Silas Simmons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Silas Simmons |
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Simmons in 1913
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| Pitcher / Outfielder | |||
| Born: October 14, 1895 Middletown, Delaware |
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| Died: October 29, 2006 (aged 111) St. Petersburg, Florida |
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| debut | |||
| 1913, for the Homestead Grays | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1929, for the Cuban Stars | |||
| Teams | |||
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Silas Joseph Simmons (born October 14, 1895 – died October 29, 2006) was an amazing American baseball player. He played for African-American teams before the famous Negro Leagues were fully formed. Silas Simmons holds a special record: he lived longer than any other major league baseball player in history! He passed away at the incredible age of 111.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Silas Simmons was born in Middletown, Delaware. He was a left-handed pitcher and Outfielder. He stood about five feet, ten inches tall.
Silas started playing baseball in 1911 for a team called the Germantown Blue Ribbons. This team was semi-professional, meaning players were paid a little, but it wasn't their full-time job.
Joining the Homestead Grays
In 1913, the Germantown Blue Ribbons became a professional team. They changed their name to the Homestead Grays. The Homestead Grays quickly became a very strong team in the early days of African-American baseball.
Playing in the Negro Leagues
Later in his career, Silas Simmons played for other important teams. In 1926, he pitched for the New York Lincoln Giants. This team was part of the Eastern Colored League.
He also played at least one game in 1929 for the Cuban Stars. This team was part of the Negro National League. Silas Simmons played with and against some of the greatest baseball players of his time. These included Hall of Famers like John Henry Lloyd, Judy Johnson, and Biz Mackey. Silas ended his baseball career shortly after 1929.
A Long and Interesting Life
Silas Simmons was married twice in his long life. He first married Mary L. "Mamie" Smith in 1915. They had five children together. After his baseball career, Silas worked as a porter. He also became an assistant manager at a department store.
After Mary passed away around 1944, Silas married his second wife, Rebecca Jones, in 1957. He retired to St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1971. Rebecca passed away in 1997.
Rediscovery and Special Birthday
In 2005, a historian named David Allen Lambert found out about Silas Simmons. He told other baseball experts about Silas, who was a living link to early baseball history. In 2006, Dr. Layton Revel met and interviewed Silas.
Dr. Revel also helped organize a big 111th birthday party for Silas Simmons. About 30 former Negro Leagues players came to celebrate with him! Silas received a special plaque from the Society for American Baseball Research. He also got a team jersey with the number "111" from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Silas Simmons passed away just 15 days after his 111th birthday. He had lived longer than all five of his children. He left behind many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Silas Simmons is one of only two known professional athletes born in the 1800s who lived into the 2000s. The other was Karl Swanson.
See also
- Supercentenarian
- Karl Swanson
- Red Hoff
