Oldest living MLB player turns 100, vividly recalls facing Dodgers in 1953 World Series

"He called them his funny books," Schallock said. "I'd go down and buy a few and bring them back to the hotel room for him."

Undersized at 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, Schallock relied on guile, a sharp-breaking curveball and deceptive change-up. He was called upon in Game 4 of the 1953 World Series against the Dodgers, entering in the seventh inning to face Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges, Roy Campanella, Duke Snider and Carl Furillo.

He retired Robinson on a lineout and struck out Hodges before walking Campanella and giving up a run-scoring double to Snider. That was four consecutive Hall of Famers before facing Furillo, who grounded out. Schallock pitched a scoreless eighth, retiring Billy Loes, Jim Gilliam and Pee Wee Reese.

All in all, quite a dalliance with the Boys of Summer.

"That was quite a thrill," Schallock said. "The reason Casey Stengel called on me to pitch was that I was the only one in the bullpen who knew the Dodger hitters. I had played with the Brooklyn players and grown up with them."

Schallock was familiar with the Dodgers because he spent 4 1/2 seasons in their farm system, advancing to Triple-A Montreal — where teammates included future Cy Young Award winner Don Newcombe and first baseman Chuck Connors, who went on to star in "The Rifleman" — and the Hollywood Stars.

When Schallock was traded to the Yankees for catcher Eddie Malone, pitcher Bob Landeck and cash July 12, 1951, they made room on the roster by sending Mantle, then a slumping rookie, to the minors. Mantle was soon called back up and he and Schallock became friends.

"Back then he drank root beer floats," Schallock said.

Four years later Schallock was with the Baltimore Orioles and faced Mantle, who by then was a feared slugger. The switch-hitter pulled an 0-1 pitch far beyond the left-field wall and grinned at Schallock as he rounded the bases.

In all, Schallock played alongside seven Yankees Hall of Famers (DiMaggio, Berra, Mantle, Enos Slaughter, Johnny Mize, Phil Rizzuto and Whitey Ford) and another with the Orioles (Brooks Robinson). With the Dodgers, he spent spring training with another handful of players enshrined in Cooperstown.

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