January 22, 2004

"Gramps" has finally retired.:
After a quarter-century of pitching, Jesse Orosco has finally decided to hang up the glove at age 46. That leaves Julio Franco as the oldest active player in baseball. Interesting Orosco trivia inside...

posted by grum@work to baseball at 07:54 AM - 15 comments

How old is Jesse?

  • He played against fathers AND sons like: Bobby and Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr., Bob, Aaron and Brett Boone, Buddy and David Bell, Pedro Borbon Sr. and Jr., Jerry Hairson Sr. and Jr., Hal and Brian McRae, Tony and Eduardo Perez, .
  • Kirby Puckett was in high school when Orosco started, and in that time Puckett became a major league player, retired, waited 5 years and got into the hall of fame.
  • Hank Butcher, a former teammate of Cy Young, was still alive when Orosco entered the majors.
  • ESPN didn't exist when Orosco appeared in his first game.
  • Rotossierie baseball didn't exist when Orosco started.
  • Minnie Minoso played his last game a year after Orosco played his first.
  • When Jesse Orosco made his debut at Wrigley, Harry Caray hadn't started broadcasting for the Cubs yet.
  • He is older than every manager is the American League Central division.
  • Betwen Orosco's debut and retiremenet, 149 young men were born, grew up, and played in the majors.
(grabbed from various sources and articles around the internet)

posted by grum@work at 08:26 AM on January 22, 2004

Great stats. Thanks.

posted by yerfatma at 09:09 AM on January 22, 2004

How many rings does he have? I know of two for sure, the 86 Mets and the 88 Dodgers.

posted by jasonspaceman at 09:32 AM on January 22, 2004

those are his only rings but his clinching of 86 Mets series is one of most indelible images of recent baseball lore

posted by dales15 at 10:03 AM on January 22, 2004

He has just those two, but he didn't pitch an inning in the 1988 World Series. One of the best descriptions of Orosco's age can be found here. More stats:

  • Anaheim, Arizona, Florida, Kansas City, Toronto, Minnesota, and Philadelphia all won their first World Series during his time in MLB.
  • He has played while the league has added:
    • 2 divisions - AL/NL Central
    • 4 teams - Colorado, Florida, Tampa Bay, Arizona
    • 4 more playoff spots - AL/NL Central and Wild Cards
    • 4 countries - regular season games played in Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico and exhibition game in Cuba
  • There have been 30 name changes for ballparks (either new park or new name) during his time.
  • There were 16 new ballparks to play in during his career.

posted by grum@work at 10:06 AM on January 22, 2004

Sure but none of the new balparks or divisions are named for him. Yet.

posted by billsaysthis at 10:53 AM on January 22, 2004

Old Fart Park. I like it.

posted by wfrazerjr at 03:52 PM on January 22, 2004

Centrum SilverDome.

posted by jerseygirl at 10:06 PM on January 22, 2004

Antediluvian Stadium.

posted by dusted at 10:47 PM on January 22, 2004

antediluvian - I've always loved that word. No idea why.

posted by pivo at 01:06 AM on January 23, 2004

Geritol Park. Depends Stadium. Perpetual-Left-Turn-Signal Ballpark.

posted by grum@work at 06:16 AM on January 23, 2004

The Metamucil Dome.

posted by dfleming at 06:17 AM on January 23, 2004

I Can Walk Faster Than You Drive Arena

posted by billsaysthis at 01:12 PM on January 23, 2004

Blue Hair Ball Park.

posted by garfield at 01:19 PM on January 23, 2004

(sponsored by 'That Old Person Smell' Deodorant. For when you start to think you smell yourself rotting, rub it on, and stave off the Reaper, and others.)

posted by garfield at 01:27 PM on January 23, 2004

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