Friday night provided quite an interesting contrast. On one hand, we had the excitement of 20-year-old Starlin Castro — the first major league player born in the 90s — making history in his major league debut. At the other end of the spectrum, 47-year-old Jamie Moyer became the oldest pitcher in major league history to throw a shutout, holding the Braves to just two hits as part of a 7-0 victory.
The previous oldest pitcher to throw a complete-game shutout was Phil Niekro, when he did it for the Yankees at the age of 46 in 1986. The last non-knuckleballer to do it? Satchel Paige.
When told of his accomplishment, the soft-tossing Moyer was pretty even-keeled about the whole thing (via Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer).
“Cool,” he said. “Just doing my job.”
Some job. Here’s a guy who continues to defy logic, surviving in a game increasingly built on youth.
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- aceshigh - May 8, 2010 at 9:56 AM
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Major congrats to him.
He’s not a spectacular pitcher in any way, shape or form, but to still qualify for the starting rotation for an elite team like the Phillies is something special.
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- Old Gator - May 8, 2010 at 10:17 AM
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Jamie, when you win, you win for every old fart everywhere. Thanks for the inspiration; I’m adding another five pounds to my barbell today in your honor.
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- dlf - May 8, 2010 at 10:19 AM
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Ehh. Coming against the Braves this isn’t too impressive. I am about 99 percent certain that Knucksie, now in his 70s, could toss a shutout against these bums and I’m about half convinced that Ol Satch himself in the grave all these years could do it too.
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- Route36West - May 8, 2010 at 9:16 PM
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“Jamie Moyer became the oldest pitcher in major league history to throw a shutout, ”
Thats all well an good but I think this is more amazing….
Jamie Moyer is the only player in MLB history to throw a complete game shut out in different 4 decades.
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- Moses Green - May 9, 2010 at 5:07 AM
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Now sitting in for Bob Feller, playing the grumpy old man who refuses to give credit to anyone … dlf. Thank you Mr. f.
If I saw a 47-year-old throw a shutout in the Greater Hartford Twilight League I’d be impressed. Don’t be such a doorknob.
