Jamie Moyer
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Jamie Moyer (born November 18, 1962) is an American former
professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Modern professional ...
pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
. Over his 25-year career in
Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB), Moyer pitched for the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers,
St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
,
Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...
,
Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eigh ...
,
Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The team joined the American League as an expansion team ...
, Philadelphia Phillies, and Colorado Rockies. He was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2015. At the time of his final game, he was the oldest player in the major leagues and had the most wins, losses, and strikeouts of any active MLB pitcher. He was likened to
Phil Niekro Philip Henry Niekro ( ; April 1, 1939 – December 26, 2020), nicknamed "Knucksie", was an American baseball pitcher who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball, 20 of them with the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves. Niekro's 318 career victor ...
due to his long career and relatively old age upon retirement. On April 17, 2012, Moyer became the oldest pitcher in MLB history to win a game. On May 16, 2012, he broke his own winning-pitcher record and also set the record for the oldest MLB player to record a
run batted in A run batted in (RBI; plural RBIs ) is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored (except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play). For example, if the bat ...
(RBI). He also holds the Major League record for most home runs allowed with 522. Moyer made the All-Star team in 2003, while with the Mariners. Moyer has received numerous awards for philanthropy and
community service Community service is unpaid work performed by a person or group of people for the benefit and betterment of their community without any form of compensation. Community service can be distinct from volunteering, since it is not always performe ...
, including the 2003
Roberto Clemente Award The Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team", as voted on by baseball fans a ...
, the 2003
Lou Gehrig Memorial Award The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award is given annually to a Major League Baseball (MLB) player who best exhibits the character and integrity of Lou Gehrig, both on the field and off it. The award was created by the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in honor o ...
, the 2003
Hutch Award The Hutch Award is given annually to an active Major League Baseball (MLB) player who "best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire" of Fred Hutchinson, by persevering through adversity. The award was created in 1965 in honor of Hu ...
, and the 2004
Branch Rickey Award The Branch Rickey Award was given annually to an individual in Major League Baseball (MLB) in recognition of his exceptional community service from 1992 to 2014. The award was named in honor of former player and executive Branch Rickey, who broke t ...
. Moyer is one of only 31 players in baseball history to date to have appeared in MLB games in four decades. At the time of his retirement, Moyer had faced 8.9% of all MLB hitters ever.


Amateur career

Moyer attended
Souderton Area High School Souderton Area High School is a large public high school in the Montgomery County suburbs of Philadelphia located at 625 Lower Road in Souderton, Pennsylvania, United States, and serves residents in Souderton and Telford boroughs, and Franconia ...
in
Souderton, Pennsylvania Souderton is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,191 at the 2020 census. Souderton formerly hosted the end of the annual Bucks County Classic, a professional bicycle race. History The town was orig ...
, where he played baseball,
basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...
, and
golf Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible. Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standardized playing area, and coping ...
. In his junior year of baseball, he had a 10-0 win-loss record and threw three consecutive no-hitters. Moyer enrolled at Saint Joseph's University and played
college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional p ...
for the Saint Joseph's Hawks baseball team. In 1984, he set the school's single-season records in wins, with 16,
earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA), with 1.99, and strikeouts, with 90. In 1997, he became the only Saint Joseph's baseball player to have his jersey number, number 10, retired, and was one of three inductees into the first class of the St. Joseph's Baseball Hall of Fame.


Professional career


Chicago Cubs (1986–1988)

The Chicago Cubs selected Moyer in the sixth round of the 1984 amateur draft. Moyer was selected a
New York–Penn League The New York–Penn League (NYPL) was a Minor League Baseball league that operated in the northeastern United States from 1939 to 2020. Classified as a Class A Short Season league, its season started in June, after major-league teams signed th ...
All-Star in 1984. He made his major league debut with the Cubs on June 16, 1986, against Steve Carlton and the Philadelphia Phillies, and earned his first win. Later that year, on August 16, he threw his first
shutout In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any points. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball. Shutouts are usuall ...
against the
Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...
. He was also the starting pitcher for the Cubs on the day that Greg Maddux made his major league debut. In 1987, Moyer ranked tenth in the
National League The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team ...
in strikeouts with 147, while winning 12 games and losing 15. He also lost 15 games in 1988 against only nine wins. Despite his poor record, Moyer lowered his ERA to 3.48 (it had been 5.10 in 1987), and while he struck out fewer batters than he had in the previous year, he decreased his walk rate significantly, giving only 55 batters a base on balls as opposed to 97 in the previous year.


Texas Rangers (1989–1990)

Following his then-best season in 1988, Moyer was traded to the Texas Rangers as part of the nine-player Rafael Palmeiro for
Mitch Williams Mitchell Steven Williams (born November 17, 1964), nicknamed "Wild Thing", is an American former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for six teams from 1986 to 1997. He was also a studio analyst for the MLB Network from 2009 to ...
trade. Moyer was on the disabled list with a sore left shoulder for much of a disappointing 1989 season. In 1990, Moyer spent time in the bullpen before regaining a spot in the starting rotation.


St. Louis Cardinals (1991)

Moyer was released as a
free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
after the 1990 season and was signed by the
St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
. He made seven starts for the Cardinals in 1991 before being sent to the
minor leagues Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in No ...
on May 24. He was released on October 14.


Chicago Cubs/Detroit Tigers (1992)

In 1992, Moyer attended spring training with the Chicago Cubs, but was released and spent the rest of the season in the minor league system of the Detroit Tigers.


Baltimore Orioles (1993–1995)

On December 18, 1992, Moyer signed with the
Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...
. Moyer began the 1993 season in the Oriole minor leagues before being called up on May 30. He tied his career-high total in wins with 12 and set a new career-low ERA of 3.43. The strike-shortened 1994 season saw his ERA rise to 4.77, but he was third on the Orioles' staff in innings pitched. In 1995, Moyer again found himself in the Baltimore bullpen, but worked his way back into the starting rotation.


Boston Red Sox (1996)

Moyer was signed by the
Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eigh ...
on January 2, 1996. Moyer appeared in 23 games for Boston, making 10 starts.


Seattle Mariners (1996–2006)


1996–1999

In the middle of the 1996 season, Moyer was traded by the Red Sox to the
Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The team joined the American League as an expansion team ...
on July 30, for outfielder Darren Bragg. In Seattle, he started 11 games and went 6–2. Moyer's record of 13–3 across both teams led the majors in winning percentage at .813. In 1997, Moyer was fifth in the
American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
with 17 wins. His 17–5 record gave him the second-highest winning percentage (.773) in the league. In the
Division Series The Division Series is the quarterfinal round of the Major League Baseball playoffs. Four series are played in this round, two each for both the American League and the National League. 1981 season The first use of the term "Division Series" date ...
, Moyer made his first
postseason The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
start against his former club Baltimore, but was forced out with a strained elbow in the fifth inning. Moyer took the
loss Loss may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * ''Loss'' (Bass Communion album) (2006) * ''Loss'' (Mull Historical Society album) (2001) *"Loss", a song by God Is an Astronaut from their self-titled album (2008) * Losses "(Lil Tjay son ...
in Game 2 and the Orioles won the series in four games. In 1998, Moyer went 15–9 with a 3.53 ERA. He accumulated 158 strikeouts, the highest total of his career. Moyer was fourth in the American League in innings pitched with 234.1. He registered his 100th career win against the
Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive Fi ...
on August 27, as well as his 1000th career strikeout with a sixth inning strikeout of David Bell. Moyer was named Seattle's Pitcher of the Year by the Seattle chapter of the BBWAA. Moyer walked two or fewer batters in 29 of his 32 starts. He ranked third in the
American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
with 1.6 walks per nine innings, and his ERA was the seventh-best in the league. Moyer's three shutouts were tied for fourth in the majors, and he was fifth in the American League in
wins above replacement Wins Above Replacement or Wins Above Replacement Player, commonly abbreviated to WAR or WARP, is a non-standardized sabermetric baseball statistic developed to sum up "a player's total contributions to his team". A player's WAR value is claimed to ...
(WAR) for pitchers, per Baseball Reference. In 1999, Moyer went 14–8 with a 3.87 ERA and was voted to ''
The Sporting News The ''Sporting News'' is a website and former magazine publication owned by Sporting News Holdings, which is a U.S.-based sports media company formed in December 2020 by a private investor consortium. It was originally established in 1886 as a pr ...
'' AL All-Star team. He again won the Seattle Pitcher of the Year award. Moyer matched his career-best seven-game winning streak from May 11 to July 7. He started the Inaugural Game at
Safeco Field T-Mobile Park is a retractable roof stadium in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners and has a seating capacity of 47,929. It is in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood, near the western ...
on July 15 against the
San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penn ...
, throwing a called strike to San Diego's Quilvio Veras for the first pitch and getting a no-decision in Seattle's 3–2 loss after leaving with a 2–1 lead after eight innings. Moyer defeated Baltimore for the ninth straight time on July 31; he did not lose to the Orioles in the 1990s. Moyer's only loss at Safeco came on August 5 against the
New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
. He recorded three complete games in the final month of the season, tossing back-to-back complete games on September 14 and 19. His 2.30 ERA after the All-Star break was the second-lowest among AL starters, behind only
Pedro Martínez Pedro Jaime Martínez (born October 25, 1971) is a Dominican-American former professional baseball starting pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from to , for five teams—most notably the Boston Red Sox from to . At the time o ...
with his 2.01 ERA. Moyer pitched four complete games for the second straight season, tying his career best. Moyer accumulated 6.5 wins above replacement, third among American League pitchers. He was also sixth in the league in ERA and third in innings pitched.


2000–2001

In 2000, Moyer rebounded from an early shoulder injury to tally 13 wins, giving him at least 13 in each of his past five seasons. He made his first Opening Day start for Seattle, but lost to the
Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eigh ...
2–0 on April 4. His shoulder problems led his ERA to balloon to 5.49. A knee injury suffered on the last pitch of a simulated game caused him to miss Seattle's trip to the American League Championship Series against the eventual
World Series The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World ...
champion
New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
. Moyer lost five consecutive starts from August 4–24. He allowed a career-high and a club-record 11 earned runs in a 19–3 loss on August 9 against the
Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and ...
. He allowed 11 runs, six earned, in a 14–4 loss on August 14 against the Detroit Tigers, joining the Houston Astros'
José Lima José Desiderio Rodriguez Lima (September 30, 1972 – May 23, 2010) was a Dominican right-handed pitcher who spent 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Detroit Tigers (1994–1996, 2001–2002), Houston Astros (1997–2001), Kan ...
as the first two pitchers since 1950 to allow 10 or more runs in consecutive starts. Moyer allowed a career-high seven walks in a no-decision on August 29 against the Yankees. The Mariners' 7–2 win on September 9 against the Minnesota Twins snapped a six-game losing streak. Moyer lasted just one and two-thirds innings in his final start, getting a no-decision September 28 against the Texas Rangers. Moyer suffered a hairline fracture of the left
kneecap The patella, also known as the kneecap, is a flat, rounded triangular bone which articulates with the femur (thigh bone) and covers and protects the anterior articular surface of the knee joint. The patella is found in many tetrapods, such as m ...
while pitching a simulated game on October 7. Moyer finished the 2000 season with a 13–10 record and a 5.49 ERA. Moyer bounced back in the Mariners' 116-win 2001 season. He earned 20 wins, ranked tied for second in the
American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
, and his 3.43 ERA was sixth in the AL. He earned his 150th career win, against the Texas Rangers on September 24. He became only the second Mariner in history to win 20 games on October 5, former teammate
Randy Johnson Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963), nicknamed "The Big Unit", is an American photographer and former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (1988–2009) for six teams, primarily the Seattle M ...
being the other. Moyer went 3–0 with a 1.89 ERA in the
postseason The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
. He won Games 2 and 5 for the Mariners against the
Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive Fi ...
in the ALDS. Moyer also won Game 3 against the New York Yankees in the ALCS. However, this would be Seattle's only victory in the series, as New York defeated them in five games to advance to their fourth consecutive World Series.


2002–2003

In 2002, Moyer went 13–8 with a then career low 3.32 ERA. Although he pitched 20 more innings and had a lower ERA than in 2001, he won seven fewer games. Moyer was fourth in the AL in innings with 230.2. He was tied for second in the league with 34 starts, fifth in opponents' batting average, holding opposing hitters to a .230 clip, and ninth in ERA with 3.32. He tossed a team-high 24 consecutive scoreless innings from June 16 to July 6. He averaged just two walks per nine innings pitched, tied for sixth-best in the AL. The Mariners were 20–14 in his starts. His four complete games tied his career high set in 1998 and 1999. He threw the seventh complete game shutout of his career, and his first of the season, on June 10 against the
St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
in a 10–0 win. Moyer's start on June 16 against San Diego began a streak of 24 consecutive shutout innings over four starts. He finished June 3–1 with a Major League best 1.01 ERA in five starts. In four of those starts, Moyer pitched at least seven innings without allowing a run. He collected his 1,500th career strikeout August 24 against the
Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive Fi ...
. In 2003, Moyer won a career high 21 games, lost 7, and had a career low 3.27 ERA. He tied for second in the American League for wins and was sixth in ERA. His .750 winning percentage placed him fourth in the league and his 21 wins are a club record. He became the only Seattle pitcher to win 20 games more than once. Moyer was voted to his first and only
All-Star Game An all-star game is an exhibition game that purports to showcase the best players (the "stars") of a sports league. The exhibition is between two teams organized solely for the event, usually representing the league's teams based on region or d ...
in 2003. He was named the Seattle Pitcher of the Year for the third time and was also the recipient of the
Roberto Clemente Award The Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team", as voted on by baseball fans a ...
, given annually to a player whose success on the field is mirrored by his impact in community service. Moyer also won the
Hutch Award The Hutch Award is given annually to an active Major League Baseball (MLB) player who "best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire" of Fred Hutchinson, by persevering through adversity. The award was created in 1965 in honor of Hu ...
, presented annually by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to an MLB player displaying "honor, courage and dedication to baseball, both on and off the field" and The Lou Gehrig Award, presented annually to the MLB player who both on and off the field best exemplifies the character of
Lou Gehrig Henry Louis Gehrig (born Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig ; June 19, 1903June 2, 1941) was an American professional baseball first baseman who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees (1923–1939). Gehrig was renowned f ...
.


2004–2006

In 2004, Moyer went 7–13 and posted his first losing record since 1994. His ERA was 5.21 and he surrendered an MLB-leading 44 home runs. While the year started well for him, going 5–0 with a 1.59 ERA from May 20 to June 18, Moyer ended 2004 on a 10-game losing streak. He threw the slowest fastball of all AL starters, averaging 81.6 mph. He was awarded the
Branch Rickey Award The Branch Rickey Award was given annually to an individual in Major League Baseball (MLB) in recognition of his exceptional community service from 1992 to 2014. The award was named in honor of former player and executive Branch Rickey, who broke t ...
for his exceptional community service following the season. During the 2005 season, Moyer passed
Randy Johnson Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963), nicknamed "The Big Unit", is an American photographer and former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (1988–2009) for six teams, primarily the Seattle M ...
to become the winningest pitcher for the Mariners on May 30. On July 8, Moyer became the 25th southpaw to win 200 games in Major League Baseball. He finished with a 13–7 record, and for the second year in a row he threw the slowest fastball of all major league starters, averaging 81.7 mph. On June 18, 2006, he became the 33rd man to start 500 major league games. In his 11 seasons with the Mariners, Moyer had a record of 145–87 with a 3.97 ERA in 324 games (323 starts). He is the franchise leader in starts and innings pitched. He held the franchise record for wins until
Félix Hernández Félix Abraham Hernández García (born April 8, 1986), nicknamed "King Félix", is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners from 2005 through 2019. On August 15, 2 ...
earned his 146th Mariner win on May 9, 2016. Moyer is also one of the all-time leaders in 1–0 complete game losses. Moyer has lost eight games having surrendered only one run over nine innings. Before being traded in August 2006, he was the oldest active
American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
player.


Philadelphia Phillies (2006–2010)


2006–2007

On August 19, 2006, Moyer was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league pitchers Andrew Barb and Andrew Baldwin. In his first start with the Phillies, Moyer set a franchise record as the oldest pitcher to record a win. In eight starts with the Phillies in 2006, Moyer went 5–2 with a 4.03 ERA. After the season, Moyer signed a two-year extension worth $10.5 million with the Phillies on October 23. On April 12, 2007, at age 44 Moyer struck out his 2000th batter against the
Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
. On April 29, Moyer pitched a two-hitter through 7 innings as he recorded a win against the
Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The fran ...
. On July 21, at age 44, Moyer combined with David Wells to set the record for the oldest match up of lefty starters (88 years, 307 days) in major league history. Moyer won the game and Wells lost; the oldest over the youngest by 183 days. On the final day of the season, with the Phillies and Mets tied at the top of the division with 88 wins, Moyer defeated the
Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
, pitching 5 innings and surrendering five hits and no earned runs, while
Tom Glavine Thomas Michael Glavine (born March 25, 1966) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball, for the Atlanta Braves (1987–2002, 2008) and New York Mets (2003–2007). With 164 victories durin ...
, who at the time was also one of the oldest players in the major leagues, was crushed by the Marlins at
Shea Stadium Shea Stadium (), formally known as William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York City.
, surrendering seven runs in the first inning, hitting a batter with the bases loaded, and recording only a single out before being pulled. The Phillies would win the division by a single game, but would not win a single playoff game, falling to the
Rockies The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico in ...
in the
division series The Division Series is the quarterfinal round of the Major League Baseball playoffs. Four series are played in this round, two each for both the American League and the National League. 1981 season The first use of the term "Division Series" date ...
. He threw the slowest fastball of all NL starters in 2007, averaging .


2008

In 2008, at age 45, Moyer became the oldest active player in Major League baseball. On April 30, Moyer hit a single off Padres pitcher Chris Young into left center field to become the oldest Phillie ever to get a hit. On April 30, 2008 at age 45, Moyer became the oldest player to ever have a bobblehead giveaway. On May 26, Moyer won his 235th career game, giving him at least one victory over each Major League team. The victory came in a 20–5 win over the Rockies. Moyer pitched seven innings, struck out seven batters, and gave up four runs. He followed that in his next start against the Marlins by earning his sixth victory of the season, pitching seven innings and giving up five runs. On September 11, Moyer won his 14th game of the season against the Milwaukee Brewers, which began a seven-game win streak for the Phillies. On September 27, Moyer took the mound for the Phillies against the Nationals, in a game where the Phillies could clinch the National League East title with a win. Moyer pitched six innings and gave up only one run. The Phillies won the game 4–3. Moyer earned his 16th win of the year, the second-oldest pitcher to accomplish this feat, finishing with a 3.71 ERA. He also threw the slowest fastball of all NL starters in 2008, averaging 81.2 miles per hour. He threw cutters 29.5% of the time, the highest rate in the NL. When he took the
mound A mound is a heaped pile of earth, gravel, sand, rocks, or debris. Most commonly, mounds are earthen formations such as hills and mountains, particularly if they appear artificial. A mound may be any rounded area of topographically higher ...
on October 4 against the Milwaukee Brewers in the
2008 National League Division Series The 2008 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 2008 National League playoffs, began on Wednesday, October 1 and ended on Sunday, October 5, with the champions of the three NL divisions and one wild card team participa ...
, Moyer became the second-oldest pitcher to ever start a postseason game at the age of 45 years 321 days, and the oldest since 1929 when Jack Quinn started for the Philadelphia Athletics at 46 years 103 days. On October 12, Moyer became the oldest pitcher at 45 years 329 days to pitch in a
National League Championship Series The National League Championship Series (NLCS) is a best-of-seven playoff and one of two League Championship Series comprising the penultimate round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) postseason. It is contested by the winners of the two Nation ...
game, starting in Game 3 against the
Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
. However, he struggled during the game and surrendered six runs in 1 innings—his shortest start in over eight years—and went on to lose the game. On October 25, Moyer made his first
World Series The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World ...
start against the
Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home v ...
, pitching 6 innings, giving up three runs, and receiving a no-decision. His performance was made more impressive due to the fact that he pitched with a severe stomach virus. He won his first
World Series ring A World Series ring is an award given to Major League Baseball players who win the World Series. Since only one Commissioner's Trophy is awarded to the team, a World Series ring is an individual award that players and staff of each World Series ...
when the Phillies defeated the Rays on October 29 in his 23rd Major League Season. Following the game, the pitcher's mound at
Citizens Bank Park Citizens Bank Park is a baseball stadium located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the city's South Philadelphia Sports Complex. It is the home playing field of the Philadelphia Phillies, the city's Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise. The ...
was dug up and given to Moyer by his teammates. In his speech at the World Series celebration at Citizens Bank Park on October 31, Moyer told fans that he grew up as a Phillies fan and played hooky from
Souderton Area High School Souderton Area High School is a large public high school in the Montgomery County suburbs of Philadelphia located at 625 Lower Road in Souderton, Pennsylvania, United States, and serves residents in Souderton and Telford boroughs, and Franconia ...
to attend the Phillies' championship parade in 1980. On December 15, 2008 Moyer signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Phillies, keeping him with the club through the conclusion of the 2010 season.


2009

Moyer started the season with a 3–5 record and a 7.42 ERA, but earned his 250th career win on May 31 against the Washington Nationals in a 4–2 win, becoming the 44th pitcher and the 11th lefty to do this. By the All-Star break, Moyer had improved his record to 8–6 and had lowered his ERA to 5.99. On July 16, Moyer won his 255th career game, pitching a one-hitter through seven scoreless innings and passing Jack Morris for 41st on the all-time wins list. Despite leading the rotation with 10 wins, Moyer carried a still inflated 5.47 ERA. This prompted the Phillies to move him to the bullpen to make room in their rotation for
Pedro Martínez Pedro Jaime Martínez (born October 25, 1971) is a Dominican-American former professional baseball starting pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from to , for five teams—most notably the Boston Red Sox from to . At the time o ...
. Regarding the move, manager Charlie Manuel said,
Jamie was a total professional and team player when we let him know of the decision to move him to the bullpen. He has been, and will continue to be, a very important part of this team.
In Moyer's bullpen debut on August 18, he relieved Martínez in the fourth inning after a rain delay, pitching six scoreless innings to earn his 11th win of the season. A similar situation occurred on August 28, as Moyer again relieved Martínez in the third inning after a rain delay. He pitched 4 in relief, giving up one earned run, and picked up his 12th win of the season. Moyer tore three muscles in his groin and lower abdomen while pitching against the Houston Astros on September 29. He missed the rest of the regular season, and was not on the Phillies' postseason roster.


2010

When asked about retiring after the expiration of his Phillies contract at the end of 2010, Moyer said, "You know, I'm going to leave that as an open-ended question because I don't know how to answer that. It could be (my last season). It potentially could be. But so could have last year. So could have two years ago, so could have five years ago." After the retirement of Ken Griffey Jr. in early 2010, Moyer and
Omar Vizquel Omar Enrique Vizquel González (; born April 24, 1967), nicknamed "Little O", is a Venezuelan former professional baseball shortstop. During his 24-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, Vizquel played for the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indi ...
were the last two active players in MLB who played in the 1980s. On April 10, at age 47, Moyer became the sixth-oldest pitcher to appear in a game and the eighth major league pitcher to start a game in four different decades. Moyer pitched six innings and earned his 259th career victory. On May 7, Moyer became the oldest player in Major League Baseball history (47 years, 170 days) to pitch a shutout, blanking the Braves on two hits, striking out five batters and walking none. Moyer also became the only MLB pitcher to throw a shutout in four different decades (1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s). On June 5, Moyer became the third MLB pitcher to win 100 games after turning 40 years old, defeating the
San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penn ...
, 6–2, using just 98 pitches to accomplish the feat. It was also his second complete game of the season. On June 16, Moyer became the oldest pitcher to ever defeat the
New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
. Moyer beat the Yankees at 47 years, 210 days. On June 27, he surrendered a home run to Vernon Wells of the
Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...
to become the all-time major league leader in home runs allowed (506), passing Robin Roberts. On July 20, Moyer left a start against the
St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
due to an elbow strain after pitching only one inning. The injury proved to be a sprain in his ulnar collateral ligament and a strain of his flexor pronator, which resulted in Moyer missing the remainder of the 2010 season. After the 2010 season, Moyer's contract expired and he was removed from the Phillies' 40-man roster. He pitched in the Dominican Winter Leagues before suffering another elbow injury on November 6, 2010, which ended his chance of playing in 2011. He had Tommy John surgery on December 1, 2010, in New York, to repair the
ulnar collateral ligament Ulnar collateral ligament (or UCL), may refer to: * Ulnar carpal collateral ligament * Ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) or internal lateral ligament is a thick triangular ligament at the medial aspec ...
in his elbow, in hopes to make a comeback in 2012. Moyer worked for
ESPN ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). Th ...
during his recovery.


Colorado Rockies (2012)

On January 18, 2012, Moyer, age 49, signed a minor-league contract (with an invitation to spring training) with the Colorado Rockies, a team that did not exist when he made his MLB debut in 1986. The March 30 ''
NBC Nightly News ''NBC Nightly News'' (titled as ''NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt'' for its weeknight broadcasts since June 22, 2015) is the flagship daily evening News broadcasting#Television, television news program for NBC News, the news division of the NB ...
'' reported that Moyer made the opening day roster for the Rockies, and would be the number-two starter in the rotation. The report was confirmed the following day by the
Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. ne ...
. He made his Rockies debut on April 7 against the Houston Astros. He pitched five innings, giving up three runs, and received the loss. On April 17, Jamie Moyer became the oldest pitcher in MLB history to earn a win. The previous record was held by Jack Quinn, who earned his last win in 1932, two months after his 49th birthday. Moyer became the oldest player in MLB history to record an RBI on May 16 when he singled in two runs in the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He also extended his record for the oldest pitcher to record a win. Five days later, Moyer started for the Rockies against the Marlins at
Marlins Park LoanDepot Park is a retractable roof stadium located in Miami, Florida. It is the home of Major League Baseball's Miami Marlins. It is located on on the site of the former Miami Orange Bowl in Little Havana about west of Downtown Miam ...
. This appearance represented the 50th MLB stadium Moyer had pitched in, the most of any pitcher to debut since 1900. On June 1, the Rockies released Moyer, making him a free agent and eligible to sign with any team. He was 2–5 in 10 starts for the Rockies.


Second stint with the Baltimore Orioles organization (2012)

Moyer signed a minor league deal with the
Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...
on June 6, five days after being released by the Rockies. The deal came with the stipulation that he would make three starts with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, and after that the Orioles had to promote him or grant his release. Following his third start on June 23, the Orioles offered Moyer another start with the Tides. He instead opted to become a free agent. With the Tides, Moyer went 1–1 with a 1.69 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 16 innings over three games. He also demonstrated exceptional control as he did not walk a batter and allowed only 11 hits. The Orioles liked what they saw, but the timing just wasn't right to add him to the rotation. "We're very appreciative of him giving us that opportunity to look," Baltimore manager
Buck Showalter William Nathaniel "Buck" Showalter III (born May 23, 1956) is an American professional baseball manager for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). Previously, he served as manager of the New York Yankees ( 1992–1995), Arizona Diamon ...
said. "I wouldn't be surprised to see him pitch for somebody shortly. Personally, just out of respect for his career what he's done, I hope it happens."


Toronto Blue Jays organization (2012)

Moyer signed a minor league contract with the
Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...
after being released by the Orioles. Moyer made his first start for the Blue Jays Triple-A team, the Las Vegas 51s, on June 28. Moyer got the win, pitching five innings and giving up three runs on seven hits, with six strikeouts and one walk. Moyer's second start was a loss to the
Reno Aces The Reno Aces are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are located in Reno, Nevada, and play their home games at Greater Nevada Field, which opened in 2009. ...
, in which he yielded seven runs on 10 hits through six innings. In his planned two starts with Las Vegas, Moyer posted a 1–1 record with an 8.18 ERA through 11 innings. Moyer did not travel back to Las Vegas at the end of the second game. On July 5, he was released by Toronto.


2013 and retirement

On September 7, it was reported that Moyer was attempting a comeback as a
knuckleball A knuckleball or knuckler is a baseball pitch thrown to minimize the spin of the ball in flight, causing an erratic, unpredictable motion. The air flow over a seam of the ball causes the ball to change from laminar to turbulent flow. This cha ...
pitcher, having consulted with
Charlie Hough Charles Oliver Hough (; born January 5, 1948) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) knuckleball pitcher and coach who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and Florida Marlins from 1970 to 1994. Pla ...
and
Tim Wakefield Timothy Stephen Wakefield (born August 2, 1966) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Wakefield began his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but is most remembered for his 17-yea ...
over the summer. Moyer announced the end of his baseball-playing career during an interview with Dave Davies on National Public Radio's Fresh Air broadcast that aired October 2, 2013. During the interview on Fresh Air he also announced his intention to start a pitching academy, The Moyer Pitching Academy, as well as continue his charitable work with The Moyer Foundation, but that he would be open to an offer to coach in the major leagues. Moyer has written a memoir, with Larry Platt, entitled ''Just Tell Me I Can't: How Jamie Moyer Defied the Radar Gun and Defeated Time''. Moyer dedicated the book, and also sees the academy as a tribute, to the memory of the late counselor and author Harvey Dorfman, who helped shape Moyer's "mental game". In 2018, Moyer appeared on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot for the first time. He received 10 votes and failed to meet the 5% threshold to remain on the ballot in the future.


Broadcasting career

On February 11, 2014, it was announced that Moyer and fellow former Phillie
Matt Stairs Matthew Wade Stairs (born February 27, 1968) is a Canadian former professional baseball outfielder, first baseman, and designated hitter, who holds the record for most pinch-hit home runs in Major League Baseball (MLB) history with 23. His pinc ...
would join the Phillies' television broadcast crew as color analysts for the 2014 season. Moyer and Stairs joined in-game reporter
Gregg Murphy Gregg Murphy is a sports journalist and reporter. He served as a field reporter for NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBC Sports Philadelphia's coverage of the Philadelphia Phillies from 2012 to 2020 and was part of CN8's sports coverage. Career Murphy sp ...
and play-by-play voice
Tom McCarthy Thomas McCarthy (also Tom and Tommy) may refer to: Academia *Thomas A. McCarthy (born 1940), American professor of philosophy *Thomas J. McCarthy (born 1956), American professor of polymer chemistry at the University of Massachusetts *J. Thomas Mc ...
. Following the season, Moyer announced he would not return to the booth in 2015, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.


Pitching style

Moyer's pitching approach evolved as he aged. Most pitchers lose velocity later in their career, and Moyer was no exception—his average
fastball The fastball is the most common type of pitch thrown by pitchers in baseball and softball. " Power pitchers," such as former American major leaguers Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, rely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit, and have thr ...
speed in 2012 was about 80 MPH, a very slow speed for a non-
knuckleball A knuckleball or knuckler is a baseball pitch thrown to minimize the spin of the ball in flight, causing an erratic, unpredictable motion. The air flow over a seam of the ball causes the ball to change from laminar to turbulent flow. This cha ...
pitcher. Instead of velocity, Moyer relied on control and mixing his pitches. He threw five main pitches: a sinker, a
cut fastball In baseball, a cut fastball or cutter is a type of fastball that breaks toward the pitcher's glove-hand side, as it reaches home plate. This pitch is somewhere between a slider and a four-seam fastball, as it is usually thrown faster than a slide ...
, a
slider Slider or Sliders may refer to: Arts * K.K. Slider, a fictional character within the ''Animal Crossing'' franchise * '' The Slider'', a 1972 album by T. Rex * ''Sliders'' (TV series), an American science fiction and fantasy television series * ...
, a
changeup A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and fastpitch softball. The changeup is a staple off-speed pitch often used in a pitcher's arsenal, usually thrown to look like a fastball but arriving much more slowly to the plate. Its reduced speed ...
, and a curveball.


Personal life

In 1996, Moyer earned a Bachelor of General Studies degree from
Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. Campuses Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI. *Indiana Universi ...
. Moyer was married to Karen Phelps, the daughter of former Notre Dame basketball coach Digger Phelps. The two were introduced by
Harry Caray Harry Christopher Caray (; March 1, 1914 – February 18, 1998) was an American radio and television sportscaster. During his career he called the play-by-play for five Major League Baseball teams, beginning with 25 years of calling the games ...
when Moyer was with the Cubs and Karen was an intern with Cubs broadcast outlet, WGN. They were married in a
Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
ceremony and have eight children. Moyer and Karen were divorced in 2017. Moyer's oldest son Dillon was drafted in the 22nd round of the 2010 MLB draft by the Minnesota Twins but did not sign and instead attended
UC Irvine UC may refer to: Arts and entertainment * '' University Challenge'', a popular British quiz programme airing on BBC Two ** ''University Challenge (New Zealand)'', the New Zealand version of the British programme * Universal Century, one of the t ...
for two years. He transferred to
UC San Diego The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego or colloquially, UCSD) is a public land-grant research university in San Diego, California. Established in 1960 near the pre-existing Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego is t ...
for his junior and final year, as he graduated in three years with a major in sociology and minor in education. He was drafted in the 38th round of the
2013 MLB draft The 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held from June 6 through June 8, 2013. The first two rounds were broadcast from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. Each team received one selection per round, going in ...
by the
Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
and did sign with them. Another son, Hutton, was drafted in the seventh round of the 2015 MLB draft. As of 2019, neither remains on a minor league roster.


See also

*
Home runs allowed In baseball statistics, home runs allowed (HRA) signifies the total number of home runs a pitcher allowed. The Major League Baseball record for the most home runs allowed by any pitcher belongs to Jamie Moyer (522 in his career). He gave up home r ...
*
List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders This is a list of Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers with 200 or more career wins. In the sport of baseball, a win is a statistic credited to the pitcher for the winning team who was in the game when his team last took the lead. A starting pitc ...
* List of Major League Baseball players who played in four decades * List of oldest Major League Baseball players *
List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders In baseball, hit by pitch (HBP) is a situation in which a batter or his clothing or equipment (other than his bat) is struck directly by a pitch from the pitcher; the batter is called a hit batsman (HB). A hit batsman is awarded first base, provi ...
*
List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders :''This list is for pitchers. For career strikeouts by batters, see List of Major League Baseball career strikeouts by batters leaders The following list is of the top 100 pitchers in career strikeouts in Major League Baseball. In baseball, a stri ...


References


External links


Jamie Moyer
at SABR (Baseball BioProject)
Jamie Moyer
at Baseball Gauge
The Moyer FoundationLeave 'Em Wanting Moyer
: {{DEFAULTSORT:Moyer, Jamie 1962 births Living people American League All-Stars Baltimore Orioles players Baseball players from Pennsylvania Boston Red Sox players Chicago Cubs players Colorado Rockies players Geneva Cubs players Gulf Coast Rangers players Indiana University Bloomington alumni Iowa Cubs players Las Vegas 51s players Louisville Redbirds players Major League Baseball broadcasters Major League Baseball pitchers Norfolk Tides players People from Sellersville, Pennsylvania Philadelphia Phillies announcers Philadelphia Phillies players Pittsfield Cubs players Rochester Red Wings players Saint Joseph's Hawks baseball players Seattle Mariners players Sportspeople from Bucks County, Pennsylvania St. Louis Cardinals players Tacoma Rainiers players Texas Rangers players Toledo Mud Hens players Tulsa Drillers players Winston-Salem Spirits players Catholics from Pennsylvania Leones del Escogido players American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic