(via Astros County)
Great work by folks compiling
a list of the remaining players who wore a Colt .45s uniform, ranging in age from Bobby Shantz at 92 to Dierker at 71.
A couple of the less notable names on the list actually had fascinating backgrounds/later careers. As noted in the comments section,
Carroll Hardy was player personnel director for the Denver Broncos for many years and was a key hand in assembling the players who formed the Orange Crush defense. Not mentioned is that Hardy was also a 2-sport professional, having played 1 year as a halfback for the San Francisco 49ers where Y.A. Tittle was his QB. On the baseball side, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame member is also the answer to the trivia question as to "who's the only player to pinch-hit for Ted Williams?".
Another interesting guy on the list is
Aaron Pointer. As the comments point out, he is the brother of members of the Pointer Sisters. Not mentioned, however, is the fact that he and his cousin Paul Silas (the future NBA player and coach) both went to McClymonds High School in Oakland, which earlier had produced Bill Russell, Frank Robinson and Curt Flood. Also not mentioned is his later career as a football referee. As this
Seattle Times article points out, he was the first black referee in the Pac-10. He later went on to become a head linesman in the NFL for 16 years. Also the answer to a baseball trivia question: who was the last minor league player to hit .400 in a season? That would be Mr. Pointer, who hit .402 in 1961 for Salisbury in what was then called the Western Carolinas League (which would later become the South Atlantic League). He also played in NPB from 1970-1972 with the Nishitetsu Lions.
