Eddie Carnett

Major League Baseball’s oldest living former player tag has shifted, with the passing Monday night of a Connecticut man who had been carrying that honor.

Mike Sandlock, an Old Greenwich native and resident of Cos Cob, died late Monday night, nearly six months past his 100th birthday.

His son, also named Mike, stated in an email:

“With a Sad Heart I wish to inform all –
that Dad passed away this evening at 11:18 pm Monday April 4, 2016.
He is suffering no longer.
He is now in the starting line-up
at the Field of Dreams !

-mike e sandlock “

The elder Sandlock made his major league debut in 1942, appearing in two games for the Boston Braves before serving in the military during World War II. With the Braves, he roomed with future Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, the winningest lefthanded pitcher in baseball history with 363 victories.

Following his return from the service, he was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers and posted his best season in 1945, appearing in 80 games, batting .282 with two home runs and 17 runs batted in.

A catcher/infielder, Sandlock went back to the minor leagues for seven seasons before a final year in the big leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1953.

For his career, he batted .240, collecting 107 hits in 195 games.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.

The title of oldest living former major leaguer is now passed to Eddie Carnett, a pitcher/outfielder for three teams from 1941 to 1945 whose 100th birthday will be Oct. 21.