There was a pitcher known for his success with the Chicago White Sox, including his performance on the 1906 World Series team. He later became the first MLB player in the history of the sport to appear in the major leagues in 5 different decades. Six players have played in a game at 50 years or older. Nick Altrock, Minnie Minoso, Satchel Paige, Jack Quinn, Jim O'Rourke and Charley O'Leary. Nick Altrock made his MLB debut in 1898 playing for the Louisville Colonels of the National League at age 21. He would get into 11 games, make 7 starts and finish 3-3, 4.50 (70 IP). He would not appear in the major leagues again for another 4 seasons until he made 3 appearances (2 starts) for the Boston Americans of the American League. After starting 1 game for the 1903 Americans (the first ever modern World Series Champion), he would be sold to the White Sox, where he would emerge as a top pitcher. After completing 6 of his 8 1903 White Sox starts, Altrock had seasons of 19, 23 and 20 wins from the years of 1904-1906. Unfortunately, he never touched those win totals again in his career; he would win just 15 more total games after the 1906 season. His 1906 season was capped by his World Series performance, where he pitched 2 complete games, giving up just 2 runs. He won a game and lost the other.
After the 1909 season, it seem Altrock's baseball career was over. He had hurt his arm after the 1906 season and was not able to regain his form. He had been traded from the White Sox to the Washington Senators during the 1909 season. Nick started pitching in the minors again and found some success- albeit in Minneapolis of the American Association. From 1909-1911, Altrock won 40 games, losing just 24, but decided to become a full time coach for the Senators during the 1912 season. It would be the start of one of the more impressive coaching runs in the history of the game. Clark Griffith was the Senators manager in 1912. When Altrock retired as a coach, it was 1953 and Bucky Harris was the manager. Harris was managing the Senators for the 3rd time; the first of which was in 1924. In the history of MLB, there has never been a coach to serve 42 seasons as a coach for the same team continuously.
Altrock got into one game for the 1912 Senators, taking the loss in a relief appearance after giving up 2 runs in an inning of work. A year later, the Senators used him in 4 games as he gave up 5 runs in 9 IP (5.00). He would pitch a game in each of the 1914 and 1915 seasons, before pitching in 5 games in 1918 as a lot of players were away serving in World War I. In 1919, he made an appearance where he gave up 4 runs without retiring a batter. His final big leagues pitching appearance was in 1924, where at age 42 he gave up 1 unearned run in 2 innings.
One of the more interesting things occurred in the Senators final regular season game in 1918. Altrock pitched in relief, then came to bat in the 8th inning against the Philadelphia Athletics. Wickey McAvoy, who was a catcher that had started the game at 1st for the A's, came in to pitch to Altrock. By 1918, Altrock's late season appearances became sort of comic relief and this time, it was like a scene from the 1980s Naked Gun baseball scene. McAvoy lobbed a couple pitches in to give Altrock a chance to hit something. Altrock hit the ball into the OF past the outfielders who were playing too far in to begin with. He circled the bases, but did not come close to touching both 2nd and 3rd before he was called safe by the home plate umpire. This was Altrock's 2nd career HR and first in 14 years when he hit one for the 1904 White Sox- covering over 365 at bats.
Though Altrock would not get into another game as a pitcher after the 1924 season, he would appear in three more games as a pinch hitter. He got a hit in his lone at bat in 1929, then made PH appearances in both 1931 and 1933. After reaching via a walk in 1931, he attempted a steal a base at age 54 but got thrown out in the process. After his last AB in 1933, Altrock would coach for another 20 years for the Senators.
Altrock was known for his comedic relief which came from the third base coaches box. He would perform many comedy routines, perhaps staging the scene for mascots as we know today. AL President Ban Johnson was summoned to observe Altrock's antics one day as opposing teams had complained about his routine. Johnson saw him perform is "One Man Wrestling Match" routine which delighted the crowd and, according to Altrock, "no one was laughing louder than Johnson." However, Johnson would tell Altrock to stop with his antics as they were a distraction to the opposition.
Nick Altrock would take his talents to the vaudeville stage where he teamed up with Al Schacht, who was called the "clown prince of baseball." Altrock was supposedly a mentor to Schacht and influenced him. However, sometime while they were working together, they had a falling out and would not speak to each other unless they were performing. The two of them reenacted the famous Jack Dempsey/ Gene Tunney heavyweight championship bout. Sources said that these fights looked like the real thing, mainly because Altrock and Schacht were really hitting each other with all they had.
After the 1909 season, it seem Altrock's baseball career was over. He had hurt his arm after the 1906 season and was not able to regain his form. He had been traded from the White Sox to the Washington Senators during the 1909 season. Nick started pitching in the minors again and found some success- albeit in Minneapolis of the American Association. From 1909-1911, Altrock won 40 games, losing just 24, but decided to become a full time coach for the Senators during the 1912 season. It would be the start of one of the more impressive coaching runs in the history of the game. Clark Griffith was the Senators manager in 1912. When Altrock retired as a coach, it was 1953 and Bucky Harris was the manager. Harris was managing the Senators for the 3rd time; the first of which was in 1924. In the history of MLB, there has never been a coach to serve 42 seasons as a coach for the same team continuously.
Altrock got into one game for the 1912 Senators, taking the loss in a relief appearance after giving up 2 runs in an inning of work. A year later, the Senators used him in 4 games as he gave up 5 runs in 9 IP (5.00). He would pitch a game in each of the 1914 and 1915 seasons, before pitching in 5 games in 1918 as a lot of players were away serving in World War I. In 1919, he made an appearance where he gave up 4 runs without retiring a batter. His final big leagues pitching appearance was in 1924, where at age 42 he gave up 1 unearned run in 2 innings.
One of the more interesting things occurred in the Senators final regular season game in 1918. Altrock pitched in relief, then came to bat in the 8th inning against the Philadelphia Athletics. Wickey McAvoy, who was a catcher that had started the game at 1st for the A's, came in to pitch to Altrock. By 1918, Altrock's late season appearances became sort of comic relief and this time, it was like a scene from the 1980s Naked Gun baseball scene. McAvoy lobbed a couple pitches in to give Altrock a chance to hit something. Altrock hit the ball into the OF past the outfielders who were playing too far in to begin with. He circled the bases, but did not come close to touching both 2nd and 3rd before he was called safe by the home plate umpire. This was Altrock's 2nd career HR and first in 14 years when he hit one for the 1904 White Sox- covering over 365 at bats.
Though Altrock would not get into another game as a pitcher after the 1924 season, he would appear in three more games as a pinch hitter. He got a hit in his lone at bat in 1929, then made PH appearances in both 1931 and 1933. After reaching via a walk in 1931, he attempted a steal a base at age 54 but got thrown out in the process. After his last AB in 1933, Altrock would coach for another 20 years for the Senators.
Altrock was known for his comedic relief which came from the third base coaches box. He would perform many comedy routines, perhaps staging the scene for mascots as we know today. AL President Ban Johnson was summoned to observe Altrock's antics one day as opposing teams had complained about his routine. Johnson saw him perform is "One Man Wrestling Match" routine which delighted the crowd and, according to Altrock, "no one was laughing louder than Johnson." However, Johnson would tell Altrock to stop with his antics as they were a distraction to the opposition.
Nick Altrock would take his talents to the vaudeville stage where he teamed up with Al Schacht, who was called the "clown prince of baseball." Altrock was supposedly a mentor to Schacht and influenced him. However, sometime while they were working together, they had a falling out and would not speak to each other unless they were performing. The two of them reenacted the famous Jack Dempsey/ Gene Tunney heavyweight championship bout. Sources said that these fights looked like the real thing, mainly because Altrock and Schacht were really hitting each other with all they had.
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