America's Oldest Living Man is a Diehard Dodgers Fan Who's Almost 20 Years Older Than Vin Scully
By Chris Russo
Naturally, America's eldest man is a huge fan of America's pastime.
Friday marks the 111th birthday of Irving Piken, the oldest living man in the United States. And Mr. Piken also happens to be a serious Los Angeles Dodgers fan.
Three years ago, I stumbled upon the world's oldest Dodgers fan, and then realized this 108-year-old man was also my cousin.
— Rachel Marcus (@rachelnmarcus) December 20, 2019
Well, today Irv turns 111(!) and is now officially the oldest man in the U.S. And yes, he still listens to every Dodgers game.https://t.co/gjze59t9ZM
Piken was born in Brooklyn, when the Dodgers were not only still there, but also still known as the Robins (or, more informally, the Superbas). His favorite baseball player is Jackie Robinson, which is something considering Robinson made his MLB debut in 1947 when Piken was already 38 years old.
Piken was raised in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a short ride on public transit from the Dodgers' iconic Ebbets Field. He has stayed with the team throughout his life by moving to Southern California in 1977, just 19 years after the team headed west to Los Angeles.
It's a wonder that Piken is actually 19 years older than the former legendary voice of the Dodgers, Vin Scully, whom he met in 2016, his final season behind the microphone.
Piken is old enough to have actually been alive for every Dodgers' postseason appearance since Major League Baseball was formed. That includes the franchise's six World Series championships and all 20 National League pennants dating back to the AL-NL merger.
Piken is the perfect embodiment of America's love, passion, and nostalgia for baseball, and why it is our national pastime in a way that truly transcends time.