A young left-handed pitcher out of Pottstown, Pa., Bobby Shantz attracted many Major League scouts. Most backed off because of his size -- 139 pounds on a 5-foot-6 frame.

Philadelphia A’s scout Harry O’Donnell took a chance signing the 22-year-old after Bobby returned from the U.S. Army in the spring of 1948. The “Little Lefty” came out on top, pitching in the Major Leagues for 16 seasons.

• Phillies Alumni

Now, the 99-year-old Shantz (Sept. 26 birth date) resides in Ambler with his wife, Shirley. Among living Major League players, only two are older at 100, LHP Art Schallock and RHP Bill Greason.

Schallock spent five years (58 total games) with the New York Yankees (1951-55) and Baltimore Orioles (1955). Greason’s career included the 1958 Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League (8 games) and the 1954 St. Louis Cardinals (3 games).

Shantz: Philadelphia A’s (1949-54), Kansas City A’s (1955-56), New York Yankees (1956-60), Pittsburgh Pirates (1961), Houston Colt .45s (1962), St. Louis Cardinals (1962-64), Chicago Cubs (1964) and Phillies (1964).

Oldest living player in three different franchises, Philadelphia A’s, Kansas City A’s and Phillies . . . His birth date (September 26) was the last game for the A’s in Oakland. Weird.

Fun Facts

One Minor League season (1948), Lincoln (NE) A’s, Class A Western League, 18-7, 2.82 ERA, 214 innings, 212 strikeouts. Oh, met a University of Nebraska student, Shirley Vogel. They married in 1950.

Major League debut, .2 inning, May 1, 1949, vs. Washington at Shibe Park . . . Last game, .2 inning, September 29, 1964, for Phillies at St. Louis.

Major League career, 119-99, 3.38 ERA, 537 games, 117 starts, 78 complete games, 48 saves, 1,935.2 innings . . . Arm and shoulder injuries curtailed 1953-56.

As a batter, .195 career average, 20 doubles, 46 RBI. Let’s not forget, he hit one home run, August 12, 1950, 4^th inning off Allie Reynolds at Yankee Stadium.

American League Most Valuable Player (1952), 24-7, 2.48 ERA, 279.2 innings, 152 strikeouts . . . Five days before the end of the season he broke his pitching wrist when hit by a pitch as a right-handed batter.

Three-time American League All-Star (1951-52) Philadelphia A’s; Yankees (1957).

Named to the American League All-Star team for the second time (1952), Shantz pitched in the All-Star Game, played that year in Philadelphia. He entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning and struck out Whitey Lockman looking, Jackie Robinson swinging, and Stan Musial looking. Shantz wanted to see if he could duplicate Carl Hubbell’s 1934 feat of striking out the side twice in an All-Star Game, but rain came and washed out the game with the National League ahead, 3-2.

Traded from Kansas City to Yankees, February 19, 1957. When all the players to be named later were official, the deal included a total of 13 players.

Selected in 1960 Expansion Draft by the Washington Senators (second round) and 1961 Expansion Draft by Houston Colt .45s (21^st round) . . . Starter and winning pitcher in Houston’s inaugural game (April 10, 1962), 11-2 complete game vs. Cubs.

Eight straight Rawlings Gold Glove Awards (1957-64). Award was first issued in 1957.

Member of Yankee pennant winners (1957, 1960) and World Champions (1958).

On June 15, 1963, Shantz, 38, was dealt to the Cubs in the six-player trade that netted the Cardinals speedy 25-year-old outfielder Lou Brock . . . Bobby was sold to the Phillies on August 15. The last batter Shantz faced in his career that September was Brock.

Inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Hall of Fame at Veterans Stadium in 1994 . . . In 2010, Bobby received two additional honors. He was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, and Pottstown High School renovated its baseball field and dedicated it in his honor.

Brother Billy was a catcher who played in the Majors for the A’s in Philadelphia (1954) and Kansas City (1955). He passed away in December 1993 at age 66.

Shirley and Bobby had four children, Bobby, born in 1954, followed by Kathy, Teddy, and Danny, born in 1965. They have four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.