MLB History: Five Best Seasons for 40+ Year Old Players
Many people in the baseball stratosphere are beginning to re-think David Ortiz‘s decision to retire following the 2016 MLB season. Fans, teammates, media personnel and bloggers alike — even the Boston Red Sox’s front office surely must think the 40 years young slugger could be an asset to their club next year.
Big Papi turned 40 last November, though his age is showing nothing when it comes to his swing and vision at the plate. Through May 27th’s games, Ortiz led all American League qualifiers in doubles (22), runs batted in (45), OBP (.420), SLG (.706) and OPS (1.126).
He certainly has not lost his power stroke, either. Papi’s 12 round trippers are the third most by any hitter in the AL at this point and he even has one triple on the season, something that last appeared on his stat sheet back in 2013.
Ortiz might be having his best season to date as a designated hitter. By the time October rolls around, it could rank as one of the best ever by an MLB player aged 40 or older. In honor of Papi’s MVP caliber start to 2016, here are the top five seasons in MLB history by a hitter forty or older after the deadball era.
Next: Number 5
5. Tie: 2003 – Edgar Martinez/40 & 1999 – Rickey Henderson/40
Martinez – SEA: .294-72-24-98-0, oWAR 3.3, wRC+ 142
Henderson – NYM: .315-89-12-42-37, oWAR 3.3, wRC+ 135
In 2003 with the Mariners, the original Papi was still raking. Edgar Martinez had a stellar season for his penultimate performance and was named an All-Star and awarded his fifth Silver Slugger award. His 98 RBI are the third most by any MLB player post-1920 in their age 40 season or beyond.
Five years prior on the opposite coast of America, Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson was still doing his thing on the base paths of Major League stadiums around the country.
Henderson swiped 37 bases in his age 40 season, easily the most by any player who was on the wrong side of 40. Number two on that same list? You guessed it, the Man of Steal himself. Henderson followed up his age 40 campaign with 36 stolen bases in 2000 at 41.
But his 1999 season wasn’t just all about being a base thief. Henderson managed to hit 15 points above .300 and his .423 OBP ranked seventh in the AL. Not bad for a leadoff hitter playing his 21st season of big league baseball.
Next: Number 4
4. 1987 – Darrell Evans/40
DET: .257-90-34-99-6, oWAR 3.7, wRC+ 137
Darrell Evans, affectionately known as Howdy Doody during his playing days, was the definition of longevity in a pro sports career.
Though he was only twice named an All-Star, Evans managed to suit up for 21 seasons of MLB with three different teams. In his age 38 season, he led the AL with 40 homers and eventually hit 414 total during his playing days.
His age 40 season was a fine one. Evans’ 34 taters are the most ever hit by a player 40 or older, a feat he probably doesn’t receive enough recognition for, especially when the steroid era is factored in. His 99 RBI are the second most in history under the same circumstances.
Evans finished 12th in AL MVP voting in 1987. Everyone was overlooked in favor of Toronto’s George Bell that season, who hit .308 with 47 home runs and 134 driven in.
Next: Number 3
3. 1992 – Dave Winfield/40
TOR: .290-92-26-108-2, oWAR 4.1, wRC+ 140
Dave Winfield only played one season with the Blue Jays, though it may possibly have been his most memorable one to date.
In the winter of 1991, he signed a one-year deal with Toronto for $2.3MM to be their right fielder and designated hitter. Not only did Winny have one of the better seasons ever for a player aged 40 or older, it netted him his only World Series ring in a playing career that spanned three decades.
Winfield followed 1992 up with two years playing for his hometown Twins and ended his career in 1995 with the Cleveland Indians. That same year, in his age 43 season, the Tribe made the World Series, but eventually lost out to the Braves in six games. Winfield failed to register an at-bat in the series.
Next: Number 2
2. Tie: 1990 – Carlton Fisk/42 & 1927 – Ty Cobb/40
Cobb – PHA: .357-104-5-93-22, oWAR 4.3, wRC+ 138
Fisk – CWS: .285-65-18-65-7, oWAR 4.3, wRC+ 133
While Ty Cobb‘s statistics might be more impressive at first glance, note that Carlton Fisk‘s entry onto this list took place in his age 42 season.
Also then, consider that Fisk led the White Sox in overall WAR in 1999 despite his age and the roster featuring such names as Robin Ventura, Ozzie Guillen and Sammy Sosa — the oldest of which was Guillen at 26.
It gets even more impressive. After being a catcher his entire career, Fisk’s knees were still capable of crouching behind home plate with all that wear and tear on them. At 42, he caught 112 of the White Sox’s games in 1990 and was still efficient, registering a 1.2 dWAR.
Both are first ballot Hall of Famers and both deserve to be on this list, so a tie here seems reasonable.
Next: Number 1
1. 1971 – Willie Mays/40
SFG: .271-82-18-61-23, oWAR 6.1, wRC+ 157
A true living legend and one of the all-time greats, Willie Mays, at 85, may still be able to swat a ball to the outfield and slide into second base with a double. Who are we to doubt him?
The Say Hey Kid terrorized pitchers for so long that they probably couldn’t help but start to respect him. In 1971, he led the NL in OBP (.425) and walks (112), the latter of which was a personal best for Mays in a season.
Considering he came only two blasts away from going 20-20 in his age 40 season and his OPS of .907 ranks second behind only Cobb’s 1927 season for players 40-plus, the former Giant is a clear cut No. 1 choice here.
However, if Ortiz continues his pace in 2016, Mays could very well be bumped from his perch. Ortiz’s current OPS would rank first if the season ended today and his wRC+ of 197 is 40 points higher than Mays’ mark from ’71.
Next: 5 biggest outlier seasons by active MLB hitters
If Big Papi has one thing working in his favor, it’s that he doesn’t need play center field every day as Mays did until he was 42.