Minnesota Twins

StaTuesday: At 44, Twins pitcher Bartolo Colon just keeps going

Published Jul. 25, 2017 2:27 p.m. ET

Ryan Lund

Somehow, Bartolo Colon keeps chugging along.

Seemingly fueled by the memes his 5-foot-11, 285-pound frame has inspired, the man they call "Big Sexy" has parlayed his masterful command and infinitely GIF-able performances into folk hero status.

He retired promising Los Angeles Dodgers youngster Cody Bellinger twice Monday night, 17 years after striking out the 22-year-old's father, former New York Yankees utility man Clay Bellinger.

The elder Bellinger, now 48, has two sons, Cody, who is in the midst of a stellar rookie season for the Dodgers, and Cole, who was drafted by the San Diego Padres earlier this year.

Colon, now 44, is still pitching.

He's one of just a handful of pitchers in major-league history to start past 44, and the first since 2012, when 49-year-old Jamie Moyer started 10 games for the Colorado Rockies.

Randy Johnson, Nolan Ryan, Tommy John; it's quite the list.

Player	Year	Age	G	W-L	IP	BB	K	ERA
Bartolo Colon	2017	44	15	2-9	72	20	47	8.00
Jamie Moyer	2012	49	10	2-5	53.2	18	36	5.70
Tim Wakefield	2011	44	33	7-8	154.2	47	93	5.12
Jamie Moyer	2010	47	19	9-9	111.2	20	63	4.84
Randy Johnson	2009	45	22	8-6	96	31	86	4.88
Jamie Moyer	2009	46	30	12-10	162	43	94	4.94
Randy Johnson	2008	44	30	11-10	184	44	173	3.91
Jamie Moyer	2008	45	33	16-7	196.1	62	123	3.71
Roger Clemens	2007	44	18	6-6	99	31	68	4.18
David Wells	2007	44	29	9-9	157.1	42	82	5.43
Jamie Moyer	2007	44	33	14-12	199.1	66	133	5.01
Charlie Hough	1994	46	21	5-9	113.2	52	65	5.15
Nolan Ryan	1993	46	13	5-5	66.1	40	46	4.88
Charlie Hough	1993	45	34	9-16	204.1	71	126	4.27
Nolan Ryan	1992	45	27	5-9	157.1	69	157	3.72
Charlie Hough	1992	44	27	7-12	176.1	66	76	3.93
Nolan Ryan	1991	44	27	12-6	173	72	203	2.91
Tommy John	1989	46	10	2-7	63.2	22	18	5.80
Tommy John	1988	45	35	9-8	176.1	46	81	4.49
Tommy John	1987	44	33	13-6	187.2	47	63	4.03
Phil Niekro	1987	48	26	7-13	138.2	66	64	6.30
Phil Niekro	1986	47	34	11-11	210.1	95	81	4.32
Phil Niekro	1985	46	33	16-12	220	120	149	4.09
Phil Niekro	1984	45	32	16-8	215.2	76	136	3.09
Gaylord Perry	1983	44	30	7-14	186.1	49	82	4.64
Phil Niekro	1983	44	34	11-10	201.2	105	128	3.97
Warren Spahn	1965	44	36	7-16	197.2	56	90	4.01
Satchel Paige	1965	58	1	0-0	3	0	1	0.00
Ted Lyons	1946	45	5	1-4	42.2	9	10	2.32
Jack Quinn	1928	44	31	18-7	211.1	34	43	2.90
Cy Young	1911	44	18	7-9	126.1	28	55	3.78

*minimum 60 percent of games started

And while his tenure with the Twins will ultimately account for a small portion of his 20-year career, Colon is already the oldest starting pitcher in Minnesota Twins history by a comfortable margin.

He's one of just seven Twins hurlers to pitch into their 40s, and the first in more than a decade to make it that far. Colon still has a ways to go to catch Jesse Orosco, however, who finished off his 24-year major-league career in a brief stint with Minnesota at age 46.

Player	Year	Age	G	W-L	IP	BB	K	ERA
Bartolo Colon	2017	44	2	0-1	9	0	5	7.00
Terry Mulholland	2005	42	49	0-2	59	17	18	4.27
Terry Mulholland	2004	41	39	5-9	123.1	33	60	5.18
Jesse Orosco	2003	46	8	1-1	4.2	5	3	5.79
Steve Carlton	1988	43	4	0-1	9.2	5	5	16.76
Joe Niekro	1988	43	5	1-1	11.2	9	7	10.03
Steve Carlton	1987	42	9	1-5	43	23	20	6.70
Joe Niekro	1987	42	19	4-9	96.1	45	54	6.26
Al Worthington	1969	40	46	4-1	61	20	51	4.57

Left-hander Terry Mulholland was the last Twins pitcher to pitch for the team in his 40s, spending two of his 20 major-league seasons with the Twins. Mulholland was used exclusively in relief in 2005, but 15 of his 39 appearances in 2004 were as a starter.

Mulholland rode off into the sunset at 43 years old.

Colon turned 43 last year, 10 years after Mulholland retired as a seventh-inning setup man for a listless Arizona Diamondbacks squad. Colon pitched in the All-Star Game in 2016, finishing the year with a 3.43 ERA.

Pitchers make up the bulk of the Twins' 40-plus list, but they've had a few super-veteran position players too.

Player	Year	Age	G	PA	H	HR	RBI	BB	BA
Jim Thome	2011	40	71	242	50	12	40	35	.243
Ruben Sierra	2006	40	14	33	5	0	4	4	.179
Pat Borders	2004	41	19	44	12	0	5	0	.286
Paul Molitor	1998	41	126	559	141	4	69	45	.281
Paul Molitor	1997	40	135	597	164	10	89	45	.305
Dave Winfield	1994	42	77	328	74	10	43	31	.252
Dave Winfield	1993	41	143	594	148	21	76	45	.271
Jim Dwyer	1990	40	37	75	12	1	5	12	.190
Elmer Valo	1961	40	33	36	5	0	4	3	.156

Designated hitter Jim Thome is the most recent addition after joining the club in 2011, when he hit 12 home runs and drove in 40 runs in 71 games.

Manager Paul Molitor makes the list twice after playing his age-40 and age-41 seasons in Minnesota, and hitting .305 then .281 to close out his major-league career.

The record, however, goes to Minnesota native Dave Winfield, who returned to his hometown after his sixth Silver Slugger season.

Winfield spent two seasons with the Twins, turning 42 before closing out his Hall of Fame career with a brief stint in Cleveland.