Silas Simmons
| Silas Simmons | |||
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Simmons in 1913
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| Pitcher / Outfielder | |||
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Born: October 14, 1895 Middletown, Delaware 
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Died: October 29, 2006 (aged 111) St. Petersburg, Florida |
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| debut | |||
| 1913, for the Homestead Grays | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1929, for the Cuban Stars | |||
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Silas Joseph "Si" Simmons (October 14, 1895 – October 29, 2006) was an American semi-professional and professional baseball player for African-American teams in the pre-Negro League era, and became the longest-lived professional baseball player in history. The previous record was held by Red Hoff, who died at age 107 in 1998.
Simmons was born in Middletown, Delaware. He was a five-foot-ten, left-handed pitcher/outfielder, and began playing for the Germantown Blue Ribbons, a semi-pro team, in 1911. In 1913, the Blue Ribbons became a professional team and were renamed the Homestead Grays, a team that quickly became a Negro League powerhouse.
As late as 1926, Simmons pitched for the New York Lincoln Giants of the Eastern Colored League and appeared in at least one game in 1929 for the New York-based Cuban Stars (East) of the Negro National League. During his career, Simmons played on the same team as Hall of Famer Pop Lloyd and against Hall of Famers Judy Johnson and Biz Mackey. Simmons ended his baseball career soon after 1929.
Simmons was married at Philadelphia by Rev. John L. Lee on September 15, 1915 to Mary L. "Mamie" Smith (July 19, 1896 – ca. 1944). He and his wife Mary had five children and settled into life as a porter. He later became an assistant manager at Rosenbaum's Department Store in Plainfield, New Jersey. After 29 years of marriage Mamie died ca. 1944. In 1957 Simmons married his second wife, Rebecca Jones (1901 – August 20, 1997). In 1971, he retired to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he lived for the rest of his days. After 40 years of marriage, Rebecca died at the age of 96 in 1997. Simmons lived to be at least 108, and outlived all five of his children. At the time of his death Simmons had nine grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and many great-great grandchildren.
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