Jamie Moyer’s gonna break a lot of records

Presswire

Despite what the back of his jersey says, Jamie Moyer’s not going to turn 50 until November of this year. Now that he’s been named to the Rockies’ starting rotation, however, he has the chance to set a lot of age-related records.When Moyer starts his first game this year, he’ll become the second oldest guy to start a game since 1918:

Rk Player Age Date Tm Opp Rslt App,Dec IP
1 Satchel Paige 59.080 1965-09-25 KCA BOS L 2-5 GS-3 3.0
2 Phil Niekro 48.179 1987-09-27 ATL SFG L 6-15 GS-3 3.0
3 Phil Niekro 48.150 1987-08-29 TOR OAK L 5-6 GS-1 0.2
4 Phil Niekro 48.142 1987-08-21 TOR CAL L 1-3 GS-6 ,L 5.2
5 Phil Niekro 48.134 1987-08-13 TOR CHW L 3-10 GS-6 ,L 5.2
6 Phil Niekro 48.126 1987-08-05 CLE NYY L 2-5 GS-8 ,L 7.1
7 Phil Niekro 48.121 1987-07-31 CLE TOR L 3-8 GS-7 6.0
8 Phil Niekro 48.115 1987-07-25 CLE TEX L 3-7 GS-6 ,L 6.0
9 Phil Niekro 48.110 1987-07-20 CLE KCR W 9-5 GS-5 ,W 5.0
10 Phil Niekro 48.100 1987-07-10 CLE TEX L 4-10 GS-6 ,L 5.0
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/31/2012.

Paige went only 3 innings, meaning that Moyer has a great chance to be the oldest pitcher to start and go more than 3 innings, or to get a win.

Moyer’s already got the record for the longest complete-game shutout since 1918:

Rk Player Age Date Tm Opp Rslt App,Dec IP
1 Jamie Moyer 47.170 2010-05-07 PHI ATL W 7-0 SHO9 ,W 9.0
2 Phil Niekro 46.188 1985-10-06 NYY TOR W 8-0 SHO9 ,W 9.0
3 Charlie Hough 46.160 1994-06-14 FLA STL W 7-0 SHO9 ,W 9.0
4 Satchel Paige 46.075 1952-09-20 (2) SLB CHW W 4-0 SHO9 ,W 9.0
5 Satchel Paige 46.030 1952-08-06 SLB DET W 1-0 12.0
6 Jack Quinn 45.076 1928-09-15 PHA CLE W 5-0 9.0
7 Jack Quinn 45.040 1928-08-10 PHA WSH W 8-0 9.0
8 Phil Niekro 45.023 1984-04-24 NYY KCR W 4-0 SHO9 ,W 9.0
9 Gaylord Perry 44.353 1983-09-03 (1) KCR TEX W 5-0 SHO9 ,W 9.0
10 Jack Quinn 44.319 1928-05-15 PHA CLE W 5-0 9.0
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/31/2012.

He has a chance to add 2 more years to that record.

Phil Niekro still has the record for a complete game, and Moyer has a chance to beat that:

Rk Player Age Date Tm Opp Rslt App,Dec IP
1 Phil Niekro 48.085 1987-06-25 CLE MIN L 3-4 CG 8 ,L 8.0
2 Phil Niekro 48.056 1987-05-27 CLE BOS L 0-1 CG 8 ,L 8.0
3 Jamie Moyer 47.199 2010-06-05 PHI SDP W 6-2 CG 9 ,W 9.0
4 Phil Niekro 47.171 1986-09-19 CLE OAK L 1-5 CG 8 ,L 8.0
5 Jamie Moyer 47.170 2010-05-07 PHI ATL W 7-0 SHO9 ,W 9.0
6 Phil Niekro 47.099 1986-07-09 CLE CHW W 6-3 CG 9 ,W 9.0
7 Phil Niekro 47.094 1986-07-04 CLE KCR W 10-3 CG 9 ,W 9.0
8 Phil Niekro 47.082 1986-06-22 CLE MIN W 4-1 CG 9 ,W 9.0
9 Phil Niekro 47.064 1986-06-04 CLE BOS L 4-6 CG 8 ,L 8.0
10 Phil Niekro 46.188 1985-10-06 NYY TOR W 8-0 SHO9 ,W 9.0
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/31/2012.

Since 1901, not too many pitchers have thrown at least 100 innings over the age of 46:

Rk IP Year Age Tm G GS CG SHO GF BB SO ERA ERA+
1 Phil Niekro 138.2 1987 48 TOT 26 26 2 0 0 66 64 6.30 72
2 Phil Niekro 210.1 1986 47 CLE 34 32 5 0 1 95 81 4.32 96
3 Jamie Moyer 111.2 2010 47 PHI 19 19 2 1 0 20 63 4.84 84
4 Satchel Paige 117.1 1953 46 SLB 57 4 0 0 34 39 51 3.53 120
5 Phil Niekro 220.0 1985 46 NYY 33 33 7 1 0 120 149 4.09 99
6 Jamie Moyer 162.0 2009 46 PHI 30 25 0 0 1 43 94 4.94 85
7 Charlie Hough 113.2 1994 46 FLA 21 21 1 1 0 52 65 5.15 85
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/31/2012.

Moyer can get to the top of this list, too.

It’s impossible to guess how Moyer will do this year–I just hope he stays healthy and gets a lot of starts.

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Doug
Doug
12 years ago

Also, if Moyer and Takashi Saito appear in the same game, they will be the oldest opposing pitchers by combined age since Hoyt Wilhelm and Don McMahon appeared in this game on May 31, 1972.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN197205310.shtml

John Williams
John Williams
12 years ago

I thought Manny Mota was the hitting coach for the Dodgers will still playing as a pitch hitter. (OK only 8 games in 1980 and 82) Could Jamie do the same type of the bullpen? Lefthander in the bullpen can live long time, like Jesse Orosco. I am sure Moyer has the knowledge to be a good pitching coach or at least the bullpen coach and pitch in the bullpen. This is of course after his days as a starter as done, say age 54. Too crazy to happen?

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
12 years ago

Not to mention a chance to be the oldest player to hit a HR. He has none so far but there is always a first time.

Voomo Zanzibar
Voomo Zanzibar
12 years ago

My ex girlfriend is a 48 year old trapeze artist who cured her torn rotator cuff using her unbending will.

John Williams
John Williams
12 years ago

Right now Jamie Moyer is a all-time leader in home runs allowed with 511. Does number 512 mean that he “broke” a record. It also seems to be one that he will not lose for sometime. Tim Wakefield is at 418, Javier Vázquez with 373 and Liván Hernández with 347. Also with the hitters being “clean”; it seems safe for a few decades.

Hartvig
Hartvig
12 years ago

The 2 non-Tigers I will be rooting the hardest for this year are going to be Moyer and Granderson. I would love to see him win about 15 so we can all go nuts about what happens if he wins 300.

vivaeljason
vivaeljason
12 years ago
Reply to  Hartvig

He becomes a 300 win pitcher that (probably) won’t make the hall of fame?

Hartvig
Hartvig
12 years ago
Reply to  vivaeljason

If Moyer gets to 300 wins he gets my vote for the HOF because… well, just because. The man is a hero to old farts like me.

vivaeljason
vivaeljason
12 years ago
Reply to  Hartvig

Don’t get me wrong, I like Moyer and I think this story is amazing…but his career just wasn’t…spectacular. I’ve never thought of him as a hall of famer. He, in my estimation, deserves enshrinement in the Hall of Very Good.

Lawrence Azrin
Lawrence Azrin
12 years ago
Reply to  vivaeljason

Would Moyer be “first-ballot” for The Hall Of Very Good? And where should THOVG be located?

Hartvig
Hartvig
12 years ago
Reply to  vivaeljason

I vote for Fargo. We already have the Roger Maris museum which is located in a mall and, like Maris himself, pretty low key and unpretentious.

Plus, if were going to start nominating candidates, he would be as good a place to start as any.

bluejaysstatsgeek
bluejaysstatsgeek
12 years ago

Too bad that the Rockie and Jays don’t play this season. He could pitch to Omar Vizquel.

Rico Petrocelli
Rico Petrocelli
12 years ago

Old farts is right. He has a new arm.
300…3 more seasons…impossible…would be HOF worthy. This is a guy who played little league when Nixon was elected. Worthy.

Dan
Dan
12 years ago

How many years does manager Jim Tracy have on him?

Voomo Zanzibar
Voomo Zanzibar
12 years ago
Reply to  Dan

Seven.
And they both played in the minors for the Cubs organization for one year.

1984
Tracy in his last gasp year at AA Iowa
Moyer in his first season at A- Geneva.

Voomo Zanzibar
Voomo Zanzibar
12 years ago
Reply to  Voomo Zanzibar

Excuse me, that is AAA Iowa.
Confused because it is the AA – American Association.

Hartvig
Hartvig
12 years ago
Reply to  Andy

And Moyer is older than 6 current major league managers and less than 1 year younger than 3 others.

Plus he’s more than twice as old as Roger Peckinpaugh and Lou Boudreau, the 2 youngest managers in major league history.

nightfly
12 years ago

His first game, Moyer beat Steve Carlton and the Phillies. He even drew a walk and scored off Carlton in that game.

Ten members of last season’s Rockies were not yet born when this game was played.

Doug
Doug
12 years ago
Reply to  nightfly

In that 1986 season, Tony Perez and Steve Garvey were a collective 0 for 6 against Moyer. Mike Schmidt, though, was 5 for 8 with 2 HR and 7 RBI.

Thomas Court
Thomas Court
12 years ago

I remember watching Moyer Pitch for the Pittsfield Cubs when I was 13. He was 3 years older than some dude named Maddux on that team. If Moyer somehow gets to 300 wins, he absolutely deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame. He is not Pedro or Koufax, but neither are a lot of pitchers already in the Hall. You cannot win 300 games with smoke and mirrors in this era. It is a marathon; and if Moyer somehow reaches the end he should not be denied the prize. Moyer’s peak is not that high, but he did go… Read more »

Mark in Sydney
Mark in Sydney
12 years ago

That September game in ’65 was interesting. Satchel only went 3, gave up 1 hit, had 1 SO and no BB. His GS is listed at 58. Not a bad outing for a (maybe) 59 year old.

Dan
Dan
12 years ago

I’d like to see Nolan make a comeback, was it last year that he threw a ceremonial first pitch that was clocked faster than what Moyer is topping out at. I think Jamie is maxing out at 75mph, if that. I think Nolan’s 1 pitch was 79mph. Make a comeback Nolan!

vivaeljason
vivaeljason
12 years ago
Reply to  Dan

I would only want to see Nolan return if he got into a fight with a certain rookie White Sox manager.

Tom
Tom
12 years ago

I remember watching that CG SHO. 2 dang singles to Troy Glaus away from a perfect game.

Tmckelv
Tmckelv
12 years ago

Andy Pettitte is a lefty starter who has already had a tremendous career and is possibly making a comeback this year after taking a season off. He is 10 years younger than Moyer.

Doug
Doug
12 years ago

Moyer may also have a chance to break the record for greatest age difference between a batter and a pitcher, when both appear as regular roster playes. That record is currently the 29 years, 74 days between the ages of Reds pitcher Hod Lisenbee and Dodger batter Tommy Brown when they faced each other on Aug 10, 1945. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BRO/BRO194508100.shtml Discounting wartime replacement players, the record is 29 years, 8 days age difference between opposing starters Satchel Paige (47) and Bob Miller (18), when the Browns faced the Tigers on Sep 22, 1953. There were two other 18 year-olds in the… Read more »

Big Daddy V
Big Daddy V
12 years ago

The best players are the ones who made their debuts before I was born.

John Autin
Editor
12 years ago

Jamie Moyer, Jack Morris, Tommy John, Eppa Rixey:
The 4 pitchers since 1893 with 250+ wins but no seasons of 6+ WAR.

Lawrence Azrin
Lawrence Azrin
12 years ago

#28/Hartvig,

Yes, I would like to see Roger Maris inducted into The Hall Of Very Good, if only to stop the interminable silly talk about how he deserves to be in the Hall Of Fame.

Mark T.
Mark T.
12 years ago

I’m a big fan of Jamie’s, so I’m very excited that he made the rotation! Hopefully he can pick up a win on Saturday, which is also my birthday.

Jeff Allen
Jeff Allen
12 years ago

With the 253rd pick in my fantasy draft, I picked up Methuselah. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a steal!

John Autin
Editor
12 years ago

One of my favorite passages by Bill James was the one he wrote in the 1986 Abstract about “Phil Niekro is older than….”

Someone has been kind enough to reproduce it online:
http://zvbxrpl.blogspot.com/2009/11/oddly-enough-first-niekro-i-ever-heard.html

Now we need a Moyer version.

john williams
john williams
12 years ago

For Jamie Moyer, we should rename his ERA stat to AARP (Average Allowed Runs while Pitching) for a sponsorship deal.

MikeD
MikeD
12 years ago
Reply to  john williams

A friend of mine recently declared that AARP should be declared a terrorist organization, attacking Americans with their mailings when they’re most vulnerable, just as they’re about to turn 50.

Moyer would be a great spokesperson for AARP if he is still pitching in the Majors next year. What better way to show 50 is just a number by having an active professional athlete as a spokesperson. Not sure how Moyer would feel about it!

Ed
Ed
12 years ago
Reply to  MikeD

I got my first mailing from AARP when I was about 30 years old. I’m still not sure hot I feel about that.

MikeD
MikeD
12 years ago
Reply to  Ed

I just walked out to get the mail and guess what was waiting for me? A mailing inviting me to join AARP. I’m with my friend. They’re terrorists!

Mort
Mort
12 years ago

Playing in the NL, perhaps he can break a few hitting records as well?

Julio Franco currently has the HR record at 48y 254d. Even though Moyer has never hit a HR, anything could happen at Coors Field…