102-year-old fan visits D-backs' clubhouse

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/08/11

PHOENIX -- The D-backs welcomed a surprise guest after Sunday night's victory over the Dodgers.

Si Goldstein, celebrating his 102nd birthday at Chase Field, was summoned by the D-backs' bullpen and escorted throughout the clubhouse in a wheelchair by closer J.J. Putz.

"I don't know the next time I'll get to meet a guy that's seen as much as he has," Putz said. "I think it was just as fun for us to have him down there as it was for him being here."

Putz said that the idea to bring Goldstein down was hatched by Micah Owings, who said that if the team came back, it would be cool to have him meet the players.

"We were kind of just shocked that there was a guy here that was 102 years old," Putz said.

And accompanied by his family inside the clubhouse, Goldstein met a number of players, including infielder Sean Burroughs.

"It was cool," Burroughs said. "He knew us all and it was great to meet someone that's lived for so long."

Burroughs couldn't fathom living that long, but added, "Wouldn't we all like to?"