Nats Connie Marrero 2nd oldest ballplayer

[welch]

Only a few remember him, but Connie Marrero, a pitcher for the Washington Senators, is the second oldest ballplayer and probably the oldest pitcher. He signed about 1950 and pitched through 1954, not a long career except that he was about 38 or 39 when the Nats scout Joe Cambria signed him.

A little guy, always smoking a cigar. Find a picture of Cubans who played for the Nats in the '50s, and you'll find Marrero and his cigar.

Legend -- meaning my dad -- says that Clark Griffith let Marrero smoke his cigar in the dugout and in the bullpen. A five-foot-five-inch cloud of cigar smoke. Also a crafty pitcher.

[Deadskins]

Only a few remember him, but Connie Marrero, a pitcher for the Washington Senators, is the second oldest ballplayer and probably the oldest pitcher.

What do you mean by "second oldest?"

[welch]

Only a few remember him, but Connie Marrero, a pitcher for the Washington Senators, is the second oldest ballplayer and probably the oldest pitcher.

What do you mean by "second oldest?"

Wiki thinks the oldest is is Tony Malinosky, who played a few games for the Dodgers in 1937.

Marrero pitched five seasons. See:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... co01.shtml.

Note his '52 and '53 seasons. Baseball statistics nuts love the "walk/hits per innings pitched", or WHIP. Marrero had a WHIP of 1.2 (considered very good) both seasons...when he was 41 and 42 years old. Compare him to Livan Hernandez last season, who was the Nats best and had a WHIP of 1.3 at a youthful 35 years old.

[welch]

Update: Marrero is now the oldest living player.

Incidentally, Livan Hernandez says that Connie taught him the screwball.

Live long and prosper, Connie Marerro!