Who Is The Oldest Baseball Player?
We all know that baseball is a game for the young. But every now and then, an older player will come along and show that age is just a number. So who is the oldest baseball player of all time?
Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb is the oldest baseball player. He was born on December 18, 1886, in Georgia, United States. He began his career with the Detroit Tigers in 1905 and played for them until 1928. During his time with the Tigers, he won nine batting titles and was the first player to reach 4,000 hits. He retired with a batting average of .367, which is still the highest in history.
His Age
Cobb was born in 1886 in a rural Georgia town to Amos and Martha Cobb. He had four brothers and sisters. His father was a teacher and his mother was a homemaker. Cobb’s parents wanted him to be a lawyer, but he had other ideas. When he was just 18 years old, he started playing professional baseball for the Augusta Tourists.
Cobb played for the Tourists for two years before he was signed by the Detroit Tigers in 1905. He made his major league debut on August 30, 1905, and became one of the best players in baseball history. He played for the Tigers for 22 seasons, from 1905 to 1926.
Cobb is considered one of the greatest players of all time. He has more hits than any other player in history, with 4191. He also holds the record for batting average, with .366. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936, and his number (2) was retired by the Tigers in 1934.
Cobb was known for being a fierce competitor on the field. He was also known for his temper—he once got into a fight with a fan who had been heckling him, and he also stabbed a man who said something hurtful about his mother. But despite his temper, Cobb was respected by both his teammates and his opponents.
Cobb passed away in 1961 at the age of 74.
His Career
Ty Cobb was born in 1886 in rural Georgia. When he was just a teenager, he began playing baseball professionally. He quickly rose to superstardom, becoming one of the most celebrated players of his time. He played for the Detroit Tigers for 22 years, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.
Cobb was known for his intense competitiveness and aggressive style of play. He frequently fought with opposing players and umpires, and was even suspended from baseball for a short time in 1907 after attacking a fan who had been heckling him.
Despite his sometimes controversial behavior, Cobb was an incredible player. He still holds numerous Major League records, including the highest batting average (.366) and the most career hits (4,191). He was also a skilled base-stealer, finishing his career with 892 stolen bases, another record that still stands today.
Ty Cobb died in 1961 at the age of 74.
Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan is the oldest baseball player. He was born on January 31, 1947. Ryan is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for 27 seasons. He is currently the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Texas Rangers.
His Age
Nolan Ryan is a former professional baseball player who became famous for his record-setting pitching abilities. He was born on January 31, 1947, making him the oldest player in Major League Baseball history. Nolan Ryan is currently 72 years old.
His Career
Born in Refugio, Texas, Ryan was drafted by the New York Mets in the 12th round of the 1965 Major League Baseball draft. He made his Major League debut on September 11, 1966, as a 19-year-old. When he retired at age 46 after 27 seasons in 1993, Ryan held MLB records for most career no-hitters (7), most strikeouts in a season (383 in 1973), and most strikeouts per nine innings pitched (11.6). He also is credited with helping popularize power pitching with his 100 mph fastball.
During his major league career, Ryan pitched for four different teams: the New York Mets from 1966 to 1971; the California Angels from 1972 to 1979; the Houston Astros from 1980 to 1988; and the Texas Rangers from 1989 until his retirement.
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson is the oldest baseball player. He was born on December 25, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois. Henderson played in the Major Leagues for 22 seasons from 1979 to 2001.
His Age
Rickey Henderson is currently the oldest active baseball player in the MLB, at the age of 51. He played his first professional game in 1976, and has played for 9 different teams throughout his career. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
His Career
Rickey Neville Henderson (born December 25, 1958), nicknamed “The Man of Steal”, is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for nine teams from 1979 to 2003. A 10-time MLB All-Star, Henderson holds the major league records for stolen bases and leadoff home runs. He is ranked among the top 100 all-time home run hitters and is the MLB career leader in runs scored. His 1,406 career stolen bases ranked him first all time when he retired in 2003; since then, he has been surpassed by anotherBaseball Hall of Famer, iván Rodríguez.
Henderson also held the single-season record for stolen bases in 1982 with 130, a mark that was not broken until 1991 by Barry Bonds. His number 24 is retired by the Oakland Athletics.
Henderson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.