The ageless pitcher who defied the limits of professional baseball
In short: From harvesting coffee beans in the Dominican Republic to pitching in Major League stadiums at age 45, Bartolo Colón’s career is a masterclass in endurance. Dubbed 'Big Sexy,' he set a new benchmark for Latin American pitchers and became the eldest athlete to smash his maiden home run.
Born on May 24, 1973, in Altamira, Dominican Republic, Colón’s physical resilience was forged early. Between the ages of 9 and 14, he spent long days working alongside his father, Miguel, harvesting fruit and coffee beans—a childhood labor he credits for his professional strength. This early physical conditioning helped him endure a professional career that spanned decades. His upbringing in Altamira provided the foundation for his remarkable stamina.
His Major League journey was defined by longevity and versatility. After debuting with the Cleveland Indians in 1997, he played for 11 different MLB teams, including the Angels, Yankees, and Mets. In 2005, while pitching for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, he won the American League Cy Young Award after leading the league in wins. His versatility was evident as he transitioned through various roles across the league. He even achieved a rare feat by recording wins against the same franchise for seven different clubs.
Colón’s career was not without controversy. In 2012, while playing for the Oakland Athletics, he received a 50-game suspension for testing positive for synthetic testosterone. Nevertheless, he reached unprecedented feats, including hitting his inaugural home run at age 42 years and 349 days while with the New York Mets in 2016. Despite this setback, his resilience remained intact during his later years. He managed to achieve significant milestones even as he entered his mid-forties.
By the 2018 season, at age 45, Colón was the oldest active player in the major leagues. He holds the record for the most career wins by a Latin American-born pitcher, a testament to a career that spanned from the 1990s through the late 2010s. His presence in the league was so enduring that he was among the final active players to have played during the 1990s. This longevity cemented his status as a legendary figure in baseball history.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Bartolo Colón
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-bartolo-col-n.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
