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MLB history: 5 greatest seasons for a pitcher who was 45 or older

By Kevin Henry

NEW YORK - CIRCA 1985: Pitcher Phil Niekro #35 of the New York Yankees pitches during a Major League Baseball game circa 1985 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Niekro played for the Yankees from 1984-85. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - CIRCA 1985: Pitcher Phil Niekro #35 of the New York Yankees pitches during a Major League Baseball game circa 1985 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Niekro played for the Yankees from 1984-85. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK – CIRCA 1993: Charlie Hough #49 of the Florida Marlins pitches against the New York Mets during an Major League Baseball game circa 1993 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Hough played for the Marlins from 1993-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – CIRCA 1993: Charlie Hough #49 of the Florida Marlins pitches against the New York Mets during an Major League Baseball game circa 1993 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Hough played for the Marlins from 1993-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Like fine wine, there are a few notable pitchers in MLB history who simply improved with age. Names like Hoyt Wilhelm, Satchel Paige, Nolan Ryan, and others showed that age is indeed just a number.

Let’s take a look at five great seasons in MLB history for pitchers who were over 45 years old

For this article, we took a look at pitchers who excelled after the age of 45. That list includes Charlie Hough who, at the age of 45, threw 204.1 innings and made 34 starts for the expansion Florida Marlins, leading the pitching staff in both categories. He holds the distinction of not only being the franchise’s first Opening Day starter, but also earning the first win, topping Orel Hershiser and the Los Angeles Dodgers by a 6-3 score on April 5, 1993.

In six of his first seven starts that season, Hough would throw six or more innings, using his calling card knuckleball to confound batters (he struck out nine twice during the 1993 season).

Hough would make 21 starts for the 1994 Marlins before calling it a career.

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