Taking baby steps

Jorge Lebron – pro baseball’s youngest player since 12-year-old batboy Joe Reliford had a pinch-hit appearance in 1952 for the Fitzgerald Pioneers of the Georgia State League – makes his debut 49 years ago today.

The 14-year-old Lebron plays two games during the 1974 season for the Philadelphia Phillies' Class A team in Auburn, N.Y., before returning home to Puerto Rico to finish his final year of, ahem, junior high school.

Lebron, seen here in 1974 with Auburn manager Larry Rojas, plays shortstop and third base for three seasons in the lower ends of the Phillies' system before leaving pro ball in 1976 with a .244 average in 78 games.

At least he makes it home in time for the high school prom.