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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12 years ago

Reply to Hartvig

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

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

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

12 years ago

Reply to vivaeljason

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

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

12 years ago

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

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

12 years ago

How many years does manager Jim Tracy have on him?

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

12 years ago

Reply to Voomo Zanzibar

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

Author

Andy

12 years ago

Reply to Dan

Tracy is only about 6 years and 11 months older than Moyer.

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

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

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

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

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!

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Andy

12 years ago

Reply to Dan

I know you’re joking, but the problem of course is that Moyer has a really nasty changeup that very closely mimics his fastball but differs in speed by something like 15 MPH. Ryan doesn’t have that, and if all he can do is lob 79 MPH meatballs up there, he would get crushed.

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

12 years ago

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

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

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

12 years ago

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

Editor

John Autin

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

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.

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

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!

Editor

John Autin

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

12 years ago

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

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!

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

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

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…