Emilio Navarro Throws Out First Pitch -- Mlb FanHouse

103-Year-Old Throws Out First Pitch

Posted Jun 20, 2009 11:06 PM

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SAN DIEGO (June 20) - Emilio Navarro still has some accuracy, if not the range.

Navarro, who at 103 is believed to be the oldest living professional baseball player, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Oakland Athletics-San Diego Padres game on Saturday night. He was a guest of the Padres as part of the team's annual salute to the Negro Leagues.

Well-Aged Athletes

Dreams come true, even at 103 years old. Emilio Navarro, the oldest living former professional baseball player, was honored to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Athletics-Padres game on Saturday night. "I think I am in heaven now," Navarro said. Click through to see other sports stars who have defied the aging process.

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Brendan Shanahan, who celebrated his 40th birthday in January, sat out the first half of this past NHL season before signing a deal with the New Jersey Devils.

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George Blanda played 26 seasons in the NFL, making his final kick at the age of 48 against the Steelers in a 1976 playoff game. Blanda retired with the most points scored at the time of his retirement, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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Retired NBA star Kevin Willis was signed to a 10-day contract with the Mavericks in 2007, which made him the oldest player in the league at the age of 44. Willis also holds the distinction of being the second-oldest player to play in the NBA.

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Gordie Howe played in the National Hockey League at the age of 51 with the Hartford Whalers, then topped his comeback by playing a game with the minor-league Detroit Vipers at the age of 68.

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Martina Navratilova was a dominant player in women's tennis during her prime, and she continued to play in doubles tournaments until she was just a month shy of her 50th birthday.

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Robert Parish was not only named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, he was also one of the most durable. "The Chief" played from 1976 to 1997, and retired at the age of 43.

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Navarro made the throw on the fly from about 25 feet to Padres utilityman Edgar Gonzalez.

"I think I am in heaven now," Navarro said in perfect English shortly before he and other former Negro Leaguers were honored before the game.

He answered other questions through a translator.

"It's like a dream for me," said Navarro, who lives in Ponce, Puerto Rico. "I'm very proud to be here in such a great place. There are not a lot of places like this place. It's a dream for me and I'm really enjoying it."

Navarro was the shortstop and leadoff hitter for the Cuban Stars of the Eastern Colored League in 1928 and hit .337 the following year. He was elected to the Puerto Rico Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

Others honored were Hall of Famer Monte Irvin; Don Newcombe, who also played in the big leagues; William "Skinny Legs" Blair; Neale "California Comet" Henderson; "Sweet" Lou Johnson; Walter McCoy; John "Mule" Miles; and Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, one of a handful of women who played in the Negro Leagues.

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2009-06-20 23:28:12