Joe Reliford

Biography

Joe Louis Reliford (November 29, 1939 – May 2, 2022) was an American Minor League Baseball batboy who became the youngest person to participate in a professional baseball game on July 19, 1952. He was inserted into a game for the Fitzgerald Pioneers of the Georgia State League at the age of 12 years and 234 days. When the Pioneers fell behind the Statesboro Pilots 13–0, heading into the eighth inning, the crowd started chanting for club manager Charley Ridgeway to "put in the batboy." He was sent to the plate against pitcher Curtis White and grounded out to third base.

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