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| Thursday, March 1 | |||||
| Best seasons after turning 37 | |||||
| Roger Clemens is 38 years old. Randy Johnson is 37. At an age when most pitchers have lost their fastballs or suffered the slings and arrows of too many pitches, both are still going strong. Johnson has won two straight National League Cy Young Awards; Clemens finished second in the American League in ERA last season and fifth in strikeouts.
Not many pitchers remain great upon reaching age 37. But some do. Warren Spahn won 20 games five times after reaching age 37, including 23 in 1963 at age 42! Early Wynn and Gaylord Perry each won a Cy Young Award at 39. Steve Carlton won his final Cy Young Award at 37. Nolan Ryan, of course, pitched forever, although he won more than 13 just once after turning 37.
Here are some of the greatest seasons ever after turning 37:
Dazzy Vance, 37, 1928 Vance didn't win a big-league before turning 30, yet lasted long enough to win 197 games and make the Hall of Fame. Pitching for Brooklyn in 1928, he went 22-10 and led the NL with a 2.09 ERA and 200 strikeouts. He also led the league in ERA in 1930. Spud Chandler, 38, 1946 Chandler didn't reach the Yankees until he was 29 years old, but finished with a career record of 109-43 and a 2.84 ERA. He went 20-8 in '46 with a 2.10 ERA. He retired after the following season, in which he went 9-5 with a 2.46 ERA. Allie Reynolds, 37, 1952 Nicknamed "Superchief," Reynolds pitched for the Yankees from 1947 through 1954, going an amazing 131-60. In '52, he went 20-8 with a league-leading 2.08 ERA and six shutouts. He also pitched in relief six times, recording six saves. To top things, he pitched a shutout in Game 4 of the World Series, saved Game 6 and won Game 7 in relief. Warren Spahn, 1958-1963 Spahn won 20 or more games a remarkable 13 times, and led or tied for his league lead eight times. Check his yearly win totals beginning at age 37: 22, 21, 21, 21, 18, 23. Oh, he also led the NL in complete games each of those seasons. Early Wynn, 39, 1959 Wynn pitched the White Sox to the AL pennant, going 22-10 with a 3.17 ERA. He won the Cy Young Award, back when there was just one award for both leagues. Gaylord Perry, 39, 1978 Perry won his second Cy Young Award by goin 21-6 with a 2.73 ERA for the Padres. His arm was still holding despite six seasons of 300+ innings. Steve Carlton, 37, 1982 Carlton won his fourth Cy Young Award with a 23-11, 3.10 season for the Phillies. He led the NL in wins, complete games (19), shutouts (6), innings (295.2) and strikeouts (286). Carlton had a strong year in '83, but then started going downhill. The last pitcher age 37 or older to win 20 games? It was David Wells, last season. Before that, Jack Morris won 21 in 1992. Here are some records (post-1920 only): Age 37 Wins: Steve Carlton, 1982, 23; Dazzy Vance, Warren Spahn, Mike Cuellar, Tommy John all tied at 22 Lowest ERA: Allie Reynolds, 2.06; Dazzy Vance, 2.09 Age 38 Wins: Warren Spahn, 21; Spud Chandler, 20 ERA: Spud Chandler, 2.10; Curt Davis (1942), 2.36 Age 39 Wins: Early Wynn, 22; Warren Spahn and Gaylord Perry, 21 ERA: Dutch Leonard (1948), 2.51; Lefty Grove, 2.54 Age 40 Wins: Pete Alexander, Warren Spahn (again?!), Phil Niekro, 21; Rick Reuschel, 17 ERA: Johnny Niggeling (1944), 2.32; Pete Alexander, 2.52 Age 41 Wins: Warren Spahn, 18; Pete Alexander, 16 ERA: Ted Lyons, 2.10; Connie Marrero, 2.88 Age 42 Wins: Warren Spahn, 23; Nolan Ryan, 16 ERA: Warren Spahn, 2.60; Phil Niekro, 3.10 Age 43 or older Wins: Phil Niekro, one year with 17 and two with 16 ERA: Jack Quinn, 2.90; Nolan Ryan, 2.91 | ALSO SEE Kurkjian: Randy is King Klapisch: Clemens still special  | ||||