Oldest player?

sox9418 · 12-01-2002, 09:40 PM

What's the oldest player you've had? In a few fictional leagues, players that go into a season at 38/39 with 9's come out with 4's or 5's. Does anyone play until they're 45? 42?

MJohnson · 12-01-2002, 10:44 PM

In an 8 team league that is 100 years old, I've had at least 7 who played until 43 and 2 until 44

AngelinOF · 12-01-2002, 11:44 PM

44--Ed Delahanty
44--Oscar Charleston
43--Josh Gibson
43--Harry Lumley

I think I may have noticed something that causes the significant ratings decreases but I am still testing out my theory to see how it holds up.

bigbuhn · 12-02-2002, 03:59 PM

I have Frank Robinson, currently 42, playing for the Royals in 78. He was an All-Star in 77, and already has hit 7 homers early in May in 78 season. He has hardly dropped a lick in ratings! If he keeps this up, he might break Hammer's Homer record!

sixto · 12-02-2002, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AngelinOF
44--Ed Delahanty
44--Oscar Charleston
43--Josh Gibson
43--Harry Lumley

I think I may have noticed something that causes the significant ratings decreases but I am still testing out my theory to see how it holds up.

What's your theory? Maybe we all can help.

AngelinOF · 12-02-2002, 10:30 PM

It has to do with a player's birthday, almost all the players that I have seen still producing after 38 have birthdays that occur during the off-season (October to March).

I'm guessing that a birthday during the course of the season (April to September) causes the ratings decrease to be more significant because its tied into the 'aging and development' process. The same formulas aren't used for players who age during the offseason so their ratings decrease more slowly.

One test I ran was to change Ed Delahanty (a player most of us who run historic leagues have always played into his 40's) birthday from October to June and noticed that he saw a big ratings decrease during the season he aged from 37 to 38, I ran the same season with his correct birthday and his ratings only decreased slightly.

sox9418 · 12-02-2002, 10:32 PM

Wow, that's interesting!

IatricSB · 12-03-2002, 01:46 AM

I have a solo league and was surprised to see Ed Delahanty still playing at the age of 43. I haven't advanced yet to see if he keeps going....

majormet · 12-03-2002, 02:10 AM

I had one 45 year old player that lasted a long time in the big leagues in Eddie Watt. Steve Hovley who was a loser in the MLB is on the free agent wire at 43 years old. Bill Stoneman who is the Angels GM is also hanging around at 42, he didn't make it to 30 for real in the MLB.

Magyar Bill · 12-04-2002, 01:02 PM

Bigbuhn,

Frank Robinson played in my league until he was 42. He had 723 homeruns (all time leader is Chuck Klein with 751). He had a rating of 6 for HR and 7 for hitting and he retired! I was sure he would play one more season (he was signed for 2) and maybe break the record. Needless to say I was frustrated that he retired with a decent chance to break the record. Willie McCovey retired at age 39 with 738 HR but his ratings were all 1s.

blynch10 · 12-04-2002, 03:20 PM

There is a fictional player in my league that is 43. I though he was going to retire after the year he was 42 but he went to free agency the following year and was signed. He was a brilliant hitter with a career .370 average so far. The last three years his batting average has dropped to the low .300 but his career highs were over .400 in three different years.

ctorg · 12-05-2002, 12:08 PM

The oldest I've ever had anyone get is 45. I've noticed that pitchers tend to be good a little longer than batters, at least in my solo leagues.

fantom1979 · 12-05-2002, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Magyar Bill
Bigbuhn,

Frank Robinson played in my league until he was 42. He had 723 homeruns (all time leader is Chuck Klein with 751). He had a rating of 6 for HR and 7 for hitting and he retired! I was sure he would play one more season (he was signed for 2) and maybe break the record. Needless to say I was frustrated that he retired with a decent chance to break the record. Willie McCovey retired at age 39 with 738 HR but his ratings were all 1s.

This is something that has pissed me off a few times. I had a player (not on my team) that was 17 hits from the record but retired, with an 8 still for contact hitting. I was not happy.

markgrace · 12-05-2002, 11:50 PM

Jason Giambi retired at age 40 in one of my solo leagues, but he was still rated 7 for batting and 11 for homeruns! and I had him under contract for another season....

clarnzz · 12-06-2002, 12:40 AM

Giambi retired at 41 with ratings of 7,7,0,8,8,4 - G,G,P,B,B,A

Another off-season birthday guy, very intesting...

SSG Troyer · 12-06-2002, 08:52 AM

In my solo fictional league, James Astorga (2967 career hits, 17th on the all-time list) played at 43 and is sitting in FA at 44. His birthday is 4/11.

Scott Vibert · 12-06-2002, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AngelinOF
It has to do with a player's birthday, almost all the players that I have seen still producing after 38 have birthdays that occur during the off-season (October to March).

I'm guessing that a birthday during the course of the season (April to September) causes the ratings decrease to be more significant because its tied into the 'aging and development' process. The same formulas aren't used for players who age during the offseason so their ratings decrease more slowly.

One test I ran was to change Ed Delahanty (a player most of us who run historic leagues have always played into his 40's) birthday from October to June and noticed that he saw a big ratings decrease during the season he aged from 37 to 38, I ran the same season with his correct birthday and his ratings only decreased slightly.

I asked Markus about this theory and he says there is nothing to it, at least nothing intentionally too it.

It doesn't make sense that the birthdate would play a factor in the ratings decrease, because I would assume the algorithm for player development only looks at the players current age, and not their birthdate.

However, if you guys keep seeing this trend in most if not all of your old players (try fictional leagues too and see if you see this, it may just be something with the way historical league career paths are assigned) then you should report it, since it would then indicate that something isn't working as designed.

clarnzz · 12-06-2002, 11:58 AM

Yeah, Im not sure at all if there is a trend with it. Im just always up for a good conspiracy theory and Giambi fit right into it.

I just noticed that our 2 Hall of famers that were the most productive at an advanced age both had offseason birthdays.(Vaughn and Giambi)(also both 1b).

The next closest to production at a higher age was Bernie Williams and he doesnt have an offseason birthday.

Probably just coincidence.

AngelinOF · 12-06-2002, 10:41 PM

Actually I have seen it happen in a fictional league of mine also, almost every player who has an off-season birthday ratings decrease at a normal rate (meaning that they decrease 1 or 2 points per year) oppose to the massive decrease of those that turn 38 during the course of the season (meaning an 8 becomes a 2 or 3.) Keep in mind I am only looking at the 37 to 38 transition since 38 seems to be when most players starts to decline.

If this is the case then I don't think it was intentional. I just happen to notice while looking at Tigerfan's HOB website that there were a lot of common players who played into their 40's so I started looking what the players had in common and one of the things was an off-season birthday.

12-01-2002, 09:40 PM	#1
sox9418 Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 323	Oldest player? What's the oldest player you've had? In a few fictional leagues, players that go into a season at 38/39 with 9's come out with 4's or 5's. Does anyone play until they're 45? 42?

12-03-2002, 01:46 AM	#8
IatricSB Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: California Posts: 3,493	I have a solo league and was surprised to see Ed Delahanty still playing at the age of 43. I haven't advanced yet to see if he keeps going.... __________________ Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body; but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "Wow! What a Ride!" Chicago(N) - Boys of Summer Oakland - 20th Century League Bakersfield - Wild Things Brooklyn - QBA Dodge City - NBSL California - ABC Dodger's Senioriest fan on the OOTP Boards

12-05-2002, 11:50 PM	#14
markgrace Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 56	Jason Giambi retired at age 40 in one of my solo leagues, but he was still rated 7 for batting and 11 for homeruns! and I had him under contract for another season.... __________________ Go Cubbies! <a href="http://www.jobl.net">Detroit Stars of the JOBL</a> <a href="http://www12.brinkster.com/brewers">Milwaukee Brewers of the NOBL</a>

12-06-2002, 08:52 AM	#16
SSG Troyer All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Somewhere to the left of 2nd base Posts: 1,598	In my solo fictional league, James Astorga (2967 career hits, 17th on the all-time list) played at 43 and is sitting in FA at 44. His birthday is 4/11. __________________ MWT Did Tennesee Delaware Mississppi's New Jersey? Idaho ... Alaska!

12-06-2002, 11:58 AM	#18
clarnzz All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Following everyone off a cliff. Posts: 1,522	Yeah, Im not sure at all if there is a trend with it. Im just always up for a good conspiracy theory and Giambi fit right into it. I just noticed that our 2 Hall of famers that were the most productive at an advanced age both had offseason birthdays.(Vaughn and Giambi)(also both 1b). The next closest to production at a higher age was Bernie Williams and he doesnt have an offseason birthday. Probably just coincidence. Last edited by clarnzz; 12-06-2002 at 12:05 PM.

12-01-2002, 10:44 PM	#2
MJohnson Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: under an overpass Posts: 459	In an 8 team league that is 100 years old, I've had at least 7 who played until 43 and 2 until 44

12-01-2002, 11:44 PM	#3
AngelinOF All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,353	44--Ed Delahanty 44--Oscar Charleston 43--Josh Gibson 43--Harry Lumley I think I may have noticed something that causes the significant ratings decreases but I am still testing out my theory to see how it holds up.

12-02-2002, 03:59 PM	#4
bigbuhn Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Cleveland Posts: 23	I have Frank Robinson, currently 42, playing for the Royals in 78. He was an All-Star in 77, and already has hit 7 homers early in May in 78 season. He has hardly dropped a lick in ratings! If he keeps this up, he might break Hammer's Homer record!

12-02-2002, 10:30 PM	#6
AngelinOF All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,353	It has to do with a player's birthday, almost all the players that I have seen still producing after 38 have birthdays that occur during the off-season (October to March). I'm guessing that a birthday during the course of the season (April to September) causes the ratings decrease to be more significant because its tied into the 'aging and development' process. The same formulas aren't used for players who age during the offseason so their ratings decrease more slowly. One test I ran was to change Ed Delahanty (a player most of us who run historic leagues have always played into his 40's) birthday from October to June and noticed that he saw a big ratings decrease during the season he aged from 37 to 38, I ran the same season with his correct birthday and his ratings only decreased slightly.

12-02-2002, 10:32 PM	#7
sox9418 Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 323	Wow, that's interesting!

12-03-2002, 02:10 AM	#9
majormet Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,536	I had one 45 year old player that lasted a long time in the big leagues in Eddie Watt. Steve Hovley who was a loser in the MLB is on the free agent wire at 43 years old. Bill Stoneman who is the Angels GM is also hanging around at 42, he didn't make it to 30 for real in the MLB.

12-04-2002, 01:02 PM	#10
Magyar Bill Minors (Single A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Lilburn, GA Posts: 76	Bigbuhn, Frank Robinson played in my league until he was 42. He had 723 homeruns (all time leader is Chuck Klein with 751). He had a rating of 6 for HR and 7 for hitting and he retired! I was sure he would play one more season (he was signed for 2) and maybe break the record. Needless to say I was frustrated that he retired with a decent chance to break the record. Willie McCovey retired at age 39 with 738 HR but his ratings were all 1s.

12-04-2002, 03:20 PM	#11
blynch10 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 273	There is a fictional player in my league that is 43. I though he was going to retire after the year he was 42 but he went to free agency the following year and was signed. He was a brilliant hitter with a career .370 average so far. The last three years his batting average has dropped to the low .300 but his career highs were over .400 in three different years.

12-05-2002, 12:08 PM	#12
ctorg Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 9,848	The oldest I've ever had anyone get is 45. I've noticed that pitchers tend to be good a little longer than batters, at least in my solo leagues.

12-06-2002, 12:40 AM	#15
clarnzz All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Following everyone off a cliff. Posts: 1,522	Giambi retired at 41 with ratings of 7,7,0,8,8,4 - G,G,P,B,B,A Another off-season birthday guy, very intesting...

12-06-2002, 10:41 PM	#19
AngelinOF All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,353	Actually I have seen it happen in a fictional league of mine also, almost every player who has an off-season birthday ratings decrease at a normal rate (meaning that they decrease 1 or 2 points per year) oppose to the massive decrease of those that turn 38 during the course of the season (meaning an 8 becomes a 2 or 3.) Keep in mind I am only looking at the 37 to 38 transition since 38 seems to be when most players starts to decline. If this is the case then I don't think it was intentional. I just happen to notice while looking at Tigerfan's HOB website that there were a lot of common players who played into their 40's so I started looking what the players had in common and one of the things was an off-season birthday.