Silas Simmons

Silas Joseph Simmons (October 14, 1895 In 1913, the Blue Ribbons became a professional team and were renamed the Homestead Grays, a team that quickly became a Negro leagues powerhouse.

In 1926, Simmons pitched for the New York Lincoln Giants of the Eastern Colored League and appeared in at least one game in 1929 for the New York-based Cuban Stars (East) of the Negro National League. He and his wife Mary had five children

In 1971, he retired to St. Petersburg, Florida.

Revel organized a 111th birthday celebration for Simmons in 2006, which included approximately 30 former Negro leagues players from around Florida. A plaque was presented to Simmons on his birthday on behalf of the Society for American Baseball Research. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays also gave Simmons a team jersey with number "111." At the time of his death, Simmons had nine grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and many great-great-grandchildren.

Simmons is also one of the two known professional athletes to have been born in the 19th century and died in the 21st century, the other being Karl Swanson (1900–2002).