Billy Cox’s final game

Third baseman extraordinaire Billy Cox plays the last game of his 11-year career in the majors 69 years ago today in Kansas City.

Cox, batting leadoff for Baltimore, goes 0-for-1 with a flyout and sacrifice bunt before leaving for a pinch-runner in the fourth inning of the Orioles’ 2-1 loss to the Athletics before a Saturday afternoon crowd of 7,852 at Municipal Stadium.

During his career, which starts in 1940 as a shortstop on City Island with the Class B Harrisburg Senators, Cox establishes himself as one of the best fielding third basemen in history. Long before anyone ever hears of Brooks Robinson, Mike Schmidt, Scott Rolen or Nolan Arenado.

The pride of Newport, Pa., also plays in three World Series with Brooklyn, helping anchor an infield that includes three Hall of Famers in first baseman Gil Hodges, second baseman Jackie Robinson and shortstop Pee Wee Reese.

None of those Dodgers Hall of Famers, though, can field like Cox.

As New York Yankees Hall of Fame manager Casey Stengel once says of Cox, "That ain't no third baseman; that's a f------ acrobat."