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Originally Posted by dennis_keith
His tenure with the Phillies might have been very brief (just 5 pinch hitting appearances at the start of the 1956 season), but unless some one can prove otherwise, at age 97 years and 3 months, Wally
Westlake is the 2nd longest living Phillies player that ever lived. He trails only infielder, Alex Monchak, who had a similarly brief stint with the Phillies in 1940. Monchak lived to be 98 years and 7 months of age.(1916-2015). The Phillies were Westlake's final stop on a 10 year MLB career (1947-1956) whose start was delayed by military service during World War Two. He was a solid regular outfielder/third baseman during the first five years of hi career with the Pirates smacking 17, 17, 23, 24 and 22 home runs in that order between 1947 and 1951. Westlake was a 1951 National League all-star. He later served as a very reliable bench player for the 1954 Cleveland Indians whose 111-43, .721 win % set regular season records, in wins and win percentage, with Wesltake contributing 11 home runs in 85 games off the bench.
Wikipedia now lists Westlake as the 6th oldest currently living MLB player.
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I just Found that one Phillies player, Art Mahan lived a few months longer than Westlake's current age. That makes Westake number 3, Mahan number 2, and Alex Monchak #1 as far as longest living Phillies go that I'm able to determine.
Mahan was a first baseman with the 1940 Phillies team, his only major league team and his distinction is that he played a near-record 146 games (in an 154 game schedule) in one season and never played in any other big league seasons. George "Sparky" Anderson may be the record holder in this odd category of "Most Games Played In a One season MLB Career". He played 152 games (in a 154 game schedule) for the Phillies in 1959 and never played another major league game.