Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>Paul</b><p>Al Lopez, who was the oldest living member of the baseball Hall of Fame, died today. It is reported on the main page of the Hall of Fame's website, www.baseballhalloffame.com. It's nice that he got to see his White Sox win the Series. I hope he was healthy enough to watch and appreciate it.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>zach</b><p>I saw that too Paul and I really hope he enjoyed the series. Here are my favorite Lopez that I own.<br /><br /><img src="http://mzm55collection.com/lopez.jpg">

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>Al Crisafulli</b><p><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1130737136.JPG">

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>john/z28jd</b><p>You gotta love(sarcastically) the ambulance chasers on ebay who list items as soon as people die.They do it everytime.<br /><br />Al Lopez items currently for auction on ebay listed before his passing was announced-47<br />Items listed in the last 5 hours-38

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>My favorite was when Flo-Jo died. You couldn't give away her Starting LineUp figure. Then she died and people were paying $100 or more for it. Now you can't give it away again <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14> Wish her family had come forward and admitted that she used steroids and that it way have lead to her early death. She, along with Ben Johnson are classic case studies in what steroids do to you, good and bad. I forget what magazine it was in, but they ran side by side photos of the two when they were marginal world class sprinters and how they changed physically over the years to the point where they were setting records. They could have been twins. Bloated, fat faces. Bodies that all of the sudden gained a ton of muscle mass and the bad acne. The only difference between the 2 is that Ben got caught and Flo-Jo didn't.<br /><br />Jay<br /><br />I'm incompetent at being incontenent.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>A common expresseion of mine when an old timer celebrity like Al Lopez dies is, "I didn't realize he was alive."<br /><br />There's a 94 year old guy who lives alone in a house down the street. Does all his own cooking, cleaning, shopping-- which in part explains why he's still around. Said he had to learn how to cook when his wife died three years ago. He catches all the football and baseball games on tv. Henry and I visit him at few times a week and I'm sure others neighbors do as well.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>It's as if once the White Sox won the series, his life was complete and he could go in peace.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>For many years Lopez was the oldest living Hall of Famer. The new leader is Phil Rizzuto.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>I believe Bill is still alive. He might be the last<br />player still living that was in the 1933 Goudey set.<br />Also, the 1936 Diamond Star series (last card #108).

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Ted- Funny, but Michael Olenick and I were talking about Werber this morning and wondering if he were still alive. I believe Eldon Auker is up there, too. But neither of course are HOfers.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>My understanding is that Eldon is still living. He first<br />appeared on the Play Ball cards.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Isn't Auker in either the 33 or 34 Goudey sets? Or both? Too lazy to check it.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>Barry<br /><br />Although Eldon's Major Lge. career started in 1932,<br />he is not in any Goudey set. His first appearance<br />in any kind of issue is the 1936 R313 Fine Pens. <br />He is also in all the PlayBall (1939 - 41) sets.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>Tim Newcomb</b><p>Actually Auker appears in the R309-2 premium set, which is either 1933 or 1934, isn't it?<br /><br />Fun thread--<br /><br />Tim

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>Elliot</b><p>A couple of minor corrections. Billy Werber is not in the '33 Goudey set, but he is in the '34 Goudeys. Also, he is in the Diamond Star issue, but not as the last card. Wally Berger is card #108.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Live and learn. I could have sworn Auker was in the set. Is Werber the oldest living major leaguer, or just among the oldest? Players rarely reach 100.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>john/z28jd</b><p>Former Pirates infielder Howard Howdy Groskloss is the current oldest at 99.<br /><br /><br />edited to correct spelling of former which was formerly spelled wrong

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>Judge Dred (Fred)</b><p>Since the subject of the oldest living player has come up....<br /><br />Does anyone know how many players are still living that are not covered under the players union pension plan. It's a really sad subject. It's kind of a shame that these old timers have been pretty much written off. Not trying to hijack the thread, just wondering if anyone happens to have the numbers....

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>According to the recent SABR-l thread, Aucker is the oldest living major leaguer.<br /><br />Jay<br><br>I'm incompetent at being incontenent.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Werber is likely the only surviving player who appeared in the 34 Goudey set. Anyone still living from the 33 set or any set previous? The record of course is Chet Hoff, who appeared in the T207 set and was still alive in 1998!!!

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>john/z28jd</b><p>Jay,Auker isnt even in the top 10 among oldest living players.He was born on September 21,1910 which ranks him as the 13th oldest former major leaguer.My above answer is correct

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>Nice edit after my post <img src="/images/wink.gif" height=14 width=14> I was just about to make the change. Someone mentioned him on the SABR-l list but didn't appear on it until today.<br /><br />Jay<br><br>I'm incompetent at being incontenent.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>Bob Lemke</b><p>According to my records, Al Lopez was the final survivor among those who appeared in the 1934-36 Diamond Stars issues. In 1933 Goudey, the sole survivor is Jo-Jo Moore. In 1934 Goudey, there remain three: Bill Werber, Linus Frey and Dolph Camilli.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>Elliot</b><p>Bob, Billy Werber is in the Diamond Star set...here's his card:<br /><br /><img src="http://ccc.1asphost.com/68Vette/61-Werber.jpg">

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>According to the Baseball Encyclopedia, Howdy Grossklos turned 98 this past June- the other three that Bob Lemke cited are between 95 and 97. Auker is also 95. Let's see who makes it to 100.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Do you know that if Howdy Grossklos served as a juror he would be doing his Howdy duty?

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>Bob Pomilla</b><p>Dolph Camilli died Oct. 21, 1997. Jo Jo Moore died in 2001.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>Bob Lemke</b><p>I had started my death roll from an older edition of the Encyclopedia and irregularly tried to update via the Social Security on-line death registry.

Al Lopez has died
 

Posted By: <b>Rich Klein</b><p> Sorry about that pun -- but SABR has a biographical committee headed by Bill Carle who keeps tabs on all of these over-90 former major leaguers. <br /><br /> If you are not a member of SABR, I heartily recommend joining for many reasons, most of which are especially applicable to this group.<br /><br /> And if you live anywhere near Hot Springs, Arkansas; there is a really cool "Deadball" Weekend coming in March. You can see the sights (or some of them) where the pre-war Greats worked out their off-season kinks before playing each season.<br /><br /><br /> Regards<br /><br /> Rich<br /><br />