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MLB History: Best careers after age of 35

By Adam Taylor McKillop

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 28: A baseball with MLB logo is seen at Citizens Bank Park before a game between the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies on June 28, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 28: A baseball with MLB logo is seen at Citizens Bank Park before a game between the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies on June 28, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Tommy John
Tommy John (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 30. Tommy John, 1978-89 (35-46)

  • 134 wins (134-108) 
  • 3.80 ERA
  • 34.5 WAR
  • 13 shutouts 

We kick off this list with a player more infamous for his health procedure than his stellar MLB career. Tommy John was one of the first players in MLB history to undergo surgery to reconstruct his pitching elbow. The results? Extraordinary. So extraordinary, in fact, that this elbow surgery is now better known as Tommy John surgery and remains a staple in the game extending the pitching careers of hundreds around baseball.

This revolutionary surgery, originally proposed by Dr. Frank Jobe in 1974, was a true game-changer. In the past, an elbow injury quickly ruined the promising careers of pitchers throughout MLB history. Now, Tommy John surgery is almost expected.

John underwent this surgery in 1974 at the age of 31. He led the MLB in winning percentage as a starter the two years prior, but a popping sound in his elbow generated fear that his promising career was over. Enter the revolutionary surgery and the course of MLB history changed. John turned 35-years-old in 1978, two years following his return to action.

The four-time All-Star went on to pitch 12 more seasons until the age of 46. Throughout that time, he went 134-108 in 320 starts while recording a 3.80 ERA. John also recorded 13 shutouts and allowed only 0.6 home runs per nine innings during that span. From 35 on, John owned a 34.5 WAR, largely in part to his newly-found durability and longevity. All thanks to that revolutionary procedure to reconstruct his pitching elbow.

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