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Youth of America

TheOldMole
Jul 07 2006 10:02 AM

Years in which the oldest player in the league was under 40:

NL:
1975 -- Bob Gibson 39
1967 --Ruben Gomez 39
1966 - Robin Roberts 39
1938 - Kiki Cuyler 39
1920 - Gavvy Cravath 39
1919 - Gavvy Cravath 38
1912 - Bob Ewing 39
1905 - Kid Gleason 38
1900- Chief Zimmer 39

AL:
1978 Ron Fairly 39
1973 Orlando Pena 39
1970 Dick Hall 39
1902 Jimmy Ryan 39
1901 Dummy Hoy 39

And they call the AL the Junior Circuit? Of course, in a few years the AL's numbers were skewed by ringers -- Minnie Minoso, Satchel Paige and Nick Altrock, who had a few dueling years with Jimmy Austin as propped-up oldest player in the league.

Most consecutive years as oldest player in his league -- Hoyt Wilhelm, who went 1966-69 in the AL, then was traded over to the NL and went 69-72. If you count 1969 twice, which I think you have to, that's 8 consecutive league leaderships as geezer.

Edgy DC
Jul 07 2006 10:07 AM

How many years has Julio been the senior player?

TheOldMole
Jul 07 2006 10:16 AM

Amazingly enough, only two. Don't forget Jesse Orosco was in the league before that.

Edgy DC
Jul 07 2006 10:19 AM

Amazin'.

Of course.