List of Major League Baseball players who played in four decades

List of Major League Baseball players who played in four decades

Playing Major League Baseball in four decades is a very rare achievement, attained by only 29 players in the history of Major League Baseball, dating from the 1870s to the present day.

Contents

Introduction

Several qualities are virtually essential. Outstanding skill and durability are paramount, and a player must also have some "generational luck" to have started his career in the later years of a decade, so that if he is still playing 21–24 years later, he is playing in the early years of a fourth decade.[1]. For example, Pete Rose started his career in 1963, so he would've had to play 28 seasons to make the list. Whereas Bill Buckner, whose career started in the last year of the 1960s, finished his career in the first year of the 1990s, requiring only 22 seasons to make the list. Most of the players on the list started their careers in the final or second-to-last year of their first decade and finished their careers in the first or second year of their fourth decade (a notable exception is Nolan Ryan, whose 27 seasons played is a major league record). Two players – Nick Altrock and Minnie Minoso – appeared in major league baseball games in five decades. Only one active player – shortstop Omar Vizquel – currently with the Chicago White Sox, can claim the distinction.

Since 1900 (the first year that a player could play in a "fourth decade"), every decade except the 1940s has added at least one player to the list, including the current one (however, the 1970s only added Minnie Minoso, a player who retired before 1970 and played three games in 1976 and two games in 1980 as publicity stunts...many say an asterisk should accompany his record).

List of players

The players are listed by primary position played, playing characteristics (throwing and batting orientations), and years spanning their careers. H denotes a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame; nine players from the group have been honored so far. The players are listed chronologically by the decade they began their major league careers, then alphabetically within that group. Of the 29 players, 11 were primarily pitchers, six were primarily catchers, six were primarily outfielders, and six were primarily infielders; the group covers virtually the complete range of baseball positions, missing only a third baseman.

Began 1870s

Began 1880s

Began 1890s

Began 1900s

Began 1920s

Began 1930s

Began 1940s

Began 1950s

Began 1960s

Began 1970s

Began 1980s

References

Been a long time: Three more enter baseball's four-decade club, by Ryan Hunt.

Four-decade players a rare breed: Griffey, Vizquel, Moyer set to join exclusive company, by Anthony DiComo.

External links


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