Phillies Franchise History: Greatest Player to Wear Each Number

Jaime Moyer came to the Phillies as a 43-year-old in 2006, 20 years after his major-league debut in 1986. His average fastball velocity was already under 82 mph by that time in his career, but he still had a few more seasons left in the tank.

Moyer made 33 starts in 2007 with a 14-12 record, 5.01 ERA, 4.93 fielding-independent pitching, and 1.445 WHIP. He was the winning pitcher in the final game of the season that secured the NL East for the Phillies. He had a strong outing in Game Three of the NLDS that year, giving up just one run on five hits and two walks in six innings. He didn’t factor into decision as J.C. Romero allowed the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Moyer was the oldest player in the majors in 2008, but that didn’t stop him from going 16-7 with a 3.71 ERA in 196.1 innings that year.

Moyer was the oldest player in the majors in 2008, but that didn’t stop him from going 16-7 with a 3.71 ERA in 196.1 innings that year. Moyer was again the winning pitcher when the Phillies won the NL East. His 2.8 wins above replacement and ERA were both second-best to Cole Hamels in the rotation that year.

Moyer also received credit for mentoring Hamels as a young pitcher, helping him turn into the ace of the rotation.

Moyer wasn’t as effective in the playoffs, receiving the loss in the NLDS and NLCS, both of which were the only loss by the Phillies in each series. Moyer allowed three runs in 6.1 innings during Game Three of the World Series. It was the only game the Phillies won in the playoffs with Moyer in the mound during his career.

The 2009 season was when Moyer’s career started to decline. His ERA rose to 4.94 and he was moved to the bullpen when the Phillies signed Pedro Martinez. He didn’t get to appear in the playoffs that year as he suffered three torn muscles in his groin and abdomen right at the end of the season. His season was cut short in 2010 after suffering an elbow strain, but he still put together one of the best starts in his career, becoming the oldest pitcher to throw a shutout.

Moyer’s contract expired after the 2010 season and another elbow injury after the season led to Tommy John surgery. He returned to the majors at 49 years old with the Rockies, but he was released after two months. He bounced around the minors the rest of the year and tried to make a comeback in 2013, but announced his retirement after the year.

Moyer ended his 25-year career in the majors with a 269-209 record, 4.25 ERA, 1.322 WHIP, 2441 strikeouts, and 1155 walks in 696 appearances. He holds the unglamorous record of the most career home runs allowed by a pitcher, 522. Moyer was eligible for election into the Hall of Fame this year, but received just 10 votes, failing to reach the five percent threshold.