Biggest late-career bloomers

[CD Boogie]

The Hall of Fame candidacy of Dwight Evans got me thinking about other athletes who really blossomed in the second half of their careers.

In his age-30 through age-37 seasons, he had an impressive line of .280/.385/.496 while averaging 27 homers, 100 runs, 96 RBIs and 96 walks. That type of performance led to Evans finishing in the top five in the AL Most Valuable Player Award voting twice and the top 10 four times. Evaluating Evans' Hall of Fame chances
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Another guy who came to mind was Dave Stewart, who never won more than 10 games until he turned 30, then rang off four straight seasons of 20 or more wins, finishing between 2-4 in the Cy Young voting each year.

In the NFL, Rich Gannon comes to mind. Never started more than 12 games until he was 34 in 1999, when he made his first Pro Bowl. He later won the league MVP and was a two-time All Pro.

Who else ya got?

 

[justgladtobehere]

Mike Morgan never ended up great, but his career was a lot better than could be expected from his screwed up start. R.A. Dickey was 35 in his first season with the Mets.

There are a few alcoholic pitchers with the A's who did the good start with a renaissance, if that fits your parameters.

 

[cyclingwriter2]

Phil Niekro has more wins after age 40 than he did before age 30.

 

[justgladtobehere]

They aren't nearly the biggest late-career bloomers, but I looked up Kevin Millar and Matt Stairs. There seemed to be a post-Moneyball flourishing of previously overlooked players given a chance and succeeding. The other Giambi was an exception, of course.

But what about David Ortiz? He was 27 in his first Red Sox season.

 

[cyclingwriter2]

Johnny Bower: debuted in the nhl at age 29, back to the minors for five years. Plays a decade more and ends up in the Hall of Fame.

 

[cyclingwriter2]

Paul Scrieber: pitched a handful of games at age 19 and 20 for the dodgers. Pitched his next game for the Yankees...22 years later. Apparently, he was their batting practice pitcher and when they got caught short handed a couple of times, he was put in.

 

[Regan MacNeil]

I was gonna say Cecil Fielder, but his breakout came in his age 26 season, which isn’t much of an aberration.

 

[justgladtobehere]

Tim Thomas was around 31 before he became the Bruins starting goalie. Before the 2010-2011 season, when he was 36 or so, he wasn't the starter.

 

[wicked]

I was gonna say Cecil Fielder, but his breakout came in his age 26 season, which isn’t much of an aberration.

He had already flamed out though and he had to go to Japan before he got that second chance.

 

[CD Boogie]

Phil Niekro has more wins after age 40 than he did before age 30.

That is nuts

 

[MTM]

Rich Hill. He battled injuries and bounced around the majors and minors before finally finding it with the A's and pitching well for the Dodgers, but still battling injuries.

 

[qtlaw]

Darren Oliver; one of the original LOOGYs (or whatever the moniker is).

 

[Monday Morning Sportswriter]

Kurt Warner

 

[MTM]

Where does George Blanda fit it? He had a good career, leveled out and finished really strong.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

George Foreman: Retired after a successful career, then came back 10 years later, won the title, and became super popular, both as a boxer and as a pitchman.

Lester Patrick: Had to come in for a Stanley Cup finals game to play goalie when the Rangers’ goalie got hurt, and won the game at age 44.

Earl Morrall: Journeyman quarterback became NFL MVP, and later won three Super Bowls as a backup.

Diamond Dallas Page: Started his pro wrestling career in his late 30s as a manager and broadcaster, then trained and became a wrestler when he was nearly 40, became a main eventer in his mid-40s, and eventually started a yoga business and helps people who are dealing with addiction.

 

[Batman]

Kurt Warner

Warner did it twice. He was 28 when he finally got his shot with the Rams, and then 36 when he began his successful second act with the Cardinals.

 

[cyclingwriter2]

Where does George Blanda fit it? He had a good career, leveled out and finished really strong.

That is an interesting one. He was never much more than an average qb with the bears. Retired. Came back two years with the afl and then won some titles; was an mvp and threw for a bunch of yards. He then extended his career as a kicker/emergency qb and picked up votes for nfl mvp 12 years after he retired from that league.

 

[Monday Morning Sportswriter]

Maybe Steve Young, too?

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Not an athlete, but Rodney Dangerfield.

Also most of these guys .. steroids and drugs.

Great call on Foreman and Blanda.

I'll add Monty ... Never won a major on Tour, til he got the Senior Tour and then he bagged 3 of them.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Leslie Nielsen. Journeyman actor, then hit it huge with Airplane and as Frank Drebin.

Buddy Ebsen too.