Most Seasons Pitched Records
The Rhyme of the Ancient Pitcher:
How Old is “Old” ?
Many Taoist philosophers in China developed a belief in immortality. Myths and legends around the world suggest it is possible to achieve a deathless state, for example the Babaji figure of the Himalayas, the Joseph of Aramathea character in Grail legends, Yoda, of the Star Wars neo-mythology looks pretty old to me. Then there’s the Wandering Jew, and Mel Brooks 2000 year old man. Methusula had it easy by comparison. But what about pitchers? Is it true that some pitchers can pitch forever? Or is it a myth?
To misquote the bard Bob Dylan, “How many years can a man pitch in the major leagues before he is washed out to the sea?” Well, I did a complete analysis of all pitchers in the 20th Century, and found that there is a line beyond which no pitcher has ever survived, a quarter century in the majors. Many have pitched 20 seasons, but it tapers off quickly above that, a curve, appropriately enough.
It seems that no matter how strong a man is, he cannot pitch for more than 25 seasons without losing the competitive edge. Only Jim Kaat reached his 25th season, while only Tommy John and Phil Niekro reached their 24th season, yet more reached 23 seasons, 22 and 21 respectively. Like wins in a season, 20 seasons seems to be a kind of Mendoza line for champions; any pitcher who pitches into a glorious twentieth season is probably headed for the Hall. He will at least get an honorable stat mention, for one reason or another, if only for most mornings at practice on time.
Here is the complete breakdown. So if you plan to pitch your way into the Hall of Fame, you’d better eat your Wheaties. Unless your name is Sandy Koufax, it takes about 20 seasons to collect enough victories, strikeouts, and saves, to make it. That’s how many years Babe Ruth was in the American League; you could call it “the Babe Ruth line.” Only 29 pitchers have hit or passed the 20 season mark, but almost all are Hall of Famers. (Eppa Rixey, you say; who was he? I don’t know! There’s an exception to every rule)
25 Seasons Pitched (The Unbreakable Line)
Jim Kaat
24 Seasons Pitched (The Tommy John Line)
Tommy John
Phil Niekro
23 Seasons Pitched (The Steve Carlton Line)
Steve Carlton
Jack Quinn
Early Wynn
22 Seasons Pitched (The Gaylord Perry Line)
Sad Sam Koons
Herb Pennock
Gaylord Perry
Red Ruffing
Nolan Ryan
Don Sutton
Cy Young
21 Seasons Pitched (The Walter Johnson Line)
Clark Griffith
Waite Hoyt
Walter Johnson
Ted Lyons
Lindy McDaniel
Joe Niekro
Eppa Rixey
Warren Spahn
20 Seasons Pitched (The Tom Seaver Line)
Grover Cleveland Alexander
Red Faber
Mel Harder
Dutch Leonard
Dolf Luque
Babe Ruth (pitched on and off from 1914 to 1933)
Tom Seaver
Curt Simmons
19 Seasons Pitched (the “Luis Tiant” Line)
Babe Adams
Nick Altrock
Freddie Fitzsimmons
John Franco
Burleigh Grimes
Jesse Haines
Dick Hall
Jerry Koosman
Tug McGraw
Jim Palmer
Ron Reed
Jerry Reuss
Luis Tiant
Bucky Walters
Tom Zachary
18 Seasons Pitched (The Bob Feller Line)
Burt Blyleven
Lew Burdett
Wild Bill Donovan
Bob Feller
Woody Fryman
Charlie Hough
Johnny Klippstein
Rube Marquand
Don McMahon
Claude Osteen
Camilo Pasqual
Ray Sedecki
Mike Torrez
17 Seasons Pitched (The Bob Gibson Line)
Vida Blue
Jim Bunning
Tom Burgmaier
Guy Bush
Al Downing
Moe Drabowski
Rollie Fingers
Bob Gibson
Steve Gromek
Lefty Grove
Ron Kline
Danny MacFayden
Christy Mathews
Bob Miller
Milt Pappas
Jim Perry
Eddie Plank
Charlie Root
Virgil Trucks
Wilbur Wood
16 Years Pitched (The Whitey Ford Line)
Chief Bender
Tommy Bridges
Bill Dietrich
Roy Face
Whitey Ford
Ken Forsch
Terry Forrster
Bob Friend
Goose Gossage
Larry Gura
Bill Henry
Carl Hubbell
Darold Knowles
Vernon Law
Thornton Lee
Mickey Lolitch
Sparky Lyle
Juan Marichal
Mike McCormick
Fred Norman
Jack Powell
Bobby Shantz
Satchel Paige pitched in 1965 at the age of 59 years old, however he did not pitch consecutive years in the majors. He pitched from 1948 to 1953, then again in 1965. If he had stayed in the majors in the interim years, he would have had 18 seasons in the big leagues.
How Old is “Old” ?
Many Taoist philosophers in China developed a belief in immortality. Myths and legends around the world suggest it is possible to achieve a deathless state, for example the Babaji figure of the Himalayas, the Joseph of Aramathea character in Grail legends, Yoda, of the Star Wars neo-mythology looks pretty old to me. Then there’s the Wandering Jew, and Mel Brooks 2000 year old man. Methusula had it easy by comparison. But what about pitchers? Is it true that some pitchers can pitch forever? Or is it a myth?
To misquote the bard Bob Dylan, “How many years can a man pitch in the major leagues before he is washed out to the sea?” Well, I did a complete analysis of all pitchers in the 20th Century, and found that there is a line beyond which no pitcher has ever survived, a quarter century in the majors. Many have pitched 20 seasons, but it tapers off quickly above that, a curve, appropriately enough.
It seems that no matter how strong a man is, he cannot pitch for more than 25 seasons without losing the competitive edge. Only Jim Kaat reached his 25th season, while only Tommy John and Phil Niekro reached their 24th season, yet more reached 23 seasons, 22 and 21 respectively. Like wins in a season, 20 seasons seems to be a kind of Mendoza line for champions; any pitcher who pitches into a glorious twentieth season is probably headed for the Hall. He will at least get an honorable stat mention, for one reason or another, if only for most mornings at practice on time.
Here is the complete breakdown. So if you plan to pitch your way into the Hall of Fame, you’d better eat your Wheaties. Unless your name is Sandy Koufax, it takes about 20 seasons to collect enough victories, strikeouts, and saves, to make it. That’s how many years Babe Ruth was in the American League; you could call it “the Babe Ruth line.” Only 29 pitchers have hit or passed the 20 season mark, but almost all are Hall of Famers. (Eppa Rixey, you say; who was he? I don’t know! There’s an exception to every rule)
25 Seasons Pitched (The Unbreakable Line)
Jim Kaat
24 Seasons Pitched (The Tommy John Line)
Tommy John
Phil Niekro
23 Seasons Pitched (The Steve Carlton Line)
Steve Carlton
Jack Quinn
Early Wynn
22 Seasons Pitched (The Gaylord Perry Line)
Sad Sam Koons
Herb Pennock
Gaylord Perry
Red Ruffing
Nolan Ryan
Don Sutton
Cy Young
21 Seasons Pitched (The Walter Johnson Line)
Clark Griffith
Waite Hoyt
Walter Johnson
Ted Lyons
Lindy McDaniel
Joe Niekro
Eppa Rixey
Warren Spahn
20 Seasons Pitched (The Tom Seaver Line)
Grover Cleveland Alexander
Red Faber
Mel Harder
Dutch Leonard
Dolf Luque
Babe Ruth (pitched on and off from 1914 to 1933)
Tom Seaver
Curt Simmons
19 Seasons Pitched (the “Luis Tiant” Line)
Babe Adams
Nick Altrock
Freddie Fitzsimmons
John Franco
Burleigh Grimes
Jesse Haines
Dick Hall
Jerry Koosman
Tug McGraw
Jim Palmer
Ron Reed
Jerry Reuss
Luis Tiant
Bucky Walters
Tom Zachary
18 Seasons Pitched (The Bob Feller Line)
Burt Blyleven
Lew Burdett
Wild Bill Donovan
Bob Feller
Woody Fryman
Charlie Hough
Johnny Klippstein
Rube Marquand
Don McMahon
Claude Osteen
Camilo Pasqual
Ray Sedecki
Mike Torrez
17 Seasons Pitched (The Bob Gibson Line)
Vida Blue
Jim Bunning
Tom Burgmaier
Guy Bush
Al Downing
Moe Drabowski
Rollie Fingers
Bob Gibson
Steve Gromek
Lefty Grove
Ron Kline
Danny MacFayden
Christy Mathews
Bob Miller
Milt Pappas
Jim Perry
Eddie Plank
Charlie Root
Virgil Trucks
Wilbur Wood
16 Years Pitched (The Whitey Ford Line)
Chief Bender
Tommy Bridges
Bill Dietrich
Roy Face
Whitey Ford
Ken Forsch
Terry Forrster
Bob Friend
Goose Gossage
Larry Gura
Bill Henry
Carl Hubbell
Darold Knowles
Vernon Law
Thornton Lee
Mickey Lolitch
Sparky Lyle
Juan Marichal
Mike McCormick
Fred Norman
Jack Powell
Bobby Shantz
Satchel Paige pitched in 1965 at the age of 59 years old, however he did not pitch consecutive years in the majors. He pitched from 1948 to 1953, then again in 1965. If he had stayed in the majors in the interim years, he would have had 18 seasons in the big leagues.
posted by evan pritchard | 3:23 PM
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