Jamie Moyer began his career by beating Steve Carlton 26 years ago. Now he’s besting Grandfather Time.
The Colorado pitcher became the oldest to win a major league game on Tuesday at 49 years, 150 days old. It was 80 days older than Brooklyn’s Jack Quinn in 1932.
And to think the Baltimore Orioles gave up on Moyer after the 1995 season. Indeed, Moyer is on his eighth team after missing last season following Tommy John surgery.
This seems like a Satchel Paige tale. Nobody was truly sure how old the one-time Negro League player was when he debuted with Cleveland in 1948 at supposedly age 41. Paige pitched at some level from 1926 to 1966, even reaching the Major League All-Star Game at 47.
Eight major league managers and 16 general managers are younger than Moyer. Then again, the father of eight is used to being called “Sir.”
Moyer’s birth certificate is made of parchment. His AARP card is in the mail. He can almost order off the seniors menu. And he’s still winning with a 78 mph fastball.
Moyer seems a lock for the Baseball Hall of Fame one day. His 268 victories are tied for 35th all-time with Jim Palmer, and Moyer’s 2,411 strikeouts are 37th. He just needs to retire to enter Cooperstown, but nobody knows when Moyer will quit. He won’t decide until season’s end whether to return next year at 50.
Bill Shoemaker was 54 when he rode Ferdinand to the Kentucky Derby winner’s circle. Gordie Howe was 52 when he finished with the Hartford Whalers in 1980. Martina Navratilova was 49 when she claimed the 2006 U.S. Open mixed doubles crown.
At 48, George Blanda was alive and kicking for the Oakland Raiders in 1975. Julius Boros was also 48 when he won the 1968 PGA Championship. George Foreman was heavyweight champion at 45 in 1994. Robert Parrish was 43 when he helped Chicago win the 1997 NBA crown.
Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell Green played until he was 42. The NFL’s four-time fastest man later ran 40 yards in a blistering 4.43 seconds on his 50th birthday.
The average age of a major league baseball player is 27. Washington Nationals phenom Bryce Harper is 19, which means Moyer was 30 when the outfielder was born. Harper’s father, Ron, played high school ball against pitcher Greg Maddux, who retired in 2008 after 23 seasons.
Certainly, Moyer is the product of modern medicine with Tommy John surgery extending his career. He’s still a genetic marvel, but even Moyer expects some young punk will break his record one day.
But that day doesn’t appear to be coming any time soon.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
