Jamie Moyer and the Oldest Players in Baseball History
Jamie Moyer is Back. The 49-Year Old Has Made the Colorado Rockies Rotation.
Jamie Moyer, 49, sure seemed like he was going to retire following the 2010 season. Most players do long before that age.
He was out all 2011, working the ESPN studio, following – believe it or not – Tommy John surgery.
Well, amazingly, he’s back, and it’s the Colorado Rockies who have him. Moyer has made the Rockies’ starting rotation.
He becomes the sixth oldest player (tied) to hit the diamond. Negro League legend Satchel Paige was the oldest player ever – he was a Kansas City Athletic at the age of 59.
Most of the players on this list, like Moyer and Paige, left the game for a year or more before returning. Check out the years of service in the right column. Some were gone for as many as seven, eight, 10 years or more.
Here are the top 20 oldest players to play in a pro baseball game.
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| PLAYER | AGE | POS | YRS | |
| 1. | Satchel Paige | 59 | P | 1948,1949, 1951-1953, 1965 |
| 2. | Minnie Minoso | 57 | LF/3B/PH | 1949, 1951-1964, 1976, 1980 |
| 3. | Jim O’Rourke | 54 | OF/C/1B | 1872-1893, 1904 |
| 4. | Charley O’Leary | 51 | SS/2B/3B | 1904-1913, 1934 |
| 5. | Jack Quinn | 50 | P | 1909-1915, 1918-1933 |
| 6. | Jamie Moyer | 49 | P | 1986-1991, 1993-2010, 2012 |
| 6. | Hoyt Wilhelm | 49 | P | 1952-1972 |
| 6. | Julio Franco | 49 | SS/2B/1B/PH | 1982-1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001-2007 |
| 6. | Hughie Jennings | 49 | SS/1B | 1891-1903, 1907, 1909-1910, 1912 |
| 6. | Arlie Latham | 49 | 3B | 1880, 1883-1896, 1899, 1909 |
| 11. | Phil Niekro | 48 | P | 1964-1987 |
| 11. | Gabby Street | 48 | C | 1904, 1905, 1908-1912, 1931 |
| 11. | Deacon McGuire | 48 | C/1B | 1884-1888, 1890-1908, 1910, 1912 |
| 11. | Johnny Evers | 48 | 2B | 1902-1917, 1922, 1929 |
| 15. | Nick Altrock | 47 | P/1B | 1898, 1902-1909, 1912-1915, 1918, 1919, 1924, 1929, 1931, 1933 |
| 16. | Nolan Ryan | 46 | P | 1966, 1968-1993 |
| 16. | Jesse Orosco | 46 | RP | 1979, 1981-2003 |
| 16. | Jimmy Austin | 46 | 3B/SS/2B | 1909-1923, 1925, 1926, 1929 |
| 16. | Sam Thompson | 46 | RF | 1885-1898, 1906 |
| 16. | Charlie Hough | 46 | P | 1970-1994 |
| 16. | Dan Brouthers | 46 | 1B | 1879-1896, 1904 |
| 16. | Tommy John | 46 | P | 1963-1974, 1976-1989 |
| 16. | Hod Lisenbee | 46 | P | 1927-1932, 1936, 1945 |
| 16. | Randy Johnson | 46 | P | 1988-2009 |
Photo: philliesnetwork.com
Posted on March 31, 2012, in MLB and tagged baseball, history, jamie, List, mlb, moyer, oldest, players. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
The only “bona fide” players older than 49 to play were Jack Quinn (15.2 IP in his final year, final game at 50 years, 6 days), Hoyt Wilhelm (25.1 IP, 49 years 349 days), Jamie Moyer (became oldest pitcher to win a game on 4/17/2012 at 49 yrs. 150 days), and Julio Franco (106 PA, 49 years 25 days). Paige, Minoso, O’Rourke, O’Leary, Jennings, and Latham made “honorary” appearances after their retirement (O’Leary was apparently actually 58 when he made his, see http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Charley_O'Leary).
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