by Todd Pheifer

Created on: August 06, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Remember what John Kruk said to that fan one time when she questioned his athleticism? He said, "I'm not an athlete, I'm a baseball player." Granted, many baseball players are superb, world-class athletes. As with many other facets in life, athleticism and physical skills tend to diminish as people age. However, it is possible for "old" baseball players to compete with players 25 years and younger. If we assume that anyone older than 25 is "old", then old baseball players can certainly compete. To be fair, an "old" baseball player is more likely to be someone who is in their late 30's and early 40's. Here are a few thoughts on why "older" baseball players might still have a chance against the youngsters.

PARTICULAR SKILLS

There are certain things that make someone qualified to be a professional baseball player. They need speed, agility, and excellent hand-eye coordination. Hitters in particular need to be able to react in a split second when that 90 MPH fastball whizzes by them. As people get older, they tend to lose "bat speed", but at the same time they can also gain wisdom and experience. Therefore, some hitters in their late 30's are just as effective as some in the their early 20's. They may not have the raw athleticism that they once had, but they may still have enough physical skills to compete. In addition, they may have a greater understanding of their craft. Pitchers can also be effective in their later years. They may not have the raw velocity of their youth, but they may have developed other pitches or be more refined in their methodology. Some particular pitchers such as knuckleballer Tim Wakefield can conceivably pitch well into their 40's since they have a very unique delivery that does not require as much speed.

WISDOM AND CUNNING

The other advantage that an older baseball player has is experience. When players are young, they may get away with succeeding just on athleticism and talent. Older ballplayers have seen strategies in the past, and may be more diligent to study their opponent through note-taking, statistics, and film. If you think about it, baseball is in some ways a chess game between the pitcher and the hitter. The hitter is essentially guessing where the pitcher is going to throw the ball. Therefore, if the pitcher can fool the hitter into thinking that they are going to throw something else, the pitcher can win out, even if their pitches are not overpowering.

Overall, older players can certainly compete. The major leagues are full of "older" players who can still be very effective. Youth and athleticism are great to have, but experience and wisdom sometimes win out anyway. Many teams that win are "veteran" ball clubs because they use their mental superiority to triumph in the end.

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