Phillies' 'Moon' Mullen dies at 96

PHILADELPHIA, March 4 (UPI) -- Ford Parker "Moon" Mullen, the oldest surviving member of the Philadelphia Phillies, has died in Stanwood, Wash., at age 96, philly.com reported Monday.

Mullen was a second baseman who played one year in the major leagues, 1944, before going off to war, hitting .267 in 118 games. He was also a member of the University of Oregon's "Tall Firs" basketball team that beat Ohio State in the first NCAA title game in 1939, the report said.

Larry Shenk, Phillies' vice president of alumni relations, said the team sent Mullen a jersey with his name and number, 1, on the back when he turned 94, and received a note of thanks, saying he and his wife Jessie, 93, "have reminisced often about our brief stay in Philadelphia."