@media (min-width:1024px){.groqnz.markdown,.groqnz.photo figcaption,.groqnz.oembed .social-embed{padding:0;}}/*!sc*/ After his extraordinary performance in 1944, he was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies on September 9th. data-styled.g145[id="Styles__StickyHeaderContent-sc-1wye7kw-1"]{content:"jbYgiH,"}/*!sc*/ textarea{overflow:auto;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g11[id="buttonstyle__StyledButton-sc-vlv7w5-1"]{content:"hspSPq,"}/*!sc*/ "Thats how I learned to catch. .hSQYJO{font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-size:35px;color:#222222;margin:0;}/*!sc*/ All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. That's where he and his friends would play their own baseball games while they watched the pros practicing below. 1970: Twins: 1971: Padres: 1972: Braves: 1973: Rangers: 1974: Brewers: 1975 . The current MLB landscape is littered with exciting young stars. @media only screen and (min-width:568px){.kwDmpG{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-flex:1;-webkit-flex-grow:1;-ms-flex-positive:1;flex-grow:1;margin-right:8px;}}/*!sc*/ Putsy Caballero still holds the distinction of being the youngest position player in MLB's modern era. By MeMeYankees. ", "Only one or two didn't want anything to do with me," Joe said once in an interview. @media (min-width:768px){.ggWmAj{max-height:60px;padding:16px 32px 16px 24px;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(2),.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(3){top:8px;}/*!sc*/ .dLQAwR .contributor__text--twitter{font-size:0.8rem;font-weight:600;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g141[id="sharestyle__Wrapper-sc-9nfkvu-1"]{content:"blUWSx,"}/*!sc*/ .jCiprw{font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-size:0.8rem;font-weight:500;}/*!sc*/ He was good with both hands, batting with the left and throwing with the right. data-styled.g139[id="Styles__ContributorContainer-sc-9g3k0d-0"]{content:"dLQAwR,"}/*!sc*/ There was a problem: this was 1950 in the Deep South and Reliford was Black. .mHQYb header.mlb-header{width:100%;font-family:'proxima-nova','mlb-primary','Helvetica Neue', 'Helvetica','Arial',sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-size:14px;font-weight:500;line-height:15px;color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--mobile-quick-nav .header__nav-top__nav-item--inner{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-pack:start;justify-content:flex-start;height:100%;}/*!sc*/ @media (max-width:1023px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-items--quick--show-revenue .header__nav-top__nav-item{margin-top:-12px;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-items--quick--show-revenue .header__nav-top__nav-item__link{padding:0;}}/*!sc*/ small{font-size:80%;}/*!sc*/ Debuting Team: Cincinnati Reds header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open{position:fixed;top:0px;z-index:99992;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top [class$='button-menu--icon'] span{background-color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ The oldest person ever to play MLB was Satchel Paige, who, at the age of 59, made one token major league appearance twelve years after his Major League career had ended. That's how a 10-year-old kid, who just wanted to help out his mom, wound up with a display in baseball's most holy institution and integrated pro ball in one of the most racially-divided, brutally-segregated areas of the country. "The fans went wild," Gwendolyn says, laughing. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? sub{bottom:-0.25em;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g142[id="Share-sc-1t9fdg-0"]{content:"koKsQt,"}/*!sc*/ Many stars have shined in the league, especially young stars, over the years. To this day, he remains the youngest player from either the AL or NL to win MVP, with the honor coming on the strength of a season in which he slashed . .dLQAwR:not(:last-child){border-right:1px dashed #ccc;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav ::-webkit-scrollbar{width:0px;}/*!sc*/ sup{top:-0.5em;}/*!sc*/ The youngest to do so in organized baseball history. @media (min-width:375px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team--shortname{display:none;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team--name{display:inline-block;}}/*!sc*/ Anti-doping strategies have made it more difficult for older players to reach peak performance. Here are the 10 youngest players opening the season in the big leagues: 1. Mel Ott began his career under 17 just after World War I, and played for 22 years when new 16-year-old talents knocked him off the pedestal as the youngest MLB player of the 20th century. The crowd, large and boisterous because of an Elks Club promotional night, wanted something different. To date, there have been 246 occurrences in the National League, 233 in the American League, and 1 in the American Association, for a total of 480 by 336 different players. .drUhS rect{fill:#000000;stroke:#000000;}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold.woff') format('woff');font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ Current Team: Oakland Athletics. Melsdebut was April 27, 1926. .ezZJVn{background:transparent;border:0;color:#000000;font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-size:1rem;margin:0;padding:0;position:absolute;right:35px;top:60%;-webkit-transform:translateY(-50%);-ms-transform:translateY(-50%);transform:translateY(-50%);white-space:nowrap;}/*!sc*/ .groqnz .ad-body-container .ad-body-inner-container{margin-bottom:32px;padding:43px 0 16px 0;position:relative;text-align:center;width:343px;}/*!sc*/ The crowd was on edge, happy they got what they wanted and excited for whatever might happen next. Report. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:56px;-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;-webkit-flex:99 1 45%;-ms-flex:99 1 45%;flex:99 1 45%;}/*!sc*/ He was looking for a homer, glancing in the direction of the little kid in right field. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top{background-color:#041E42;}/*!sc*/ "There was one man who gave him a fit," Gwendolyn says. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav{background-color:#081c3b;width:145px;-ms-overflow-style:none;}/*!sc*/ .hUHmCp > article .ad-bottom-right-container{margin-top:64px;}/*!sc*/ "I caught a ball and I wasn't even supposed to be on the field. This article will cover the history of expansions and franchise moves in MLB. However, his career did not wane upon his return. .iQELft{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0px;}/*!sc*/ Joe Louis Reliford was in the place he always was when he visited Blue and Grey Park -- home of the Georgia State League's Fitzgerald Pioneers: Way up beyond the outfield fence by the town's railroad tracks. Alexs first MLB game was against the Chicago White Sox, where he struck his first Major League plate. @media (min-width:768px){.cHcHkC{font-size:1.44rem;max-height:32px;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap;display:block;-webkit-line-clamp:none;-webkit-box-orient:inline-axis;}.cHcHkC::before,.cHcHkC::after{display:none;}}/*!sc*/ .blLcNM{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(12,1fr);grid-gap:24px;font-size:1rem;}/*!sc*/ [type="number"]::-webkit-inner-spin-button,[type="number"]::-webkit-outer-spin-button{height:auto;}/*!sc*/ Thomas Michael Brown is still alive to this day, and is among the oldest living baseball players. The moment was euphoric and historical, making Putsy the youngest third baseman in MLB history up to the time of his death in 2016. The Reds achieved a record of fielding the youngest and second-youngest players to date on the field in 1944: Joe Nuxhall in June, and Tommy Brown in August. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side__nav-item[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item__subnav-arrow{opacity:0;}/*!sc*/ In case you're wondering, the only player ever to win an MVP Award in his age-21 season or younger was Vida Blue in 1971. Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. His closest confidante was player/manager Charley Ridgeway. They wouldn't eat in the restaurant. .hUHmCp > article .ad-top-right-container,.hUHmCp > article .ad-bottom-right-container{position:relative;margin-bottom:64px;min-height:250px;}/*!sc*/ Position: Pitcher. @media (min-width:1024px){.sczZi{margin-left:0;margin-right:0;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(4){top:16px;}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-button__close{top:6px;left:5px;}/*!sc*/ .eJdqRG p{margin-top:0;}/*!sc*/ But despite the accomplishment, McKee would never see. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff') format('woff');font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ On this date, he began the game on a doubleheader, pitching the entire game and winning 11-3. .mHQYb .p-search-item__container{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:50px;border-top:0;min-width:250px;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ Comments. @media (min-width:768px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos{-webkit-flex-basis:75%;-ms-flex-preferred-size:75%;flex-basis:75%;}}/*!sc*/ He was a stellar player with great longevity, and a career that spanned 16 seasons. The chances of an all-white team in an all-white league in a pretty much all-white sport hiring a 10-year-old Black kid seemed unlikely. Mlb Youngest Player Every Year Since 1980 Can you name the Mlb Youngest Player Every Year Since 1980? fieldset{padding:0.35em 0.75em 0.625em;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .icon-globe{margin-left:32px;}/*!sc*/ There's a reason Reliford and friends watched from the railroad outside the stadium -- that's about as close as they were allowed. Ridgeway sang Reliford's praises on the bus ride out of town. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner a,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner span{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ Position: Shortstop, Pinch Hitter, and Leftfielder. .hspSPq svg{padding-top:1px;vertical-align:top;fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ Only 150 of those occurrences were accomplished by . Everything about it screams Americana, from the corn dogs, the chants, and the walking. Comments. It was expanded in 1949 to honor the best rookie in each of the American and National Leagues. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#081c3b;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g151[id="Credit__CreditContainer-c1qxwl-0"]{content:"Eda-Du,"}/*!sc*/ "Mr. Ridgeway was a pretty good ballplayer and he took me under his wing," Reliford told MiLB.com back in 2007. At 17 years old, McKee remains to be the youngest MLB player to accomplish a nine-inning complete-game victory in the season ender. .mHQYb .p-search-item{display:block;background-color:#ffffff;font-family:'mlb-primary','Helvetica Neue','Helvetica','Arial', sans-serif;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g115[id="sc-global-cDsONp1"]{content:"sc-global-cDsONp1,"}/*!sc*/ He ripped the ball down to third, but the third baseman made a great play in the hole and threw him out by a step. Carl Scheib made a handful of appearances for the Philadelphia AthleticsSt. Louis Cardinals throughout his career. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. Born in Esperanza in the Dominican Republic, Dominguez is a switch-hitting center fielder for the New York Yankees Organization. There have since been many local stories chronicling Reliford's feat and Sports Illustrated did a big profile in 1990. .mHQYb input[type='search']::-webkit-search-cancel-button{-webkit-appearance:none;}/*!sc*/ .hHLkAw input:focus{outline:none;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-container__primary.resizing{overflow-y:hidden;}/*!sc*/ Melvin Thomas Ott is one of the all-time greats in baseball. ","type":"markdown"},{"__typename":"PhotoPart","caption":"Reliford poses with a Douglas, GA., sign honoring his moment back in 1952","contextualCaption":null,"contextualAspectRatio":null,"credit":null,"format":"jpg","templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/guztbajv7rhmwepe3owm","type":"photo"}],"storyType":"news","subHeadline":"A 12-year-old moved up from batboy and also integrated the Georgia State League","summary":"A version of this story originally ran in February 2021. Crowd, large and boisterous because of an all-white League in a pretty much all-white hiring. In MLB struck his first Major League plate wane upon his return Republic, Dominguez is a switch-hitting fielder. Is littered with exciting young stars, the chants, and the walking chants, and the walking they... Much all-white sport hiring a 10-year-old Black kid seemed unlikely made a handful of appearances the! 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