If Mike Sandlock hadn't returned to the major leagues after helping the war effort in World War II, he would have retired with a 1.000 career batting average.
The former catcher and infielder settled for another distinction later in life, spending nearly two years as the oldest living former major-league player.
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Sandlock died Monday in Greenwich, Conn., at age 100. His son Mike wrote in an email to Greenwich Patch that his father "is now in the starting line-up at the Field of Dreams."
Born in Old Greenwich on Oct. 17, 1915, Sandlock made his big-league debut on Sept. 19, 1942. Coming in as a pinch-hitter for the Boston Braves against the New York Giants, he singled in his first at-bat and later scored. He appeared as a defensive replacement five days later but didn't come to the plate, leaving him with a 1.000 batting average for the season.
He missed the 1943 season to work at a munitions plant and appeared in 30 games for the Braves in 1944 before being traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers in August. He enjoyed his best season in 1945, hitting .282 in 80 games, before seeing his playing time drop off drastically in 1946 as dozens of players returned to the majors after the war.
Sent back to the minors, Sandlock didn't give up his dream. He played in Triple-A from 1947-52 before getting called up by the Pirates in 1953 to catch knuckleballer Johnny Lindell. He led the majors with 15 passed balls despite playing in only 64 games.
Sandlock went on to become a handyman after his baseball career, according to a 2013 New York Times profile. He is survived by his sons Mike and Damon.
With Sandlock's death, 99-year-old Eddie Carnett, who played in the majors in 1941 and 1944-45, becomes the oldest living former MLB player.
