but that’s nan measurement it goes.”
Schallock shakes his caput and smiles astir nan money. He signed pinch nan Dodgers for $5,000, and if he lasted past June 1 he received different $5,000 payment.
“When I sewage retired of nan service, I went to inferior assemblage for a mates of years and sounded shot location and past I sounded semi-pro successful San Francisco and made a sanction for myself and Brooklyn signed me,” he shared.
Schallock still has immoderate years to spell to group immoderate benignant of property records. Negro Leagues pitcher Si Simmons of nan 1926 New York Lincoln Giants lived to 111, while different ex-Yankees pitcher, Red Hoff, reached 107.
Though Schallock has a difficult clip proceeding these days, he relishes each chance to chat astir baseball. And he offers nary existent secrets to his longevity — nary strict workout regimen aliases typical diet.
“Stop having a drink, person two,” he said, laughing. “That’s each I was allowed to portion earlier dinner, that was it, my woman trim maine off. Vodka complete nan rocks pinch a small scatter of water, vodka and h2o and a small ice. Only two. I besides had a fewer beers.
"(Yankees manager) Casey Stengel ever had brew successful nan clubhouse aft nan game. He’d alternatively spot you portion successful nan clubhouse alternatively than immoderate bar. ‘Cuz 2 aliases 3 of you spell successful nan barroom and beryllium down, nan fans deliberation you’re a drunk because you’re sitting successful a bar, truthful you portion successful nan ballpark.”
Of course, there’s been immoderate bully luck on nan measurement to make it to 100.
Serving for nan U.S. Navy successful nan Pacific Ocean during World War II aft enlisting successful 1942, Schallock narrowly escaped harm erstwhile nan neighboring craft bearer USS Liscome Bay was sunk by a Japanese torpedo successful November 1943 and 644 were killed — accounting for nan mostly of nan casualties successful nan Battle of Makin.
“I ne'er thought I would get backmost to nan highest level. I wanted to play baseball, yes,” he said. “I did it successful inferior college. In those years, nan Bay Area was afloat of baseball. When I opportunity afloat of baseball, semi-pros. Every municipality had a team.”
Schallock has been signing his stock of baseballs starring up to joining nan uncommon centenarian club. They will propulsion him a statement astatine his assisted surviving facility, Cogir On Napa Road Assisted Living and Memory Care.
Perhaps find him an supplier now fixed each nan fanfare?
“It’s excessively late,” Schallock said, laughing, “it’s excessively late.”
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