The Washington times., 1931-03-14

thought the number of vetel
and others could think of onl
Having recently celebrated
birthday mysef-it was my thirty
SEVENTH joined in the discus
sion but had no set idea as tc
how many such players there
were. So we checked up on the
ages that night and what do yoC
suppose we found out? There
are about 80 players in the major
leagues who celebrate their thirty
fifth birthday this year or already
have gone beyond that mark.
Eliminated Coaches
We eliminated all coaches from
the count. Fellows like Jimmy
Austin and Eddie Collins and a
number of others have been Tn
the leagues for years but We were
not figuring them. Only the
players who get into the game
quite often. Most Of them are
regulars. Our little talk brought
to the front the list Of baseball IS
real iron men who go on as big
leaguers although well beyond the
age when most players are forced
to retire.
Jack Quinn, of course, is the
oldest and the record DOCKS
saw Jack will be 46 next July.
Yet he was not SO old that -
was allowed to drift back TO
the minors. When the Ath-
Ietics turned him loose, the
Brooklyn club signed him up
with the idea that his SpltbaH
will still fool National League
batterS who have never Datteo
against him. Red Faber' an
other SpitbaIler, is past 4S.
Pitchers last longer than play.
ers in any other position. Adolf
II1uue and Clarence Mitchell still
hold on, although both have gone
bevond their fortieth birthday.
Eppa Rixey will be forty this
spring. There are no ln1le!oerS
and outfielders past the forty
mark but a flock of them range
between 35 and 40. Here are
some more pitchers, Sam Jones IS
almost 80, Dazzy Vance IS past
az and both Burleigh Grimes ana
less Haines will be 3S this sum-
mer, Herb Pennock was 81 last
.ao,o+r ord Willie Sherdel will be
35 in August.
Here are eleven pitchers VINO
still are regarded highly enough
to be carried by big league cluos.
Most of them still are classed as
regulars. I was surprised TO 1lno
so many pitchers in this class
Schang Oldest Catcher
wally Schang is the Oldest OF
the other players, but he does noC
figure to be a regular. Wally vas
40 last summer and he can
still catch a good game OF pail
But look at some of these 1lg'
11res Sam Rice is past 39 ana
he is still holding his own as an
outfielder, and one OF the pesC
o,,tfielders in the game, TOO:
rabbit Maranville is the marvel
onong the infielders. I was talk
ing to the Rabbit a few days ago
and he told me he was 1eenng
great and expected to be a regu-
lar again this season. MaranVl!le
Is Y,ast 38. I expect to see jamie
son out in the Cleveland outtielo
in a lot of games this season
and Jimmy was 3S last monCn'
These players are older than
I am and another Few are
about the same age. RuOe
Rresaler, Harry Heilmann, JOe
:Tudge, Bing Miller and Frank
O'ROurke will all be 81 TINS
wear. and most of these are
also rated as regulars who WI"
be in the game every day.
Rogers Hornsby has indicated
that he expects to do most OF
the second base work for his
Cnhs this year and he will be
IS before the coming season is
a month old. Jimmy Dykes Is
a regular. and good one, OF
Connie Mack's world champions
and Jimmy is closing in on the
35.year-old mark. Muddy Ruel
was 35 when the Boston Req
Sox signed him this winter. Cy
Perkins, at 35, was not TOO ol9
for the Yankees to sign, ana
both Bob O'Farrell and Val
Picinich will be 35 this year.
It was quite a surprise to me
to find out there are SO many
players of these ages able to keep
up the major league pace. sew
eral of our players guessed on
the number before we made the
check.up and nobody said more
than 20. Yet we found about
20 and it is possible that we
overlooked a few.
The Old Guard carries on even
though dozens of youngsters are
brought up every spring.
CCopyright, 1881 by The Christy
Walsh Syndicate)