Despite the mounds of snow outside our Boston streets, baseball is upon us. The crack of the bat, the popping of the catcher’s mitt – well, at least in Florida and Arizona. Spring Training has finally arrived in 2003, meaning Opening Day will just be a few more weeks away. While Spring Training marks the start of the extensive baseball season, it may spell the beginning of the end for some of the game’s oldest, and greatest.
While this boyhood game makes even the oldest feel young again, age creates restrictions to the duration of a career. Unfortunately, some players fade off and do not have a huge finale. However, there are some who seem to be as great at the end as when they first made their splash into the majors. As our generation is growing up with the careers of A-Rod, Nomar, Jeter, Tejada, Zito, and Pedro, the stars from our toddler years are trying to go out with a bang.
When I think of aging excellence, I think of two words: Randy Johnson. Possibly the most dominant left-handed pitcher in major league history, Johnson does not appear to be giving in to old age. At 6-feet 10-inches, the 39-year-old Arizona Diamondback has won the Cy Young Award four times in a row. He also picked up the award while in Seattle in 1995. Johnson, heralded by some as the best pitcher in the game, is currently fourth on the all-time strikeout list. As a manager in a must-win situation, I would give him the ball before anyone else.
Although Roger Clemens has not officially stated it, he has hinted that he will not pitch beyond this season. Clemens is only seven wins away from career number 300, and expects to have about 30 friends and family in attendance when he goes for the magical win. The reason that the six-time Cy Young Award-winner has lasted so long is because of his well-known work ethic. He is a monster on the field and in the weight room. His mentality is that a pitcher should let everything out during a game, refuel for the next game and then empty the tank again. Clemens, who will be 41 in August, can outrun and outperform players half his age, and could probably pitch a few more years, though it is unlikely. No matter what Clemens decides, strikeout 4,000 and win 300 seem well within reach this season.
Mark Grace of the Arizona Diamondbacks is not quite ready to call it quits either. Grace was a staple in Chicago, and collected more hits and doubles than any other man in the 1990s. Grace, who will turn 39 this June, finally became a world champion in 2001. While his batting average saw a dramatic dip last season, and his team was swept out of the first round of the playoffs, Grace is still a solid defender and a useful facet in the clubhouse. I would look for Grace to move on to coaching somewhere down the road, whenever he should decide to retire.
The New York Mets have a couple of old-timers heading into the final stages of their careers. Captain John Franco underwent elbow surgery last year and should be back around the All-Star break. Franco is the all-time saves leader among lefthander pitchers with 422. While he is in the final year of his contract, Franco plays the game with the heart of a little leaguer and will try to go as far as his elbow will take him.
The Mets announced last week that they have signed 40-year old veteran David Cone to a minor league contract. While Cone has had an impressive career, 193 wins and a 3.44 career ERA, he is most noted for his postseason experience. Cone, one of the most dominant playoff pitchers of his generation, has compiled an 8-3 record with a 3.80 ERA in 21 postseason games, with even better numbers in the World Series. The five-time world champion will compete for a starting role or may even pitch out of the bullpen.
No talk of aging veteran baseball players can be complete without mentioning the name Jesse Orosco. Orosco will turn 46 in April and is still an efficient tool for getting left-handed batters out. The oldest active major leaguer not surprisingly also holds the career record for appearances. Orosco will be entering his 24th season as well as playing for his eighth team.
It is not an easy task to play ball past the age of 40. Only 18 players in major league history have played past their 46th birthdays. Some notables include Tommy John, workhorse Nolan Ryan and knuckleballer Phil Niekro. Satchel Paige actually played one game in 1965 at the tender age of 59.
There are 18 active players who are currently 40 or older. While some of them may be limping through their final years, a select few will be continuing their dominance of the game that has been the trademark of their careers.