Oldest Former White Sox Player Dies At 94

Apr 30, 2007 5:48 am US/Central

(AP) BROOKFIELD One-time outfielder Milton F. Bocek, who was believed to be the oldest living former player for the Chicago White Sox, is dead at age 94.

Family members said Bocek died Sunday morning at The British Home in the western Chicago suburb of Brookfield after a brief illness.

A native of Cicero, Bocek was a student at the University of Wisconsin when his prowess in summer amateur and semipro baseball and softball leagues came to the attention of White Sox manager Lew Fonseca, who let a Cicero tavern owner talk him into allowing Bocek to attend batting practice.

Bocek showed up at Comiskey Park the next day, and, as he told the Chicago Sun-Times in an interview many years later, "I put four or five pitches into the upper deck."

Fonseca signed "Beltin' Bo from Cicero" for the final weeks of the 1933 season, in which the White Sox finished 31 games out of first place. Bocek also played the first few weeks of the 1933 season, compiling a career mark of 30 games, 60 at-bats, and one home run -- against the Indians at Cleveland. He was paid only $250 a month.

After his brief playing career, Bocek worked as a draftsman and later for a family owned printing company. He also served in the Army during World War II.

Bocek is survived by a daughter, two sons and eight grandchildren. His wife of 58 years, Victoria, died last October.