Today is Bobby Shantz’s 97th birthday.

The 1952 American League MVP — he went 24-7 that year — is the fifth oldest living MLB player.

The pint-sized pitcher’s career included three All-Star selections, eight Gold Gloves (he would have won more but they only started awarding them in 1957), and a World Series title in 1958.

Bobby is awesome, for a lot of reasons.

I have a longer piece I’m working on about Shantz that I’ll be posting in the coming weeks. But I didn’t want to let the day pass without noting it.