Oldest Rookies
Posted by Chris J. on June 28, 2007
Random question: Who are baseball's oldest rookies? Using PI, you can find out.
Go to Player Season Finder, set for seasons from 1876-2007, look for first year for people ages 40 or older (first year players and ages are options in the left column). Look for players with 1 or more games played.
Going by Batting Season Finder these are the oldest rookies ever.
I did it with pitchers too, but it didn't quite work. Most of the new entries are position players who tossed a few innings in their geriatric years.
The oldest rookie of them all pitched his first MLB game 2 days after his 42nd birthday, and still made the Hall for his on-field achievements.
