Ralph "Putsy" Caballero

Ralph “Putsy” Caballero passed away peacefully on December 8, 2016 at the age of 89. Born in New Orleans in 1927, Putsy was a star on his Jesuit High School team when he was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies at the age of 16. He made his major league debut with the Phillies at 3rd base on September 14, 1944. He still holds the major league record for being the youngest 3rd baseman ever to play in the big leagues and is the second youngest player ever to play in all of major league baseball. He was a member of the 1950 Phillies “Whiz Kids” who captured the National League pennant from the heavily favored Brooklyn Dodgers on the last day of the season. He appeared in three World Series games against the New York Yankees. Putsy, when asked what is his fondest memory, states “when I tagged Jackie Robinson out at 3rd base.” Caballero was honored twice by his home town. He was a 1994 inductee into the All State Sugar Bowl Greater New Orleans Hall of Fame and a 2009 inductee into the New Orleans Professional Hall of Fame. After baseball, Putsy was co-owner of a pest control company until he retired. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Caballero and Thelma Perrier Caballero and his three brothers, Roy, Raymond and Monroe Caballero and his brother-in-law, Dan Levy. Putsy is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Clare Levy Caballero. Putsy has always said “I fell in love with her the first time I saw her.” He is also survived by his 7 children, Rickey Caballero (the late Angelle), Ralph “Cabby” Caballero, Jr. (Barbara), Danny Caballero (Orlean), Steve Caballero (Connie), Johnny Caballero, Clare Caballero, and Audrey Caballero Nuss (George); 9 grandchildren Kelli Doussan, Dusten, Jennifer, Rachael, Stephanie, Carly, Christopher Caballero, Jordan & Kristen Nuss; 1 great grandson River Doussan. The family would like to give special thanks to Maria, Melvin and Terry from Lakeside Hospice. They were a blessing to the family. Services were held privately for the family.