MLB History: Best careers after age of 35

Note: This piece is updated as of the 2023 MLB season

Of the major professional North American sports leagues, baseball offers players the best ability to play and succeed at increasing ages. It’s easy to recognize that the NFL and NBA are ‘young man’ leagues. The elder statesmen of the MLB stick around because of their unique ability to pitch or hit at the highest levels of competition. Sure, with age comes a slight loss of speed and athleticism, but that doesn’t stop baseball players from retiring batters on the mound or smacking baseballs all around the diamond.

In fact, several players throughout MLB history are renowned for playing well past their prime in terms of age, some even remaining in the MLB well into their 40s and 50s. The best example features Leroy “Satchel” Paige, the legendary Hall of Famer and American Negro League star. He’s known as the oldest rookie in MLB history at 42-years-old and played until age 59. Unfortunately, this list is centered only on MLB performance. Paige only spent six official seasons in the MLB but is well-deserving of an honorable mention.

To celebrate this elder generation, Call to the Pen put together a list of the 30 greatest baseball careers in MLB history after the age of 35. Just about every piece of an individual’s on-field performance was considered including WAR, batting average, hits, runs, home runs, RBIs, batting lines, ERA, pitching lines, innings pitched, wins, games finished, saves, and more.

To compile this list, we examined the totality of these careers for players aged 35 or older. A single season of dominance didn’t make the list. These greatest careers required a combination of longevity and elite on-field performance.

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.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 29. Dazzy Vance, 1926-35 (35-44)

• 111 wins (111-94) 
• 3.25 ERA
• 37.0 WAR
• 41 games finished 
• 14 shutouts 

Dazzy Vance is the second starting pitcher to find a spot on this list, coming in at number 29. Vance spent 16 seasons in the MLB, 10 of which came after he turned 35-years-old. He’s best known as one of the early and premier strikeout pitchers after dominating opposing batters throughout the 1920s and ’30s.

Vance was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1955 and for good reason. Detailed on his Cooperstown plaque, Vance was the first pitcher in the National League to lead the MLB in strikeouts for seven consecutive seasons, from 1922-28. Four of these seasons came before age 35, but the streak continued for three seasons following that milestone birthday.

The 1924 Most Valuable Player award winner led the MLB in ERA two different times following his 35th birthday, including a 2.09 mark in 1928. Vance started 292 games, winning 111 of them with a 3.25 ERA, 37.0 WAR, 3.26 FIP, and 14 shutouts. Sadly, the Hall of Famer passed away on Feb. 16, 1961.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 28. Babe Adams, 1918-26 (36-44)

• 81 wins (81-56) 
• 3.02 ERA
• 20 shutouts 
• 46 games finished

Since he broke into the league at 24-years-old in 1906, Babe Adams was one of the best control artists in MLB history. Adams turned 35-years-old in 1917 and pitched nine more seasons from 1918-26. In that span, the two-time World Series champion pitched 1216.2 innings while only walking one batter per nine innings. To put that into perspective, the league’s 2019 leader in BB/9 was Hyun Jin Ryu, who recorded a 1.183 mark.

Adams spent the entirety of his post-35 career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, leading the league with eight shutouts in 1920 and the NL in winning percentage (.737) in 1921. He won 81 games in 139 starts, but also provided a high level of success out of the bullpen. Adams saw action in 211 total games, finishing 46, saving 11, and recording 20 shutouts.

His average throughout that span provides another metric offering insight into his ability to keep runners off of the basepaths. Adams averaged 135 innings pitched per season after turning 35 and walked only 15 batters each year. The 19-year MLB player died on July 27, 1968, at 86-years-old.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 27. Paul Molitor, 1992-98 (35-41)

• .314/.377/.458
• 1233 hits
• 606 RBI
• 596 runs 

Introducing the first position player and hitter to find a spot on this list, the Milwaukee Brewers great, Paul Molitor. The Hall of Famer survived a career plagued by injuries and position changes but is regarded as one of the purest hitters in MLB history.

The pure contact hitter and forever Brewer only spent one season in Milwaukee following his 35th birthday. Still, some of his best seasons at the plate came after this birthday in 1991. Throughout his 21-year career, Molitor reached the 200-hit mark four different times. Two of these seasons came after he turned 35 and include his career-high mark of 225 hits in 1996 at 39-years-old, and his third-highest mark of 211 hits in 1993.

That places him in the top-10 in MLB history amongst baseball players aged 35 or older. His hitting line in those seven seasons was .314/.377/.458 while knocking in more than 600 RBIs. Molitor spent the majority of his seven seasons after turning 35 with the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins. He averaged more than 175 hits in each of those seasons, 87 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases. Molitor was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 26. Dutch Leonard, 1944-53 (35-44) 

• 96 wins (96-88)
• 3.01 ERA
• 14 shutouts
• 26.7 WAR

One of the first things that come to mind when discussing the career of Dutch Leonard is an important distinction. Throughout MLB history, there have been two Dutch Leonard’s to make appearances in professional baseball. Ironically enough, both were starting pitchers and both played in the early 1900s.

Fortunately, for the sake of this list, there are some key differences between the two. For starters, the first Dutch Leonard was left-handed and played from 1913-25 while hanging it up before he turned 35-years-old. The Dutch Leonard that earns a spot on this list, however, was right-handed and spent 20 years in the MLB from 1933-53. This specific Dutch Leonard, or Emil John Leonard, earns the 26th spot on this list.

For the first ten seasons of Leonard’s career, he was a relatively average pitcher. He won 95 games while losing another 93 with a 3.47 ERA. But, in 1943 at the age of 34, something clicked. That season, Leonard earned All-Star honors with the Washington Senators, throwing a then career-low 3.28 ERA. From there, Leonard began to dominate opposing hitters.

Leonard lowered his ERA by half a point after the age of 35 thanks to five seasons of sub-3.00 marks. He excelled at keeping balls in the yard, owning a stifling 0.4 home runs per nine innings during that span. The five-time All-Star struggled in 1949, his first season with the Chicago Cubs. Chicago moved him to the bullpen where he blossomed, finishing 102 games in the final four years of his career. Leonard ranks 19th all-time in WAR for pitchers over the age of 35, according to FanGraphs. 

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 25. Pete Rose, 1976-86 (35-45)

• .293/.370/.378
• 1709 hits
• 836 runs
• 539 RBI

Known as one of the greatest and purest contact hitters to walk the earth, it should be no surprise that Pete Rose finds a home on this list. Part of his legacy stems from his ability to continue hitting exceptionally well into his 40s. Remember, longevity plays a role in earning a spot on this list.

Rose played 24 seasons in the MLB, 11 of which came after he turned 35. Not only does the 17-time All-Star (yes, you’re reading that right) own the most hits in MLB history with 4,256, but he also owns the most hits for players above the age of 35. Rose was also an ironman throughout his career, often playing every single game throughout a season. With that in mind, he also leads all players above 35-years-old in games played, at-bats, and plate appearances. Longevity counts.

But, we can’t just focus on the sample size, because success at the plate is another factor. Rose hit .293/.370/.378 after his 35th birthday, including three seasons with 200+ hits. He led all of baseball in hits for two of those seasons, including the 1981 strike-shortened year. Rose managed 140 hits in only 107 games that year, on pace for another 200-hit campaign.

From ages 35-41, Rose made seven-straight All-Star appearances as part of a miraculous 10-year stretch with these honors. He also scored 836 runs in that span, good for third on the all-time list of players over 35.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 24. Carl Yastrzemski, 1975-83 (35-43)

• .272/.359/.433
• 1152 hits
• 663 RBI 

For nearly half a century, the Boston Red Sox had no issues in left field. It started with the Hall of Famer Ted Williams, who owned the starting job in left from 1939-60. We all know and respect the greatness of Williams, but his successor was equally as impressive. Coming in at No. 24 on this list, Carl Yastrzemski. For the next 23 years, Yastrzemski held onto the position in left field and produced great results.

Yastrzemski follows a similar path to the previous member of this list, Pete Rose, and a ton of players to be named later. It’s all about longevity and the ability to play every day. While his career post-35 may not have been the greatest years of his career, Yastrzemski earned All-Star appearances in seven of his final nine seasons. While he never led the league in any statistical categories after turning 35, he consistently played in at least 130 or more games.

Through those final nine seasons, Yastrzemski averaged 128 hits, 64 runs, 17 home runs, and 74 RBIs per season. Consistency definitely counts. Yastrzemski was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1989, earned 18 All-Star appearances, won a Triple Crown, seven Gold Gloves, and three batting titles throughout his illustrious career.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 23. Eddie Collins, 1922-30 (35-43)

• .342/.440/.436
• 933 hits
• 25.1 WAR

Playing throughout the small-ball period in MLB history of the early 1900s, Eddie Collins absolutely thrived. The speedy and quick-handed second baseman was a menace at the plate, excelled at getting on base and hitting for average. Collins only played until he was 43-years-old, but saw very limited action in his final three MLB seasons. In fact, Collins only played in 48 games during those final three years, which makes his accomplishments that much more impressive.

Collins owns a .342 batting average after the age of 35, which ranks third on the all-time list. He also got on base 44 percent of his plate appearances during that time, adding to the improbable hitting line. The Hall of Famer hit .333 throughout the entirety of his career, which ranks 26th in league history.

Taking out his final three seasons of limited action, Collins recorded 922 hits from 1922-27. That’s an average of 154 hits per season in addition to 25 stolen bases each year. The four-time World Series champion led the AL in stolen bases twice, swiping 90 bags in 1923 and 1924. The Gold Glove award didn’t exist until 1957, but it’s likely that Collins would have walked away with a few of those if he had played in a different era. Collins owned a .970 fielding percentage at second base, his primary position, and finished top-10 in AL defensive WAR four times in his career.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 22. Tris Speaker, 1923-28 (35-40)

• .342/.428/.517
• 938 hits
• 501 runs
• 28.0 WAR

Next up on the list is one of the oldest, the great center fielder Tris Speaker. Considered the best center fielder of his generation and one of the best in MLB history, Speaker was outstanding. The prolific contact hitter owns the fifth-highest career batting average in league history, a blistering .345 mark.

Speaker only played through his 40th birthday but remained a potent threat at the plate. From 1923-28 and ages 35-40, Speaker notched a staggering hitting line of .342/.428/.517. He put together 938 hits over his final six seasons, or an average of 150+ each season. Speaker was also a doubles machine as a gap hitter and remains the all-time league leader in career doubles with 792 across 22 MLB seasons.

In 1923, Speaker turned 35-years-old and put together one of the greatest seasons of his career. That year, the Hall of Famer hit .380/.469/.610 while leading all of baseball with 59 doubles and 130 RBIs. Even playing in the early 1900s, hitting more than 100 RBIs as a contact hitter is incredible.

Speaker is also known for his defensive prowess in center field. According to his Hall of Fame webpage, the three-time World Series Champion was known for playing a very shallow center field. He led AL center fielders in putouts seven times. Speaker’s 450 career assists rank first in MLB history among center fielders and his 6,783 putouts rank second behind Willie Mays. Speaker was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1937.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 21. Jack Quinn, 1919-33 (35-49)

• 163 wins (163-144) 
• 23 shutouts
• 39.3 WAR
• 51 saves and 161 games finished 

In researching the career of Jack Quinn, it’s difficult to obtain accurate information surrounding his age, dates played in MLB, or even his real name. According to Charles F. Faber of SABR, Quinn lived a very private life outside of professional baseball. As a result, there’s no definitive answer on Quinn’s birth name, birth date, and birthplace. For sake of this list, however, we’ll go with the information provided by Baseball-Reference.

Quinn spent 15 seasons in the MLB following his 35th birthday and pretty much did it all on the mound. He operated as both a starting pitcher and reliever (the MLB hadn’t experienced the evolution of the closer role yet). In those 15 seasons, Quinn pitched to 163 wins in close to 300 starts. He saw action in a total of 536 games, finishing 161 and earning 51 saves. The two-time World Series champion also owned 23 shutouts during that span.

Like a number of pitchers who played in the early 1900s, Quinn was exceptional at preventing home runs. Throughout his 22-year career, Quinn gave up just 0.2 home runs per nine innings. From his 35th birthday on, that number rose to just 0.3 home runs per nine. Quinn’s 39.3 WAR after the age of 35 ranks seventh on the all-time list.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 20. Carlton Fisk, 1983-93 (35-45) 

• 193 HR
• 652 RBI
• 24.7 WAR

It’s really easy to define Carlton Fisk’s career in one single moment. That infamous game-winning home run off the left-field foul pole at Fenway Park in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. In all honesty, that ball would have gone foul if not for his heroic waves to keep it fair. Despite the brilliance of that moment that’s forever etched in Boston Red Sox history, it’s unfair to summarize his career with a single moment. Fisk was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2000 after all.

As mentioned on his Hall of Fame plaque, part of Fisk’s resume was his tenable durability. The Hall of Famer spent 24 years in the MLB with 11 of those seasons following his 35th birthday. He spent all of those 11 seasons with the Chicago White Sox, the team he signed with during his 1981 free agency.

After putting together nearly 11 full seasons after his 35th birthday, Fisk put together some impressive longevity stats. This included 193 home runs and 652 RBIs. Both categories rank seventh on the MLB’s all-time list of players over 35. As a catcher, he played in at least 130 games five different seasons after turning 35 which adds to the story of durability.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 19. Dennis Eckersley, 1990-98 (35-43) 

• 437 games finished
• 293 saves
• 3.18 ERA
• 1.058 WHIP

Dennis Eckersley began his MLB career as a starting pitcher. He was pretty decent as a starting pitcher and won close to 150 games with two All-Star appearances. In 1987, everything changed. The Oakland Athletics pushed Eckersley to the closer role and his career path completely changed to a Hall of Fame track. Eckersley dominated opposing hitters with his new role so much so that Call to the Pen recently ranked him as the sixth-greatest closer of all time.

Eckersley spent 12 years closing ball games and nine of these seasons came after his 35th birthday, earning him the 19th spot on this list. In total, Eckersley finished 437 games and racked up 293 saves after turning 35. His 293 saves ranks second on the all-time list of players over 35 while his 437 games finished ranks third.

The Hall of Famer earned three All-Star appearances during this span while pitching to a 3.18 ERA and 1.058 WHIP. His 1992 campaign was one of his career highlights as the six-time All-Star led the AL with 65 games finished and all of baseball in 51 saves. The 1990 campaign was another equally dominant year. Eckersley turned 35 in 1990 and put together an All-Star campaign with 61 games finished, 48 saves, and a stifling 0.61 ERA.

Eckersley is just one of 11 pitchers to win both the Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player Award in the same season and just the second relief pitcher to ever accomplish that feat. This incredible accomplishment came in 1992 at the age of 37.

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.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 17. Eddie Plank, 1911-17 (35-41) 

• 124 wins (124-63)
• 2.29 ERA
• 32 shutouts
• 2.53 FIP

After a highly successful 17-year run in the MLB, Eddie Plank could easily be considered one of the best left-handed pitchers in MLB history. Those are always a fun debate, but this list centers around the best careers after the age of 35. Plank spent seven seasons in the league following his 35th birthday and there’s no question he belongs on this list.

To add some perspective to Plank’s brilliance, let’s take a quick look at his career numbers. The ace lefty won 326 games, then, an all-time mark for lefties, and 2.35 ERA. Additionally, he still owns records for most complete games and shutouts by a left-hander.

His seven seasons post 35 were equally as impressive. Plank owned a 2.29 ERA and 2.53 FIP in his final seven seasons. That 2.29 ERA mark ranks third all-time for players over 35. He also continued to put together complete games and shutout performances, notching 32 of them. Those 32 shutouts rank second on the same all-time list.

Plank gave up just 0.1 home runs per nine innings during the last stretch of his career and owned sub-3.00 ERAs in every single season. One of the greatest left-handers of all time, he was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1946.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 16. Edgar Martinez, 1998-2004 (35-41) 

• .305/.412/.518
• 1037 hits
• 164 HR
• 669 RBI

When looking back at the career of Edgar Martinez, two words come to mind. Complete awe. Martinez operated as a pure hitter, for both power and contact, in an era full of them. But, his career was special. The Hall of Famer spent just a few seasons playing professional baseball before the Seattle Mariners decided it was time for him to transition to his ultimate role: Designated hitter. He remained the Mariners full-time DH for the remainder of his 18-year career.

Martinez turned 35-years-old in 1998 and played for seven more seasons. The seven-time All-Star continued to do what he did best: get on base, hit for slugging percentage, drive in runs, and knock baseballs out of the ballpark. He averaged 96 RBIs and 23 home runs in each of his final seven seasons, including six seasons with a .400+ OBP and four seasons with a .500+ slugging percentage.

The career DH earned three All-Star appearances after turning 35 including, an incredible 2000 campaign. In that season, Martinez hit 324/.423/.579 with 37 home runs and AL-leading 145 RBIs. He loved to drive in runs and his 669 RBIs post-35 ranks fourth on the all-time list. Martinez was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2019.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 15. Sam Rice, 1925-34 (35-44)

• .325/.376/.428
• 848 runs
• 1574 hits
• 538 RBI
• 132 stolen bases 

Sam Rice made his MLB debut in 1915 at the age of 25. Ironically, Rice began his career as a pitcher. He only made nine appearances on the mound before moving to the outfield full-time. This was a career-changing decision for this Hall of Famer.

Rice spent ten seasons in the MLB after his 35th birthday. The speedy outfielder was remarkable at setting the tone for his Washington Senators’ lineup by hitting for average and scoring a ton of runs. His .325 batting average ranks top-10 amongst MLB players over the age of 35 and 848 runs is second on this list.

After an impressive 10-year run in his late 30s and 40s, Rice added up over 1,500 hits. That ranks second amongst all players over the age of 35. Rice ended his 20-year career with 2,987 hits. According to the Hall of Fame website, this is the closest any player has ever come to the 3000-hit mark without reaching it.

Rice hit better than .300 at the plate in all but three of his final ten seasons. He also averaged more than 150 hits and 80 runs scored in the last half of his career. Rice was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1963.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 14. Gaylord Perry, 1974-83 (35-44)

• 137 wins (137-121)
• 3.38 ERA
• 3.25 FIP
• 44.7 WAR

Throughout his 22 seasons in the MLB, Gaylord Perry was an absolute workhorse on the mound. The MLB journeyman saw action with eight different ball clubs throughout his career, but never because of a lack of ability or excellence. He won 20 games five different times and racked up that magic 300-win mark for an automatic Hall of Fame induction. Perry ended up with 314 career wins and remained a force on the mound until age 44.

The 1991 Hall of Fame inductee spent 10 seasons in the MLB after turning 35. He won at least 10 games in all but two of those years and racked up two more seasons with 20+ wins. Despite not earning an All-Star appearance in 1978, this was one of the best seasons in his career. Playing for the San Diego Padres, Perry led the NL with 21 wins and just six losses. He threw more than 260 innings that season with a 2.73 ERA en route to a Cy Young award.

With that 1978 Cy Young award, Perry became the first pitcher to win the award in both leagues. An impressive feat that only five other players in MLB history have accomplished. Perry owned a 44.7 WAR in his career after the age of 35, a mark that ranks sixth on the all-time list for pitchers.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 13. Roger Clemens, 1998-2007 (35-44)

• 141 wins (141-66) 
• 3.38 ERA
• 1790 strikeouts 
• 46.2 WAR

Baseball has been plagued in recent years by the debate surrounding admitted steroid users and their place in the Hall of Fame. It’s a delicate argument on either side. While this list won’t take a hard stance on either side of this debate, it will recognize some of the players at the center of it.

With that being said, let’s check out one name found in the middle of this debate: starting pitcher Roger Clemens. From a purely statistical standpoint, he’s one of the greatest pitchers in this game’s lengthy history. That’s undeniable. Clemens spent 24 years in the MLB and won more than 350 games with a career 3.12 ERA. We could go on and on about his impressive career statistics, but let’s get focused on the final 10 seasons of his career.

Clemens turned 35-years-old in 1998 with the Toronto Blue Jays. Admittedly, this article is written by a diehard New York Yankees fan. I have trouble remembering Clemens with the Blue Jays – and when he turned 35, he had never worn the Pinstripes. That just goes to show how brilliant his late career was. He led all of baseball with 20 wins and an AL-leading 2.65 ERA and 271 strikeouts that season.

The seven-time Cy Young winner was a strikeout master throughout his whole career and still in the final ten seasons. Throughout his career, Clemens recorded 12 different seasons with at least 200 strikeouts. After he turned 35, he struck out at least 185 batters seven different times. His 1,790 strikeouts post-35 ranks fourth on the all-time list.

While winning seven Cy Young awards is impressive itself, Clemens also won three of these after turning 35. That’s just unheard of.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 12. Nolan Ryan, 1982-93 (35-46)

• 135 wins (135-118)
• 2465 strikeouts  
• 49.6 WAR
• 2312.0 IP

If you were to poll MLB hitters, both past and present, about the most intimidating pitchers they’ve ever seen on a baseball mound, there’s one name that likely comes up a lot. That’s Nolan Ryan. The impressive career of Ryan spanned a record-tying 27 seasons, from age 19 to 46. He tossed seven no-hitters, another MLB record. And, he struck out more than one thousand hitters than any other player to walk the earth. We’re talking rare company here.

After 27 years of a Hall of Fame career, Ryan put together some statistically absurd seasons in the league. A lot of these seasons came before turning 35, but there’s also a reason he played well into his 40s. His numbers came a little back down to earth but he remained a dominant and intimidating force after turning 35 in 1982.

Ryan won almost half of his 300+ wins after the 1982 campaign with the Houston Astros. The fireballer remained a strikeout king, putting together 2,465 strikeouts in those final 12 seasons, the second-most in MLB history by pitchers over 35. He led the entire MLB in strikeouts across four different seasons and recorded 200+ punchouts in seven. Ryan earned All-Star honors in 1982 with a 301 strikeout season at the age of 42.

In these final 12 seasons, Ryan pitched to a 3.31 ERA while striking out close to 10 batters per nine innings. He called it quits after the 1993 season at age 46 and was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1999 with 491/497 ballot votes.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 11. Mariano Rivera, 2005-13 (35-43)

• 478 games finished
• 316 saves
• 1.91 ERA

Next up on this list of greatest MLB careers after the age of 35 is the last member to find a spot outside of the top-10. Recently, Call to the Pen ranked this member, Mariano Rivera, as the greatest closer in MLB history. Just to give a little preview of how impressive the top-10 of this list truly is.

There’s a lot to say about the career of Rivera, from his first-ever unanimous Hall of Fame induction to his all-time records for games finished (952), total saves (652), and ERA+ (205). Of course, let’s dive into what he did after the age of 35.

Rivera turned 35-years-old during the 2005 season with the New York Yankees, the team he spent the entirety of his career with. He’s also the all-time leader for pitchers over 35 in both saves (316) and games finished (478). Impressively, Rivera continued to baffle opposing hitters with that infamous cut-fastball. During his final nine seasons, Rivera owned a 1.91 ERA and 0.913 WHIP. He earned All-Star honors in all but two of those campaigns and saved at least 30 games in every year but one, a year plagued by injury.

“Sandman’s” career pre-35 and post-35 weren’t much different from a performance standpoint. The cutter continued to baffle the best hitters on the planet and he was the most reliable closer and relief pitcher in the game. Rivera was enshrined in Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2019 with 100 percent of the vote.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 10. Ty Cobb, 1922-28 (35-41)

• .355/.430/.498
• 616 runs
• 1136 hits
• 563 RBI

The top-10 of our list for the best careers after the age of 35 in MLB history kicks off with one of the purest hitters to ever do it. Blessed with an ability to hit to all fields and blazing speed, Ty Cobb scorched opposing pitchers throughout his 24-year career. And turning the ripe old age of 35 didn’t slow this ferocious hitter down one bit.

The batting average is the first thing that jumps off the page when looking at Cobb’s career post-35. The Hall of Famer hit better than .300 in every single season including four seasons with a .350+ batting average. In 1922, when Cobb turned 35, he actually hit .400, something that only 20 players have ever accomplished throughout MLB history.

Cobb notched a .355 batting average after turning 35-years-old, which holds the top spot on the all-time list. He averaged 160+ hits throughout his late career for a total of 1,136 – that mark ranks top-10 on the all-time list. Cobb was also an on-base machine, recording a .430 mark in his final seven seasons. His OBP eclipsed .400 in all but one of these seasons.

The 24-year veteran was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1936 with 222/226 ballot votes.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 9. Phil Niekro, 1974-87 (35-48)

• 208 wins (208-180) 
• 26 shutouts
• 49.5 WAR

For someone playing in the modern era of baseball (post-1960), the length of Phil Niekro’s career is quite impressive. Niekro played until 1987 when he was 48-years-old. Similar to another of the longest-tenured members found previously on this list, in Hoyt Wilhelm, Niekro did his damage on the mound with an elusive knuckleball.

Niekro spent 15 seasons playing professional baseball after the age of 35 and was as reliable of a starting pitcher as you can imagine. He leads the list of pitchers age 35+ in almost every metric of length including innings pitched, games started, and batters faced. The length of his career is impressive itself but Niekro was a proven winner. He leads that same list in wins with 208 after his 35th birthday. Niekro put together the fourth-highest WAR of pitchers over the age of 35 with a staggering 49.5 mark. He also threw 26 shutouts, a rank that sits top-5.

Unlike many of the other greats found on this list, Niekro seemed to become a better pitcher with age. Some of his best MLB seasons occurred after turning 35. The knuckleballer won at least 15 games in ten different seasons including two years with 20 wins. He led the NL in complete games four different times and often threw upwards of 300 innings pitched in these seasons.

Niekro made four All-Star games during his final 15 seasons, including the 1982 campaign where he went 17-4 to lead the MLB in winning percentage. The five-time All-Star was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1997.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 8. Honus Wagner, 1909-17 (35-43)

• .301/.370/.422
• 1288 hits
• 618 RBI
• 46.5 WAR

Honus Wagner was one of the most versatile players of his era. Playing in the early 1900s, Wagner was considered the full package. He hit for both average and power, displayed speed on the bases, and played almost everywhere on the field. In fact, it’s mentioned on his Cooperstown plaque that the 21-year MLB veteran played every position on the diamond except for catcher.

Wagner is best known for his prowess at the plate and his defensive abilities at shortstop, right field, and first base. When looking at the first half of Wagner’s career, he’s all over the season-end MLB and NL leaderboards in everything from runs to hits, doubles, triples, batting average, RBIs, and more. “The Flying Dutchman” turned 35-years-old during the 1909 campaign and continued his brilliance. During that campaign, Wagner led the NL with an incredible slashing line of .339/.420/.489.

Through his final nine seasons, Wagner put together 1,288 hits and 618 RBIs. Those 1,200+ hits are good for fourth on the all-time list of players over the age of 35 and his 618 RBIs cracks the top-10. During that span, he also won the NL Batting Title in two seasons. Through his 21-year career, Wagner accomplished that feat eight times.

With this impressive nine-year campaign after the age of 35, Wagner ranks second in WAR amongst position players over the age of 35 with a 46.5 mark. He was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1936.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 7. Hank Aaron, 1969-76 (35-42)

• .282/.376/.549
• 979 hits
• 245 HR
• 670 RBI

Next up on the list is one of the greatest home run hitters and power hitters to ever play the game. In fact, the next seven names on this list are loaded with a number of phenomenal sluggers. A significant amount of those reading this list ranking considers this next name the true ‘Home Run King’. Henry “Hank” Aaron hit 755 long balls throughout his 23-year MLB career. Only one name in MLB history, somewhat of a controversial one, surpassed this legendary statistic.

Anyways, back to the true heart of this list. Aaron turned 35-years-old in 1969 and remained a lethal power threat for eight more seasons. Hammerin’ Hank launched 245 home runs through the final eight seasons including five-straight seasons with 30+ following his 35th birthday. That number ranks second on the all-time list of position players post-35.

With all of those home runs, naturally came a ton of RBIs. Aaron also recorded 670 RBIs through his final eight seasons, a number that ranks third in MLB history. He remains the uncontested “RBI King” with 2,297 throughout his entire resume. Aaron averaged 84 RBIs in each of his last eight seasons including two straight years with 118 of them in less than 150 games.

Hammerin’ Hank was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1982.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 5. Barry Bonds, 2000-07 (35-42)

• .322/.517/.724
• 772 runs
• 317 HR
• 697 RBI
• 61.9 WAR

To kick off this top-5, we start with the other player considered the “Home Run King” in MLB history. Whether you hated him or loved him with the steroid use, it’s hard to ignore the dominating stats that Barry Bonds put together throughout his career. Those numbers continued long after turning 35. Honestly, his stats make a serious consideration for the top spot on this list, but the steroid allegations hurt his case.

Bonds turned 35 in the 2000 season, one year prior to his breaking of the all-time single-season home run record with 73 bombs. This was also one year prior to his stretch of four-straight MVP awards. During his final eight seasons, Bonds led the NL in RBIs every single year except the 2005 campaign in which he was limited to just 14 games with injuries. He also led all of baseball with RBIs in four of those seasons including the absurd mark of 232 RBIs in 2004.

The seven-time MVP winner leads all position players over the age of 35 with his 317 home runs and 697 RBIs. He also leads that same group with a 61.9 WAR, .517 OBP, and .724 slugging percentage. He may never find a place in the Hall of Fame, but it’s a lot of fun to marvel at these absurd hitting numbers.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 4. Cap Anson, 1887-97 (35-45)

• .321/.408/.431
• 927 runs
• 1655 hits
• 1051 RBI
• 39.1 WAR

Coming in at fourth on our list of the best careers after the age of 35 in MLB history is the eldest member of them all, Cap Anson. Adrian Constantine or “Cap” kicked off his professional baseball career in 1871, five years prior to the official establishment of the National League. As a quick reminder, the MLB did not officially form until 1903 when the independently operated American and National Leagues joined causes.

As described on his Cooperstown plaque, Anson is considered the greatest hitter and National League player-manager of the 19th century. It’s hard to argue against that statement, especially after diving into his 27 years of professional baseball experience. Anson spent 22 of these seasons with the Chicago Cubs after 1876, the official founding of the NL. The four-time batting champion hit .300+ in all but three of these years in Chicago.

Anson turned 35-years-old during the 1887 season and put together an extraordinary 11-year run of statistics. He walked away from baseball with an impressive .321/.408/.431 hitting line during this 11-year run and is all over the all-time leaderboard for position players older than 35. The combo 1B-3B-C scored 927 runs, notched 1,655 hits, and drove in 1,051 RBIs during his final 11 seasons.

From ages 35-37, Anson recorded a .340+ batting average in every season, marking two of his four career batting titles. He also drove in 100+ RBIs in five different seasons after his 35th birthday including a league-leading 120 in 1891 at the age of 39. Anson’s 927 runs scored and 1,051 RBIs both rank first on the all-time list of MLB players over the age of 35 while his 1,655 hits are good for second. Anson was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1939 as voted by the Old Timers Committee.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 3. Randy Johnson, 1999-2009 (35-45)

• 160 wins (160-87) 
• 2,546 strikeouts
• 62.4 WAR
• 1.102 WHIP 

It’s easy to consider Randy Johnson the most intimidating and most-feared left-hander pitcher in MLB history. In fact, he’s probably the greatest lefty pitcher to ever walk the earth. The Big Unit, classified by his enormous 6-foot-10 frame, was nearly unhittable throughout his 22-year career during the 1990s and 2000s. Oh, and it seemed like he struck out every single batter he faced.

That’s an exaggeration, of course, but Johnson is the second-greatest strikeout pitcher in MLB history. Through his 22-year career, Johnson racked up 4,875 K’s, second only to the great Nolan Ryan. The Big Unit continued this brilliance and domination of opposing hitters well into his late 30s and 40s. Honestly, some of his greatest seasons came between ages 35-40 during his final stretch with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Johnson turned 35-years-old in 1999 in the middle of a four-year stretch as the NL Cy Young Award winner. He won 81 games during that stretch with a 2.48 ERA, nearly 1,500 strikeouts, 31 complete games, and 11 shutouts. He led the NL in ERA for three of those four seasons and all of baseball in strikeouts every single year.

The Big Unit put together 2,546 strikeouts during his 11 seasons after the age of 35; that number ranks top on the all-time leaderboard of pitchers over the age of 35. He averaged 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings and an astonishing 1.102 WHIP during the last stretch of his career. In total, he also won 160 ball games. Thanks to this impressive body of work, Johnson owned a 62.4 WAR after the age of 35, the greatest mark in MLB history. He was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2015.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 2. Cy Young, 1902-11 (35-44)

• 192 wins (192-136)
• 2.18 ERA
• 2.09 FIP
• 54.8 WAR

There’s a reason that in every year since 1956, the greatest pitchers across the MLB are given an award named the Cy Young Award. Simply put, that’s because Cy Young is the greatest pitcher in MLB history. Young owns almost every major statistical category on the all-time leaderboard for pitchers. His 511 wins, 749 games finished, and 7356.0 all rank first. It’s easy to call it as we see it: Young dominated the game for the entirety of his 22-year MLB career.

Now, let’s dive into what he did after the age of 35. Young turned 35-years-old in 1902 while playing with the Boston Red Sox. It was one of his best. The two-time ERA champ started a league-leading 43 games that season and completed 41 of them, also a league-leading mark. That season he went 32-11 (yes, you’re reading that right – 32 wins) with nearly 400 IP and a 2.15 ERA.

Young spent ten seasons in the MLB after the age of 35 and won 192 games, which ranks second only to Phil Niekro. He won 32 and 28 games, respectively, during the 1902 and 1903 seasons and won 20+ games in five of his final 11 seasons. During that stretch, his ERA only raised above 3.00 two different times, while the Hall of Famer recorded sub-2.00 ERA marks in four different seasons.

In total, Young pitched to a staggering 2.18 ERA and 2.09 FIP during his final 11 seasons. He owned a 54.8 WAR during that stretch, a number that ranks second on the all-time list of pitchers over the age of 35. He was enshrined in Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1937.

The best careers after age 35 in MLB history: 1. Babe Ruth, 1930-35 (35-40)

• .331/.472/.644
• 198 HR
• 652 RBI
• 41.1 WAR

Now, for the grand finale, it’s time to announce the greatest career after the age of 35 in MLB history. That’s owned by none other than The Great Bambino – Babe Ruth. Ruth spent 22 seasons in the MLB and put together one of the greatest careers that MLB fans have ever been witness to. He was also a unique talent, known for his ability to dominate as both a pure slugger and a starting pitcher. Shohei Ohtani is trying to match that unique talent in today’s game, but we haven’t seen a single player attempt or succeed at both in more than 100 years.

When Ruth turned 35-years-old, he had long been converted full-time into a position player. He was also a New York Yankee at that point, the team that fully converted him thanks to his unmatched slugging ability at the plate. Regardless of that, he still comfortably owns the top spot on this list. Part of Ruth’s legendary aura and the reasoning for his spot on this list was that he only spent six seasons in the MLB after the age of 35. Only one other member of his list played as few seasons post-35, but Ruth still sits in the top-10 of almost every hitting category amongst players above that age.

He mashed 198 home runs or an average of 33 each season during his final six years, a number that only four other players eclipsed in far lengthier sample sizes. His .472 OBP ranks third, .644 ranks second, 1.116 OPS ranks second, and his 652 RBIs and 607 runs scored rank top-10. Not only did Ruth absolutely smash baseballs during the final stretch of his career, but he did so with a very effective batting average. Ruth hit .331 during this span, a number that ranks sixth, behind five names of pesky, contact hitters.

Ruth hit 40+ home runs in half of his final six years, leading the AL with 49 in 1930 and leading the entire league with 46 in 1931. He also won two of his seven World Series Championships and led the MLB with 100+ RBIs in four straight seasons from 1930-33.

Only Honus Wagner and Barry Bonds own higher WARs amongst position players after the age of 35. Ruth ended his final six seasons with a 41.1 WAR, while Wagner accomplished his number in nine seasons and Bonds in eight. The Great Bambino was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1936.