MLB History: Five Best Seasons for 40+ Year Old Players

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