The 2011 card image on the left identifies Omar Vizquel as a third baseman. Vizquel, though, wrapped up his 24-year career this week as the all-time leader in games played at shortstop, a mark that Derek Jeter may surpass in 2014 or later. Over his career, Vizquel has competed against rival shortstops ranging from Alan Trammell to Elvis Andrus. Among all those opponents, I was curious which one, paired with Vizquel, represented the most combined game experience ever at the position.

After the jump, I’ll look at the question of which historical games featured  starters having the most combined games experience at each position.

So, let’s get right into it. These are the games that I think involve opposing starters with the most combined games experience at their positions. The games experience shown is career games played at the indicated position as of (and including) the referenced game.

Any surprises? Let me know of any combos you think may top these.

Some notes:

Pitcher – This 1987 game also likely represented the greatest combined age (over 90 years) of opposing starters. The pair turned back the clock, both pitching into the 8th inning, as 48 year-old Niekro prevailed 2-0, allowing just 3 hits.

Catcher – Rodriguez and Kendall were both going strong, as each caught all 3 games of this series. The Royals prevailed 1-0 over the Nats, as Stephen Strasburg took a tough loss, the first of his career. Just behind this pair are Carlton Fisk and Bob Boone, who last started against each other on Sep 5, 1990, with a combined 4244 games of experience behind the plate.

First Base – The Crime Dog was still playing everyday as the 2003 season began, while Mark Grace was used only very occasionally in his final season. Another long-tenured first baseman was Andres Galarraga, also wrapping up his career this year (save for a single game at the first sack in 2004) with over 2000 career games at first.

Second Base –  This game meeting, in the final week of White’s career, was occasioned by Randolph’s trade from the Dodgers earlier that season. If someone wants to bet you that Frank White never played in the outfield, take the bet – White took his only turn in the outfield as a rightfielder in the 2nd to last game of his career (if anyone knows why, please tell us).

Shortstop –  Vizquel might have had an even more recent game represented here, except that Jeter was not playing or was not playing at shortstop when Omar started at short against the Yankees in 2011 and 2012. Despite a career OPS+ of only 82, Vizquel ranks first in games played among all players with a career OPS+ of 110 or less.

Third Base – Scott Rolen and Adrian Beltre both passed the 2000 game mark at third base this year (and Chipper Jones ended up just a handful of games short of that milestone). Beltre conceivably could catch Robinson but, unless and until that happens, Brooksie remains the gold standard for hot corner longevity. The matchup represented here was occasioned by Ron Santo’s cross-town trade (the Cubs picked up 4 playes in the swap, including future Cy Yong winner Steve Stone) for his final season, and is one of only 28 games Santo played at third that year.

Left Field – Anyone else surprised to see Luis Gonzalez’s name here? He may have flown under the radar somewhat, but the man was nothing if not reliable – a 119 career OPS+ and 14 of his 18 seasons were within 20 points of that mark, one of the exceptions being his monster 2001 season for the WS champion D-Backs with 174 OPS+, 57 HR and 142 RBI. This is also a good trivia answer – for the question of what other record Barry Bonds set in the first week of August 2007.

Center Field – I had originally estimated 5000 games for Speaker and Cobb in center, but have been able to refine that to the total shown thanks to input from Lawrence Azrin and birtelcom. The game shown was the pair’s last against each other before becoming teammates in 1928 for the final season of both their careers. Probably the closest pair to Cobb and Speaker are Willie Mays and Willie Davis, with 4617 combined CF games on June 10, 1973.

Right Field – Hank Aaron was playing mostly first base by the 1972 season, and the game shown here was one of only 15 he played in right that year. In what would, tragically, be Clemente’s final season, he earned his 12th straight gold glove, and was an All-Star selection and also tallied MVP votes for the the 11th time in those 12 years.

Designated Hitter – As DHs seem to be made rather than born, rather fitting that Baines and Martinez should top this list as both were established players at other positions before switching to become DH specialists. Just behind them on the DH list are the pair of Don Baylor and Hal McRae with 2529 combined DH games at their last meeting on Apr 20, 1987.