Oldest Dodger. Ray Berres, dies at 99

Ray Berres, who would have been 100 on August 31, and who was the oldest living Dodger, died Feb. 1 in Kenosha, Wisconsin at age 99.

Berres, a talented defensive catcher, struggled to get a chance in the Major Leagues and in 1933, after boosting his average to .294 with Birmingham in the Southern Association, he got the call from Brooklyn.

He hit only .215 and was returned to the minors in 1934. Another recall in 1936 also ended poorly and with a ticket the the minors again.

The P{irates tried him in 1936 and 1938 he became a fixture in the big leagues although he never mastered the art of hitting well enough to earn a steady job, not topping .229 in any season of more than 100 at bats.

He served as player/manager for Richmond in the Piedmont league in 1946 before retiring as a player.

He became a pitching coach with the Chicago White Sox and worked with Early Wynn and Billy Pierce on Chicago's 1959 American League champion. He coached from 1949-1966 and 1968-1969.

Berres hit .216/.260/.255 over 561 major league games and was the second-oldest living player at the time of his death.

Oldest Dodgers
Tony Malinosky, who will be 98 on October 5, now tops the list of the oldest living Dodgers. The rest of the top 10 include:

97- INF Tony Malinosky (10-05, 1909)
96 - 2B - Lonny Frey (08-23, 1910)
94 - OF George Cisar (08-25, 1912)
93 - INF Jack Radtke (04-14, 1913)
92 - C Herman Franks (01-04, 1914)
92 - LHP Preacher Roe (02-26, 1915)
91 - C Mike Sandlock (10-17, 1915)
91 - C Ray Hathaway (10-13, 1916)
90 - OF Tommy Holmes (03-29, 1917)
90 - RHP Al Zachary (10-19, 1917)