Al Brazle

Alpha Eugene Brazle was a left-handed pitcher who spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals. Born October 19, 1913, in Loyal, Oklahoma, he pitched seven and a half years in the minor leagues before reaching the majors as a 29-year-old rookie in 1943. After a strong stint with the Sacramento Solons of the Pacific Coast League, he debuted with St. Louis in late July 1943 and helped the club win the National League pennant, though the Cardinals lost that year's World Series to the New York Yankees. Following military service, he returned in 1946 and was part of the Cardinals team that won the 1946 World Series against the Boston Red Sox. Over his career he worked as both a starter and a reliever, and in his later seasons became one of the team's primary relievers, leading the National League in saves in both 1952 and 1953. In 1954, at age 40, he was the oldest player to appear in a National League game that season, and it was his final year. Over his career, spanning 1943 and 1946 through 1954, he compiled a 97-64 record with a 3.31 ERA and 59 saves. He died October 24, 1973, in Grand Junction, Colorado, at age 60.