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.