Introduction to Aging Athletes
Those of a certain age – and for those who haven’t figured out the translation of that term, it means the fire department is on alert every time we have a birthday – might actually remember the first time baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson was traded. It was in the winter of 1965 when Robinson – who had already won a National League MVP award for Cincinnati – was traded by the Reds to the Baltimore Orioles.
The Impact of Age on Performance
The two most striking aspects to that trade: Reds general manager Bill DeWitt tried to justify it by calling Robinson an “old 30.” And Robinson promptly went out and won the American League MVP and Triple Crown and led the Orioles to a pennant and a four-game sweep of the World Series against the Dodgers. In other words, who you callin’ old? Robinson played 11 more seasons after the trade before turning his talents to managing, hitting 262 of his 586 career home runs and collecting 1,270 of his 2,943 career hits for Baltimore, Cleveland and the Dodgers and Angels.
Current SoCal Sports Landscape
But for some reason that transaction, and mainly that particular quote, popped into my head while examining the current SoCal sports landscape. We seem to have a lot of stars who passed their 30s, old or otherwise, long ago and are still competing and performing at a high level. LeBron James turns 41 in December. And while he voiced indecision about his future the night the Lakers were eliminated by Minnesota in the first round, he’s done that before. The Lakers expect him to be back for at least one more season from what president/GM Rob Pelinka was expressing the day after that playoff series ended, and I’m guessing most fans also expect LeBron to be in uniform when training camp commences this fall.
Aging Stars in SoCal Teams
But while James sets the standard for competing at an advanced age, he’s not alone. Look at the rosters. Matthew Stafford turned 37 in February and remains unquestionably the Rams’ QB1, after rallying them from a rocky start to within one step of last season’s NFC championship game. The Rams have a handful of 32- and 33-year-olds on their roster, including Garoppolo, new wide receiver Davante Adams (32) and offensive lineman Rob Havenstein, who turns 33 next week. The Chargers are comparatively young; linebacker Denzel Perryman turned 32 in December, and long snapper Josh Harris is 36 while playing a position that doesn’t necessarily penalize age.
Experience Matters
The other L.A. roster top-heavy with experience, for all the good that has done them lately, is the Kings’. Anze Kopitar turns 38 in August, Drew Doughty will be 36 in September, and that last Stanley Cup they helped win in 2014 is receding in the mirror a little more every day. Meanwhile, goalie and Vezina Trophy finalist Darcy Kuemper turned 35 Monday and forward Trevor Lewis is 37. The Clippers, eliminated by Denver in a spectacular Game 7 immolation Saturday night, have their own senior auxiliary. Nicolas Batum is 36 and still a valuable asset. Reserve Patty Mills is also 36 and about to become a free agent, and James Harden turns that age in August. Kawhi Leonard, who finished a season healthy for the first time in a while, turns 34 in June.
The Role of Veterans in Teams
The Angels are likewise trying to infuse youth with plenty of veterans to help with the process. Starting pitchers Tyler Anderson and Kyle Hendricks are both 35 and Yusei Kukuchi 34. Closer Kenley Jansen is 37, catcher Travis d’Arnaud 36, and DH Jorge Soler 33. Then there’s Mike Trout, and if anyone in baseball today could be called an old (fill-in-the-age), it would be the Angels’ star. He is 33 but his body keeps failing him; he has played more than 100 games only once since 2021 and went back on the injured list this past weekend because of a bone bruise in the same left knee that was surgically repaired last year. An old 33? You could certainly make the case.
Conclusion
But what about the marquee team in town, the defending champs and the closest thing baseball has to a juggernaut? By and large the Dodgers are playing up to that reputation, even with the traditional pitching injuries, but consider their everyday lineup: Everyone but Andy Pages is over 30. Common wisdom suggests that at some point Father Time will catch up with them, and quickly. This, and the metric-based whims of front office analysts, is where the idea of shying away from older players came into play the last few years, as a lot of 30-somethings learned when they hit free agency in recent winters and wound up signing for under market value (or to minor league contracts). But that theory is far from infallible. Yes, professional sports can be relentless and unforgiving, but if individuals can still handle the grind, perform at a high level and be assets with their knowledge and experience, why push them out?
FAQs
Q: How old is LeBron James?
A: LeBron James turns 41 in December.
Q: Who is the oldest player on the Rams?
A: Matthew Stafford turned 37 in February.
Q: What is the average age of the Dodgers’ everyday lineup?
A: Everyone but Andy Pages is over 30.
Q: Why do teams shy away from older players?
A: Common wisdom suggests that at some point Father Time will catch up with them, and quickly, and the metric-based whims of front office analysts.
Q: Can older players still perform at a high level?
A: Yes, if individuals can still handle the grind and be assets with their knowledge and experience.
