Living Legend Athletes Who Kept Balling Despite Being Old AF
Who are the oldest athletes to ball out?
For the first time since his 1992 debut as an 18-year-old in Japan’s Pacific League, Ichiro Suzuki is not playing professional baseball. Sorta. In early May, the Mariners announced the outfielder would spend the rest of the 2018 season in the front office as a special assistant to the chairman. The move entails some very Ichiro stipulations. He’s still working out in the field before games and taking batting practice. Oh, and he hasn’t ruled out a return to the diamond in the future. But have we seen the last of Ichiro the player or not? It’s as good a time as any to recognize him and other athletes who didn’t let age stop them. Here are the oldest athletes to strike fear in their opponents’ hearts (in physically demanding sports; sorry, golfers).Gordie Howe
The Hall of Famer and four-time Stanley Cup winner’s NHL career started during the 1947-48 season, when he was just 18. He played for the Red Wings until 1971, then jumped to the newly formed World Hockey Association to play with his sons.
At the age of 51, he returned to the NHL and was astonishingly still productive, scoring 15 goals and tallying 26 assists before retiring.
Randy Couture
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The Natural started his UFC career at the age of 24 in 1997, claiming the heavyweight title later that same year.
He’d win that belt or the UFC light heavyweight title four more times before his final UFC fight, a UFC 129 loss to Lyoto Machida when he was 48. At 46, he bested Brandon Vera to become the oldest fighter to win a bout in UFC history.
Julio Franco
In 2004, Julio Franco became the oldest regularly playing position player in the history of the majors, turning 46 during the season and batting .309 in 361 plate appearances. He then played three more seasons.
He’s the oldest player to hit a grand slam, hit two home runs in a game, hit a pinch-hit home run, steal two bases in a game, and pinch run.
Chris Chelios
Chelios stuck around the league until he was 48, setting records for longevity along the way — as of 2018, he’s played more games than any other NHL defenseman, and his 24 playoff appearances are the most in history.
The seven-time All-Star and three-time Stanley Cup champion claimed three Norris Trophies as the league’s top defenseman.