Art Schallock: The oldest living Yankees alumn, MLB’s oldest player

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The New York Yankees celebrated Art Schallock, the oldest living retired major leaguer and former Yankees left-hander, on his 100th birthday by sending him a jersey signed by the team on April 26, 2024. He wore that piece of pinstripes when he visited the Yankees dugout during their 7-3 series sweep against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on June 2, 2024.

Art Schallock had tenure with the Yankees from 1951 to 1955, during which he secured two World Series titles. As a rookie, he roomed with Yogi Berra and played alongside Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle.

Expressing his excitement, Art Schallock told reporters in the Yankees dugout at Oracle Park that it was a significant thrill for him to be present. The reports noted the octagenarian Yankee had not attended a major league game in many years. However, the celebration surrounding his centennial birthday, coupled with messages of congratulations, inspired the World War II Navy veteran to witness the Yankees play in person for the first time since visiting his former teammate, Billy Martin, when he managed the Oakland A’s.

Born on April 25, 1924, Art Schallock traveled 45 miles from Sonoma, California, to San Francisco with the help of staff from his senior living community, where he is a celebrated resident. His entourage navigated his wheelchair through Oracle Park’s corridors, leading him back to the Yankees dugout, where he donned the team’s jersey.

The slight left-hander, standing 5-feet-8½ and weighing 160 pounds, earned three World Series rings, though his sole appearance in the Series was in 1953, his standout year. During his four seasons with the Yankees, Art Schallock recorded a career 6-7 record with a 4.02 ERA, including the end of the 1955 season with the Baltimore Orioles, as reported.

Early life of Art Schallock

Art Schallock, born in 1924 in Mill Valley, California, was the fourth child and second son of Arthur, a telephone and telegraph lineman, and Alice Schallock. His elder siblings included Melvin (1911–1973), Alice (1913–1998), and Julia (1916–2006). Melvin’s tragic murder in 1973 was also noted in the reports. Art Schallock attended Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley.

At Tamalpais High School, Art Schallock excelled as a pitcher, highlighted by a 1-0 no-hitter against San Francisco’s Lincoln High School in March 1941. He also played first base, drawing inspiration from Tony Freitas, another Mill Valley native and “runt-sized southpaw.” Schallock was coached by George T. “Pop” Wendering, who had previously coached future major leaguers Sam Chapman, Karl Olson, and Joe DeMaestri.

During the summer of 1941, Art Schallock pitched for the semipro San Rafael Merchants before joining the San Mateo Blues. By mid-September, he was averaging over 14 strikeouts per game for San Mateo. Still a high school student, he continued to play for the Blues into November 1942, benefiting from baseball’s extended seasons on the West Coast.

In his senior year of 1942, Art Schallock registered for the draft on June 30. Reflecting on that time, he mentioned that he was drafted just two weeks after graduating from high school and joined the Navy, where he did not see a baseball for three years.

In the early career of former Major League Baseball player Art Schallock. Drafted into the United States Navy in 1943, Schallock served as a radio operator on the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea, later renamed USS Anzio (CVE-57), during World War II, from 1943 to 1946. Upon his discharge, he attended Marin Junior College, where he excelled in baseball, leading to his signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946.

Art Schallock’s professional journey began in 1947 with the Class A Pueblo Dodgers. The following year, he advanced to the Triple-A Montreal Royals. In 1949 and 1950, he pitched for the Hollywood Stars of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Under manager Fred Haney, the Stars clinched the pennant in 1949 and secured a third-place finish in 1950. Art Schallock had a strong start in 1949 with a 7-1 record, but a side muscle injury limited his season. He ended the year with a 12-9 record, a 4.24 ERA, 24 starts, 10 complete games, and seven relief appearances. In 1950, he primarily served as a reliever, recording a 5-7 record and a 4.01 ERA over 15 starts and 23 relief appearances.

As the 1951 season loomed, the Dodgers’ working agreement with the Stars was nearing its end. Art Schallock was among three Stars players whom the Dodgers could purchase. Determined to earn a September call-up to the Brooklyn Dodgers, he focused on improving his control, guided by Haney and Gordie Maltzberger.

Art Schallock started the season strong with an 11-5 record and a 3.40 ERA before being traded to the New York Yankees on July 12. The complex transaction, involving six teams, saw the Dodgers receive minor-leaguer Bob Landeck, catcher Eddie Malone, and approximately $50,000. Malone, who had played 86 games for the White Sox in 1949 and 1950, was purchased by the Yankees a year prior but never appeared in the majors again.

The Yankees career

Traded to the Yankees in July 1951, Art Schallock’s arrival led to the brief demotion of the then 19-year-old rookie Mickey Mantle to make space on the roster. Despite this, Mantle’s stint in the minors was short-lived, and the two players would later share many laughs about the incident.

During his time with the Yankees, Art Schallock shared a room with the legendary catcher Yogi Berra, whom he described as a tremendous mentor. He pitched in 28 games, including eight starts, over four years with the team. In 1955, he was claimed off waivers by the Orioles, where he played a career-high 30 games that season.

Art Schallock once recalled the moment when Mantle had to be optioned out to make room for him. Though Mantle quickly returned, they would humorously revisit the story for years. The long-surviving Yankees player remembered Mantle smiling as he rounded the bases after hitting a home run against him while he pitched for the Orioles. The pitcher also noted that Mantle initially enjoyed root beer floats when he first arrived in New York. Still, his struggles with alcohol began after being introduced to it by other players.

Reflecting on his experience rooming with Berra, Art Schallock once expressed his initial surprise at being paired with the veteran catcher instead of another rookie. He lauded Berra’s extensive knowledge of American League batters and their weaknesses, noting that Berra retained all the information in his mind without writing anything down. While some joked about Berra’s intelligence, Art Schallock also emphasized that Berra was sharp and a wonderful person from whom he learned a great deal.

Art Schallock’s reflections provide insight into the camaraderie and mentorship among players of that era, as well as the personal challenges faced by legends like Mantle. His experiences with the Yankees and interactions with icons like Mantle and Berra remain treasured memories in his baseball career.

Art Schallock made his New York Yankees debut on July 16, 1951. His career trajectory took a notable turn in 1953 with the Kansas City Blues, where he recorded a 9-3 record, leading to his call-up by the Yankees on July 6 to fill the spot left by the retired Ewell Blackwell. He experienced his first postseason play in Game 4 of the 1953 World Series, pitching two innings and allowing one run.

Art Schallock’s debut game for the Yankees at Briggs Stadium in Detroit was marked by early struggles. He surrendered two runs in the first inning, one in the second, and another in the third before being relieved by Spec Shea after 2⅔ innings. Despite his shaky start, the Yankees’ offensive efforts ensured he left the game without a deficit, leading to an eventual 8-6 victory. He walked three batters, allowed seven hits, and, at the plate, grounded out and struck out.

In his second appearance on July 21 against the St. Louis Browns, Art Schallock showed improvement, leaving the game tied at 3-3 after five innings. Shea again secured the win in relief. He allowed three runs, including one on his first RBI single.

Art Schallock’s first decision came on August 2 in a 6-0 loss to the Tigers at Yankee Stadium, hampered by a lack of run support. Despite this setback, he secured three consecutive wins in late August. His first victory was on August 16, a 5-3 triumph over the Senators, where he allowed just one run and six hits but struggled under the intense sun. He then contributed to a win against the Tigers on August 21 and led the Yankees to an 8-6 victory over the White Sox on August 26, even as Allie Reynolds allowed two runs in relief.

Although the Yankees captured the World Series title against the Giants in 1951, Art Schallock did not participate in the series.

Art Schallock’s tenure with the Yankees saw significant developments in 1952 when he reported to Florida for early instructional training. He secured a spot on the Opening Day roster out of spring training and pitched the final innings on April 30 and May 7. However, he was optioned to the Kansas City Blues on May 12, where he spent the remainder of the season.

During his stint with the Blues, Art Schallock compiled an 8-6 record with a 5.49 ERA, splitting his appearances between 13 starts and 13 relief outings. Although the Yankees clinched the World Series that year, Schallock did not participate in the series. He did, however, see postseason action with Kansas City, who won the American Association pennant but lost to Rochester in the Junior World Series after leading the series 3-1.

In 1953, Art Schallock was once again called to early spring training in Glendale, California. He began the season impressively with Kansas City, achieving a 9-3 record and a 3.15 ERA in a mix of starts and relief roles. Joe McDuff of the Kansas City Star lauded Schallock as “the smartest and most skillful pitcher in the league,” emphasizing his ability to keep hitters off-balance with a variety of pitches rather than relying on sheer power. When outfielder Bill Renna sustained an injury and Ewell Blackwell retired, Art Schallock was promoted to the Yankees’ roster in mid-July.

McDuff highlighted Art Schallock’s pitching strategy, noting that his effectiveness stemmed from control and deception. “He mixes his pitches into a master blend. His fastball is effective not because of its speed but because of the surprise element,” McDuff wrote, underscoring the importance of Schallock’s diverse pitching arsenal.

Schallock returned to the Yankees’ lineup on July 17 against the Browns, helping the team build a 5-0 lead before being replaced after loading the bases in the fifth inning. Although Allie Reynolds secured the win in relief, manager Casey Stengel was impressed enough to keep Schallock on the postseason roster, despite his 2.95 ERA over six relief appearances.

In 1953 World Series

Art Schallock’s sole postseason outing occurred during the 1953 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Schallock took the mound in the final two innings of Game 4 at Ebbets Field, entering with the Yankees down 6-2.

In his appearance, Art Schallock managed to retire Jackie Robinson and struck out Gil Hodges but walked Roy Campanella. Campanella made an unexpected dash from first to home on Duke Snider’s double. The Dodgers added another run, securing a 7-3 victory and leveling the series at 2-2. Nevertheless, the Yankees bounced back to win the next two games, clinching their fifth consecutive championship.

The 1954 season saw limited major league action for Art Schallock, who finished with a 0-1 record and a 4.15 ERA over seven appearances from April to September. His only start was a complete game, a 5-1 loss to Philadelphia in the season’s penultimate game. Art Schallock spent part of the year in the Pacific Coast League with the Oakland Oaks, achieving a 12-4 record and a 4.20 ERA.

On August 9, Art Schallock threw two hitless innings for the Yankees in the annual Hall of Fame exhibition game against Cincinnati.

Post-Yankees career

In 1955, Art Schallock remained in the majors but faced unexpected changes when the Yankees placed him on waivers in May. Claimed by the Baltimore Orioles on May 11, Schallock made his first start on May 29, a hard-luck 1-0 complete game loss to his former team, with Elston Howard driving in the winning run in the ninth inning.

Prior to his first start for Baltimore, Art Schallock had excelled in relief, posting a 1.42 ERA over nine appearances between New York and Baltimore. His six scoreless innings against Boston on May 25 foreshadowed the tough loss to the Yankees four days later.

Art Schallock’s season with the Baltimore Orioles in 1955 saw him compile a 3-5 record with a 4.21 ERA over 32 games. On June 3, he endured a hard-luck loss due to three unearned runs but bounced back with key performances throughout June, July, and August.

On June 17, Art Schallock not only secured a relief win but also scored the game-winning run from first base on Chuck Diering’s 11th-inning double and drove himself in with a two-out single. Although he lost three starts, he ended the season on a high note with a victory over the Washington Senators on September 16.

After spring training in 1956, the Orioles sold Art Schallock’s contract to the Seattle Rainiers on April 2, returning him to the Pacific Coast League. He posted an 11-9 record with a 3.42 ERA that season, highlighted by six consecutive wins against the San Diego Padres.

Art Schallock announced his retirement from his home in San Rafael, California, on March 5, 1957. His minor league career concluded with an 83-52 record, a 3.89 ERA, and 1,091⅔ innings pitched over 243 games. In the major leagues, he finished with a 6-7 record, a 4.02 ERA, a 1.703 WHIP, and 170⅓ innings across 58 appearances.

Following his retirement from baseball in 1957, Art Schallock transitioned into sales, initially working for his brother-in-law’s sporting goods store in San Rafael. Later, he ventured into public relations roles at title companies. Schallock mentioned that he was offered a position involving entertaining realtors at a title company, which he carried out for approximately 10-15 years, alternating between roles at Title Insurance and Trust and California Land Title.

In his post-playing years, Art Schallock found success in competitive golf tournaments across Marin County throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Both he and his wife Donna, who was also skilled in golf, secured numerous championships during that period. Additionally, Schallock occasionally attended old-timers baseball events in the Bay Area.

Now at the age of 100, Art Schallock reflected on his retirement, stating, “I retired when I was 65. I’m 95, going on 96 now. I did play a lot of golf up until about a year ago when I gave it up. I played two or three days a week. I just can’t handle it anymore. My balance is terrible, but otherwise — health-wise, I’m fine.”

After the passing of George Elder in July 2022, Art Schallock became recognized as the oldest living former major league player. Although he has stopped playing golf, Schallock maintains good health overall, apart from some issues with balance.

Art Schallock’s greatest moments

• Won two World Series with the New York Yankees (1951 & 1953; he did not play in the 1951 World Series)
• World Series champion (1953)

FAQs about Art Schallock

The stats

Art Schallock’s standard pitching record

Art Schallock’s postseason pitching record

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