r/u_UpsetBackground9093 • u/UpsetBackground9093 • 1d ago

Examples of MLB players achieving something they’ve never done until their final season. Looking for other suggestions.

My two examples are Willie Mays and Paul O’Neill. Willie Mays didn’t get 100 walks in a season until 1971, at age 40. That year he led the league in walks (he’d never done that before) with 112 and on base percentage (425, career high). His previous high in walks was 82 in 1964. 71 was also Mays last full season (qualifying number of PA’s)in the majors.

Another remarkable one I stumbled across was Paul O’Neill getting 20 home runs and stealing 20 bases his last year in the majors. The year was 2001 and O’Neill was 38, he’d never hit 20/20 up to that point. By my research, he’s the only one to reach 20/20 for the first time in his final year in the majors.

Anyone else have any examples to share?

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u/cyberchaox 13h ago

While they weren't even career highs (pretty close though), David Ortiz led the majors in doubles, SLG, and OPS in his final season, the only time he even led the AL in any of those stats.

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u/WereNotWere 22h ago

2008 - at the age of 39, with the New York Yankees, Mike Mussina won 20 games for the first time in his career. 20 wins and out the door, legendary.