And the children shall lead

Carl Scheib, the pride of Gratz, Pa., becomes the youngest player in modern major league history 81 years ago today as the right-handed pitcher – all of 16 years, eight months and five days old – records the final two outs for the Philadelphia Athletics in their 11-4 loss to the New York Yankees before a Monday afternoon crowd of 16,185 at Shibe Park.

“When I was a kid, I didn’t know they had professional baseball,” Scheib says years after his retirement.

“I was stuck on the farm. We had no radios, no nothing. I was awed when I went from my little country field to a ballpark that held 38,000 people.”

A year later, another pitcher, left-hander Joe Nuxhall, then all of 15 years and 316 days old, comes along with the 1944 Cincinnati Reds to claim the youngest-ever title from Scheib, who today still remains the youngest player in American League history.

Scheib spends 11 seasons with the A's before finishing his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, leaving the majors with a record of 45-65 and 18 saves.

“Look, I’ve had a good life,” Scheib says. “I’ve been very fortunate, but I worked hard, too. Nothing was handed to me on a silver platter.”