Tommy “Old Reliable” Henrich, the oldest living Yankee, passed away early this morning at the age of 96.
Henrich played for the Yankees from 1937 through 1950. He hit .282AVG with 183 home runs over his 11-year career. He was a five-time All-Star, a seven-time World Series champion, and twice finished in the top six in MVP voting. Henrich was best known for hitting the first walk-off home run in World Series history against Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher, Don Newcombe. Talk about a winner. He also spent four years serving in the U.S. Coast Gaurd during World War II, so he may have won even more championships if it weren’t for that.
Henrich’s family is holding a private memorial service on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that a donation be made in Henrich’s name to the Baseball Assistance Team, which helps out members of the baseball community who are in need of financial, psychological and physical support.
Here are some words people had to say about him…
“Tommy was a darn good ballplayer and teammate,” Hall of Famer Yogi Berra, Henrich’s teammate for five seasons, said in a statement. “He always took being a Yankee to heart. He won a lot of championships and did whatever he could to help us win. When I came up in 1947, he taught me little nuances about playing the outfield.
“Being around Tommy made you feel good, whether playing cards or listening to him sing with that great voice. He was a proud man, and if you knew him, he made you proud too.”
“Tommy was a terrific player,” Bobby Brown, also Henrich’s teammate for five seasons, said in a statement. “What made him so special was that he always played well in big games. You get him in a close or important game and he would always show up ready to play. It seemed like he never made any mistakes in the outfield. He was a true professional and an ultimate Yankee.”
“I am saddened by the loss of Tommy Henrich, who was truly one of my personal favorites,” Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. “Tommy was a wonderful Yankee known for his professionalism and for his many contributions in big games throughout his All-Star career, which spanned three different decades. ‘Old Reliable’ was beloved by his Yankee teammates and played on seven World Championship teams. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest sympathy to Tommy’s family and friends.”
“They called him ‘Old Reliable,’ and he was just that,” teammate Jerry Coleman said in a statement. “My first year with him was 1949, and it seemed like every home run he hit won the game. His career stats might not show it, but he was a great clutch player. When he hit, it counted. He was also a fine defensive player in the outfield.”
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Virgil Trucks is now believed to be the oldest living Yankee. Trucks is said to be 92 years-old.
M. B. Rozell
Kevin Rozell
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