The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 18. Hoyt Wilhelm, 1958-72 (35-49)
- 99 wins (99-93)
- 2.29 ERA
- 466 games finished
- 175 saves
Hoyt Wilhelm is one of the longest-tenured members of this list. Wilhelm didn’t make his major league debut until the age of 29 and spent 21 seasons playing professional baseball. The right-handed relief pitcher played his final MLB game at age 49 and, In total, 15 of his professional seasons followed his 35th birthday.
As a relief pitcher, Wilhelm’s story is one of the most unique. For starters, he helped cement the role of a relief pitcher. In fact, Wilhelm was featured on Call to the Pen’s list of the 30 greatest closers in MLB history. Not only did Wilhelm help transform the role of relief pitchers across the league, but he also did most of his damage with an elusive knuckleball. It’s easy to recognize the top relief pitchers around the league with their blazing fastballs, but a knuckleball in the pen is nearly unheard of.
Wilhelm notched 466 games finished through his final 15 seasons along with another 175 saves. His 466 games finished ranks second on the all-time list of players over 35 while his 175 saves is also top-10. The eight-time All-Star selection owned a 2.29 ERA and 99 wins while pitched to sub-2.00 ERAs in six different seasons.
In 1985, Wilhelm became the first relief pitcher enshrined in Baseball’s Hall of Fame.