Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
When "King" Felix Hernandez and Randy "Big Unit" Johnson faced off for a 2-0 pitchers' duel in which both went at least seven innings, each struck out seven, and neither gave up more than four hits. Unfortunately, for Hernandez, two of the four hits he allowed were homers.
But aside from what happened on the field, this game represented a passing of the guard, from a 41-year-old, 5-time Cy Young winning, future Hall of Famer to a 19-year-old, flame-throwing kid who has just a handful of major-league starts to his name but is full of potential. It's like that scene at the end of "The Natural" in which Roy Hobbs faces seemingly his former self, a young Pirate pitcher fresh from the farm. And like the aging Robert Redford character, Johnson got the best of the youngster. However, if Hernandez turns into the pitcher that many expect him to become, he'll probably have the last laugh.
Aside from the symbolic meaning of the event, which may not be apparent for another ten or fifteen years, I wondered about something more tangible. I was left contemplating the significance of the age differences of the two starting pitchers. I couldn't remember the last time a pitcher who was 40 or over faced a teenager. So I looked it up
There were 153 potential matchups prior to this season. This was based on all combinations of a pitcher over 40 and another under 20 who were in the same league in the same season but on different teams and who started at least one game (from 1997-2004, I dropped the league constraint given intraleague baseball).
Using Retrosheet I was able to confirm that there have not been any other such pitching matchups in the last 40 seasons. Before 1966, Retrosheet's data is inconsistent, so the potential pairing prior to that season cannot be fully investigated.
It's a rare thing in baseball to find something that hasn't been done before, but that's what we might have seen the other day. If nothing else we saw pairing that probably hasn't happened in, well, Randy Johnson's lifetime. Isn't that enough?
Here are all the potential matchups in the last forty years, all of which never came to pass:
Yr | Lg | Over40 | Age | Under20 | Age | Age Diff |
2003 | NL | David Cone | 40 | Edwin Jackson | 19 | 21 |
2003 | NL | Jeff Fassero | 40 | Edwin Jackson | 19 | 21 |
2003 | MLB | David Wells | 40 | Edwin Jackson | 19 | 21 |
2003 | MLB | Jamie Moyer | 40 | Edwin Jackson | 19 | 21 |
2003 | MLB | Roger Clemens | 40 | Edwin Jackson | 19 | 21 |
2003 | MLB | Terry Mulholland | 40 | Edwin Jackson | 19 | 21 |
1999 | NL | Orel Hershiser | 40 | Rick Ankiel | 19 | 21 |
1999 | MLB | Tom Candiotti | 41 | Rick Ankiel | 19 | 22 |
1999 | AL | Tom Candiotti | 41 | Matt Riley | 19 | 22 |
1999 | MLB | Orel Hershiser | 40 | Matt Riley | 19 | 21 |
1991 | AL | Charlie Hough | 43 | Todd Van Poppel | 19 | 24 |
1991 | AL | Nolan Ryan | 44 | Todd Van Poppel | 19 | 25 |
1989 | AL | Jerry Reuss | 40 | Wilson Alvarez | 19 | 21 |
1989 | AL | Tommy John | 46 | Wilson Alvarez | 19 | 27 |
1985 | AL | Don Sutton | 40 | Ed Correa | 19 | 21 |
1985 | AL | Joe Niekro | 40 | Ed Correa | 19 | 21 |
1985 | AL | Phil Niekro | 46 | Ed Correa | 19 | 27 |
1985 | AL | Tommy John | 42 | Ed Correa | 19 | 23 |
1984 | AL | Tommy John | 41 | Jose Rijo | 19 | 22 |
1984 | NL | Jerry Koosman | 41 | Dwight Gooden | 19 | 22 |
1982 | AL | Luis Tiant | 41 | Edwin Nunez | 19 | 22 |
1980 | NL | Jim Kaat | 41 | Mark Davis | 19 | 22 |
1980 | NL | Phil Niekro | 41 | Mark Davis | 19 | 22 |
1979 | AL | Jim Kaat | 40 | Bruce Robbins | 19 | 21 |
1979 | AL | Jim Kaat | 40 | Mike Morgan | 19 | 21 |
1965 | AL | Satchel Paige | 58 | Gil Blanco | 19 | 39 |
1965 | AL | Satchel Paige | 58 | Jim Palmer | 19 | 39 |
1965 | AL | Satchel Paige | 58 | Joe Coleman | 18 | 40 |
Here are the rest of the potential matchups:
Yr | Lg | Over40 | Age | Under20 | Age | Age Diff |
1965 | NL | Warren Spahn | 44 | Larry Dierker | 18 | 26 |
1964 | NL | Warren Spahn | 43 | Billy McCool | 19 | 24 |
1964 | NL | Warren Spahn | 43 | Larry Dierker | 17 | 26 |
1964 | NL | Warren Spahn | 43 | Rick Wise | 18 | 25 |
1963 | AL | Early Wynn | 43 | Denny McLain | 19 | 24 |
1963 | AL | Early Wynn | 43 | Jerry Stephenson | 19 | 24 |
1963 | AL | Early Wynn | 43 | Wally Bunker | 18 | 25 |
1963 | AL | Hoyt Wilhelm | 40 | Denny McLain | 19 | 21 |
1963 | AL | Hoyt Wilhelm | 40 | Jerry Stephenson | 19 | 21 |
1963 | AL | Hoyt Wilhelm | 40 | Wally Bunker | 18 | 22 |
1963 | NL | Warren Spahn | 42 | Chris Zachary | 19 | 23 |
1963 | NL | Warren Spahn | 42 | Dick Calmus | 19 | 23 |
1963 | NL | Warren Spahn | 42 | Jay Dahl | 17 | 25 |
1963 | NL | Warren Spahn | 42 | Marcelino Lopez | 19 | 23 |
1962 | AL | Early Wynn | 42 | Bobby Darwin | 19 | 23 |
1962 | AL | Early Wynn | 42 | Dave McNally | 19 | 23 |
1962 | AL | Early Wynn | 42 | Jack Jenkins | 19 | 23 |
1962 | AL | Early Wynn | 42 | Jim Manning | 18 | 24 |
1962 | AL | Early Wynn | 42 | Sam McDowell | 19 | 23 |
1962 | NL | Diomedes Olivo | 43 | Joe Moeller | 19 | 24 |
1962 | NL | Warren Spahn | 41 | Joe Moeller | 19 | 22 |
1961 | AL | Early Wynn | 41 | Bob Sprout | 19 | 22 |
1961 | AL | Early Wynn | 41 | Lew Krausse | 18 | 23 |
1961 | AL | Early Wynn | 41 | Sam McDowell | 18 | 23 |
1961 | AL | Early Wynn | 41 | Wilbur Wood | 19 | 22 |
1959 | NL | Elmer Singleton | 41 | Ed Keegan | 19 | 22 |
1958 | AL | Murry Dickson | 41 | Milt Pappas | 19 | 22 |
1958 | AL | Murry Dickson | 41 | Stover McIlwain | 18 | 23 |
1958 | AL | Sal Maglie | 41 | Milt Pappas | 19 | 22 |
1958 | AL | Sal Maglie | 41 | Stover McIlwain | 18 | 23 |
1958 | NL | Sal Maglie | 41 | Dick Ellsworth | 18 | 23 |
1958 | NL | Sal Maglie | 41 | Mike McCormick | 19 | 22 |
1957 | AL | Sal Maglie | 40 | Jerry Walker | 18 | 22 |
1957 | AL | Sal Maglie | 40 | Jim Derrington | 17 | 23 |
1957 | AL | Virgil Trucks | 40 | Jerry Walker | 18 | 22 |
1957 | AL | Virgil Trucks | 40 | Jim Derrington | 17 | 23 |
1957 | NL | Murry Dickson | 40 | Mike McCormick | 18 | 22 |
1957 | NL | Sal Maglie | 40 | Mike McCormick | 18 | 22 |
1957 | NL | Sal Maglie | 40 | Von McDaniel | 18 | 22 |
1954 | AL | Connie Marrero | 43 | Bob Miller | 18 | 25 |
1953 | AL | Bobo Newsom | 45 | Bob Miller | 17 | 28 |
1953 | AL | Connie Marrero | 42 | Bob Miller | 17 | 25 |
1953 | AL | Satchel Paige | 46 | Bob Miller | 17 | 29 |
1952 | AL | Bobo Newsom | 44 | Bud Black | 19 | 25 |
1952 | AL | Bobo Newsom | 44 | Dick Brodowski | 19 | 25 |
1952 | AL | Connie Marrero | 41 | Bud Black | 19 | 22 |
1952 | AL | Connie Marrero | 41 | Dick Brodowski | 19 | 22 |
1952 | AL | Satchel Paige | 45 | Bud Black | 19 | 26 |
1952 | AL | Satchel Paige | 45 | Dick Brodowski | 19 | 26 |
1951 | NL | Dutch Leonard | 42 | Bill Koski | 19 | 23 |
1949 | AL | Satchel Paige | 42 | Chuck Stobbs | 19 | 23 |
1949 | NL | Dutch Leonard | 40 | Johnny Antonelli | 19 | 21 |
1949 | NL | Rip Sewell | 42 | Johnny Antonelli | 19 | 23 |
1948 | NL | Bobo Newsom | 40 | Charlie Bicknell | 19 | 21 |
1948 | NL | Bobo Newsom | 40 | Curt Simmons | 19 | 21 |
1948 | NL | Fritz Ostermueller | 40 | Charlie Bicknell | 19 | 21 |
1948 | NL | Fritz Ostermueller | 40 | Curt Simmons | 19 | 21 |
1948 | NL | Rip Sewell | 41 | Charlie Bicknell | 19 | 22 |
1948 | NL | Rip Sewell | 41 | Curt Simmons | 19 | 22 |
1948 | NL | Thornton Lee | 41 | Charlie Bicknell | 19 | 22 |
1948 | NL | Thornton Lee | 41 | Curt Simmons | 19 | 22 |
1947 | AL | Red Ruffing | 43 | Art Houtteman | 19 | 24 |
1947 | AL | Red Ruffing | 43 | Chuck Stobbs | 17 | 26 |
1947 | AL | Thornton Lee | 40 | Art Houtteman | 19 | 21 |
1947 | AL | Thornton Lee | 40 | Chuck Stobbs | 17 | 23 |
1947 | NL | Rip Sewell | 40 | Curt Simmons | 18 | 22 |
1947 | NL | Si Johnson | 40 | Curt Simmons | 18 | 22 |
1946 | AL | Johnny Niggeling | 42 | Art Houtteman | 18 | 24 |
1946 | AL | Red Ruffing | 42 | Art Houtteman | 18 | 24 |
1946 | AL | Ted Lyons | 45 | Art Houtteman | 18 | 27 |
1945 | NL | Boom-Boom Beck | 40 | Herm Wehmeier | 18 | 22 |
1945 | NL | Boom-Boom Beck | 40 | Ralph Branca | 19 | 21 |
1945 | NL | Curt Davis | 41 | Herm Wehmeier | 18 | 23 |
1945 | NL | Hod Lisenbee | 46 | Ralph Branca | 19 | 27 |
1944 | NL | Curt Davis | 40 | Andy Hansen | 19 | 21 |
1944 | NL | Curt Davis | 40 | Bob Barthelson | 19 | 21 |
1943 | NL | Carl Hubbell | 40 | Rex Barney | 18 | 22 |
1943 | NL | Carl Hubbell | 40 | Rogers McKee | 16 | 24 |
1943 | NL | Freddie Fitzsimmons | 41 | Rogers McKee | 16 | 25 |
1942 | AL | Joe Heving | 41 | Lou Bevil | 19 | 22 |
1942 | AL | Ted Lyons | 41 | Lou Bevil | 19 | 22 |
1942 | NL | Freddie Fitzsimmons | 40 | Andy Lapihuska | 19 | 21 |
1940 | AL | Lefty Grove | 40 | Hal Newhouser | 19 | 21 |
1939 | AL | Fred Johnson | 45 | Early Wynn | 19 | 26 |
1939 | AL | Fred Johnson | 45 | Fred Hutchinson | 19 | 26 |
1939 | AL | Fred Johnson | 45 | Hal Newhouser | 18 | 27 |
1939 | AL | Fred Johnson | 45 | Walt Masterson | 19 | 26 |
1938 | AL | Fred Johnson | 44 | Bob Feller | 19 | 25 |
1937 | AL | Rube Walberg | 40 | Bob Feller | 18 | 22 |
1937 | AL | Rube Walberg | 40 | Randy Gumpert | 19 | 21 |
1936 | NL | Bob Smith | 41 | Elmer Burkart | 19 | 22 |
1936 | NL | Jesse Haines | 42 | Elmer Burkart | 19 | 23 |
1934 | AL | Herb Pennock | 40 | Reese Diggs | 18 | 22 |
1934 | AL | Sam Jones | 41 | Reese Diggs | 18 | 23 |
1933 | NL | Dazzy Vance | 42 | Jack Salveson | 19 | 23 |
1933 | NL | Eppa Rixey | 42 | Jack Salveson | 19 | 23 |
1931 | AL | Red Faber | 42 | Lew Krausse | 19 | 23 |
1928 | AL | Jack Quinn | 44 | Mel Harder | 18 | 26 |
1928 | AL | Jack Quinn | 44 | Pat Simmons | 19 | 25 |
1927 | AL | Jack Quinn | 43 | Josh Billings | 19 | 24 |
1925 | AL | Jack Quinn | 41 | Hank Johnson | 19 | 22 |
1925 | AL | Jack Quinn | 41 | Harry Kelley | 19 | 22 |
1925 | AL | Jack Quinn | 41 | Lefty Willis | 19 | 22 |
1925 | AL | Vean Gregg | 40 | Hank Johnson | 19 | 21 |
1925 | AL | Vean Gregg | 40 | Lefty Willis | 19 | 21 |
1925 | NL | Babe Adams | 43 | Ed Clough | 18 | 25 |
1918 | AL | Bill Donovan | 41 | Frank Shellenback | 19 | 22 |
1918 | AL | Bill Donovan | 41 | Vic Keen | 19 | 22 |
1918 | AL | Bill Donovan | 41 | William Pierson | 19 | 22 |
1918 | AL | Nick Altrock | 41 | Frank Shellenback | 19 | 22 |
1918 | AL | Nick Altrock | 41 | Vic Keen | 19 | 22 |
1918 | AL | Nick Altrock | 41 | William Pierson | 19 | 22 |
1917 | AL | Eddie Plank | 41 | Walter Anderson | 19 | 22 |
1911 | AL | Cy Young | 44 | Earl Hamilton | 19 | 25 |
1910 | AL | Cy Young | 43 | Dave Skeels | 17 | 26 |
1910 | AL | Cy Young | 43 | Lefty Russell | 19 | 24 |
1909 | AL | Cy Young | 42 | Joe Wood | 19 | 23 |
1908 | AL | Cy Young | 41 | Bill Bailey | 19 | 22 |
1907 | AL | Cy Young | 40 | Bill Bailey | 18 | 22 |
1907 | AL | Cy Young | 40 | Walter Johnson | 19 | 21 |
1890 | AA | Ed Green | 40 | George Nicol | 19 | 21 |
1888 | NL | John Greening | 40 | Ad Gumbert | 19 | 21 |
1888 | NL | John Greening | 40 | George Borchers | 19 | 21 |
1888 | NL | John Greening | 40 | Lev Shreve | 19 | 21 |
1888 | NL | John Greening | 40 | Willard Mains | 19 | 21 |
Walter Johnson
Bob Feller
Hal Newhouser
Early Wynn
Jim Palmer
I wonder how many Hall of Fame hitters debuted in the big leagues as teenagers. The only one that jumps to mind is Robin Yount. It would be interesting to find out if teenage hitters have better careers than teenage pitchers (the assumption there being that teenage pitchers get overworked and burn out early).
Also, one assumes that players hit the majors as teenagers because great things are expected of them. It would be interesting to see how often those great things actually happen, or if it can be said that these players are being rushed. I know that it's generally true that truly great players hit the majors in their very early 20s (Edgar Martinez being perhaps the only exception), and that the likelihood of a player developing into a Hall of Famer is greater the sooner they hit the bigs (I may be distorting that truism somewhat). But I wonder if that's a trend that reverses itself on the other side of 20.
48 future HoFers played as teenagers, three of whom went into the Hall as managers:
Name category MinOfAge
Al Lopez Manager 19
John McGraw Manager 18
Leo Durocher Manager 19
Christy Mathewson Player 19
Harry Heilmann Player 19
Harmon Killebrew Player 18
Hank Greenberg Player 19
Hal Newhouser Player 18
George Kelly Player 19
George Davis Player 19
Freddie Lindstrom Player 18
Eddie Collins Player 19
Al Kaline Player 18
Don Drysdale Player 19
Jimmie Foxx Player 17
Chief Bender Player 19
Catfish Hunter Player 19
Cap Anson Player 19
Brooks Robinson Player 18
Bobby Doerr Player 19
Bob Feller Player 17
Bill Mazeroski Player 19
Babe Ruth Player 19
Amos Rusie Player 18
Early Wynn Player 19
Nolan Ryan Player 19
Waite Hoyt Player 18
Ty Cobb Player 18
Tris Speaker Player 19
Travis Jackson Player 18
Sandy Koufax Player 19
Sam Crawford Player 19
Rogers Hornsby Player 19
Roger Bresnahan Player 18
Robin Yount Player 18
Herb Pennock Player 18
Pud Galvin Player 18
Jim Palmer Player 19
Nellie Fox Player 19
Mickey Mantle Player 19
Mel Ott Player 17
Johnny Bench Player 19
John Ward Player 18
Joe Morgan Player 19
Joe Kelley Player 19
Joe Cronin Player 19
Walter Johnson Player 19
Ray Schalk Player 19
http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B09090ARI2003.htm
Jackson was born in Germany - but unfortunately, the time zone thing works to his disadvantage.
As far as your chart above goes, Jackson was never 19 years old in the majors. His first game was this.
I saw that one but Johnson came out as 39 in my analysis. Jackson registers at 19 because I use 7/1 as the cutoff date (same method as Baseball-Reference, I believe).
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