Eddie Carnett, oldest living MLB player, celebrates 100th birthday

He only played in 158 big-league games, but Eddie Carnett is in baseball's history books forever.

Carnett, the oldest living major-league player, celebrated his 100th birthday on Monday, and the baseball world made sure to send the heartiest of wishes to their distinguished alumnus.

Carnett, a native of Springfield, Mo., began his brief big-league career in 1941 when he appeared in two games for the Boston Braves. After spending the next two years in the minors, he resurfaced as a utility player with the Chicago White Sox in 1944 when rosters were depleted due to World War II and had his best season, hitting .276/.322/.357 with one homer, eight triples, and 60 RBIs in 126 games. He played 30 games for the Cleveland Indians in 1945 before getting drafted into the U.S. Navy, ending his big-league career. Following the war, he spent another decade in various minor leagues before retiring in 1955.

Oddly, Carnett was a pitcher for much of his minor-league career, but appeared on a major-league mound just six times; the rest of his big-league appearances came either as an outfielder or first baseman. His work as a pitcher did give him at least one claim to fame: According to his SABR biography, Carnett helped the legendary Bob Feller develop his slider.

Carnett, who became baseball's oldest living player earlier this year, has a two-year edge on the sport's second-oldest player.

*Baseball Hall of Famer