39 Reasons To.... (Con't.)

Okay loyal readers, this should be 39 reasons not to follow the Riff anymore. After some internet issues and the usual work issues, I think I'm ready to resume riffing after another one of my world famous hiatuses. Back a couple of weeks ago, I started a "39 Reasons" post to celebrate my wife's 39th birthday. Well this past week, I also hit that magical age. Man, we're on the brink of 40. Middle age. Scary. And lately, I have felt it too. Even in sports, pushing 40 is mostly a sign that one is about finished with their careers. Which to many, that means their lives seem over. Today, instead of finishing my "39 Reasons" with random riffs, I want to devote this post to those who achieved great things at age 39.

Before I start, a big thank you to baseballreference.com for stat help.

-Hank Aaron hit 40 home runs at age 39 on his way to breaking Babe Ruth's record, which would happen at age 40.

-Warren Spahn went 21-10 and pitched 18 complete games, both categories leading the NL.

-Ted Williams won his last batting title at age 39 in 1958, hitting .328 (and also led the AL with a .458 on base percentage).

-Ernie Banks hit his 500th career home run when he was 39

-Gaylord Perry won the the Cy Young Award in 1978 at age 39, I believe becoming the oldest player at the time to do so. he was also the first win win Cy Young's in both leagues.

-Phil Niekro threw 334 innings, went 19-18, started 42 games (completing 22) all at age 39!! At 40, he actually threw 342 innings!!

-Rickey Henderson led the AL with 66 stolen bases and 118 walks at age 39.

-Steroids or not, Barry Bonds won an MVP at age 39; that year he won the batting title, walked 232 times and slugged over .800.

For non baseball players:

-Jerry Rice caught 83 passes at age 39.

-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was still a very productive player at age 39

Clearly life did not end for these guys at age 39.  Some continued to achieve, while others faded away.  Life doesn't end at 39.  Unless you're Jack Benny.

Jp