Man, 83, Is Oldest Pro Baseball Player

Man, 83, Is Oldest Pro Baseball Player

By Associated Press
Thu Jul 13, 7:57 AM

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - No one in the bleachers at the Sioux Falls Canaries game was quite sure what was going on down on the field. They were all quiet, transfixed on the little old man digging into the batter's box.

The infielders moved up on the grass, giggling, and the pitcher looked as uncomfortable as anyone else. But to 83-year-old Jim Eriotes, it was serious business.

Eriotes led off Tuesday's game for the Canaries against the St. Joe (Mo.) Blacksnakes and took four big swings _ even fouling a pitch off _ before striking out.

Officials with the Canaries, an independent American Association team, said the at-bat made Eriotes the oldest man to play professional baseball. It was his only at-bat in the game.

The record didn't mean much to the Chicago native, a former minor leaguer.

"I don't give a damn about that stuff," he said, bothered by his failure to reach base. "If I got a couple more at-bats, I'd get a hit. Easy."

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