RIP, Val Heim, 99, 1920 - 2019

Sadly Val Heim, MLB's oldest-surviving MLB player (Chicago White Sox 1942) passed away on Thursday Nov. 21. He had just celebrated his 99th birthday. I feel so fortunate to have spoken to Val and his family weeks earlier to document the highlights of his Navy service in Saipan, and his ball-playing days in the 1940s, where he was among the first Americans to play in Cuba. Men like Val lived life on simple terms: they loved their families, they served their country, they worked hard, and they were humble to the end.

Eddie Robinson, who turns 99 on Dec. 15, is now America's most senior MLB player.