Once There Was A Man Named Jesse

Jesse Orosco has signed a one-year deal to pitch with San Diego next year. The left-hander is coming off a season with a 3.00 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 27 innings and 56 appearances. Those numbers are correct. His innings totals are low because he only faces about 2 hitters per appearance.

Oh, one other thing about Jesse Orosco is that he turns 46 next April. Here is the list of lefties with over 100 appearances sfter the yearin which they turned 40:

Name		G	W	L
JIM	KAAT	319	33	31
JESSE	OROSCO	231	5	6
WARREN	SPAHN	177	61	66
STEVE	CARLTON	170	36	76
TOMMY	JOHN	169	44	57
RICK	HONEYCUTT	167	12	3
TONY	FOSSAS	120	3	9
WOODIE	FRYMAN	101	14	10

Not much to say. Just that this is an eclectic mix and that Orosco is pretty high up on the list. And that the starters are Hall-of-Fame caliber or close to it, but the relievers are the ones who remain effective.

By the way, here is a quick list of men who played into their 46th year:

NICK ALTROCK
JIMMY AUSTIN
DAN BROUTHERS
JOHNNY EVERS
GROVER HARTLEY
CHARLIE HOUGH
HUGHIE JENNINGS
ARLIE LATHAM
HOD LISENBEE
DEACON MCGUIRE
MINNIE MINOSO
BOBO NEWSOM
PHIL NIEKRO
CHARLEY O'LEARY
JIM O'ROURKE
SATCHEL PAIGE
JACK QUINN
GABBY STREET
SAM THOMPSON
HOYT WILHELM
KAISER WILHELM