by Max Silberman

Mickey Rutner, third baseman for the 1947 Athletics died October 17 in Austin, TX at the age of 88.

Mickey Rutner had shoulder surgery for a torn rotator cuff and developed a staph infection which proved fatal.

He was a guest at the first reunion sponsored by Jim Lutz in 1996 and even into his eighties worked for the minor league team owned by Nolan Ryan in Round Rock in his adoped Texas home.

Although he spent only 12 games with one home run in 1947 with the A’s ( his only major league time) he had a long association with baseball and was the inspiration for the novel “Men on Spikes.”

At the time of his passing he was the oldest living Jewish major leaguer. The second oldest was the late Lou Limmer who passed away in April of 2007. His death leaves 62 living Philadelphia Athletics. He is survived by his wife, Lee, and three sons

The Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society mourns his loss and extends condolences to the Rutner family.