Baseball is one of America’s greatest pastimes and some of the greatest athletes of all time have been baseball players. All of the men on this list were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame for their achievements as players, coaches, managers, or Commissioner of Baseball in Bud Selig’s case. Although these Hall of Famers are in their 80s and 90s, many of them are still actively involved with the MLB, holding various executive positions or advisory roles.
As of July 2020, the information on this list is as accurate as possible and will be updated as needed.
10. Bill Mazeroski (September 5, 1936 – Present)
Current Age (as of July 2020): 83 years, 9 months, 26 days
Birthplace: Wheeling, West Virginia, USA
Years Active: 1956 – 1972
Team(s): Pittsburgh Pirates
Position: Second Baseman
Year Inducted into HOF: 2001
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Bill Mazeroski spent 17 seasons as the second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mazeroski Mazeroski is widely regarded as one of the best fielders ever, at any position. He quickly became known for his defensive prowess and earned his first of eight Gold Glove Awards in 1958. Following his playing career, Mazeroski spent a few years as a third-base coach for the Pirates and the Seattle Mariners. Mazeroski was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. During the induction ceremony, Mazeroski was so overcome with emotion, that he was unable to deliver his speech and ended up apologizing to those who “had to come all the way up here to hear this crap!”
Did You Know?
During the 1960 World Series, which the Pittsburgh Pirates won, Bill Mazeroski hit a walk-off home run in Game 7, the only game 7 walk-off homer in World Series history.
9. Sandy Koufax (December 30, 1935 – Present)
Current Age (as of July 2020): 84 years, 6 months, 2 days
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Years Active: 1955 – 1966
Team(s): Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: Pitcher
Year Inducted into HOF: 1972
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Did You Know?
Sandy Koufax won three Cy Young Awards in 1963, 1965, and 1966, by unanimous votes, making him the first three-time Cy Young winner in baseball history.
8. Bob Gibson (November 9, 1935 – Present)
Current Age (as of July 2020): 84 years, 7 months, 22 days
Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Years Active: 1959 – 1975
Team(s): St. Louis Cardinals
Position: Pitcher
Year Inducted into HOF: 1981
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Bob Gibson is a former baseball pitcher played 17 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. Although he was often sick as a child, Gibson got stronger and excelled in sports, particularly baseball and basketball. Gibson was so skilled in both sports that when he started his professional career he briefly played for the Harlem Globetrotters while also playing for the Cardinals. Obviously, Gibson decided to only continue his baseball career, which ended with 251 wins, 3,117 strikeouts, and a 2.91 earned run average (ERA). Gibson is also a nine-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion. Additionally, Gibson won two Cy Young Awards and the 1968 National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award.
Did You Know?
In 1965, Bob Gibson won the first of nine consecutive Golden Glove awards.
7. Bud Selig (July 30, 1934 – Present)
Current Age (as of July 2020): 85 years, 11 months, 2 days
Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Years Active: 1992 – 2015 (Commissioner of Baseball); 2015 – present (Commissioner Emeritus of Baseball)
Team(s): N/A
Position: 9th Commissioner of Baseball; Commissioner Emeritus of Baseball
Year Inducted into HOF: 2017
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Bud Selig is the only Hall of Famer on this list who was not a former player, manager, or coach. Instead, Selig is known for being the 9th Commissioner of Baseball as well as the first Commissioner Emeritus of Baseball, a role that was created specificially for him in 2015. Before becoming acting commissioner in 1992, Selig was part owner of the Milwaukee Brewers and after he accepted the role of Baseball Commissioner, Selig transferred his ownership to his daughter. Originally, Selig’s role as Commissioner was set to expire in 2012, but he decided to stay on past his 80th birthday. Selig finally retired at the beginning of 2015.
Did You Know?
Bud Selig’s tenure as Commissioner of Baseball was marred by some controversies, most notably The Mitchell Report, which revealed that the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs was widespread among players.
6. Luis Aparicio (April 29, 1934 – Present)
Current Age (as of July 2020): 86 years, 2 months, 2 days
Birthplace: Maracaibo, Venezuela
Years Active: 1956 – 1973
Team(s): Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Boston Red Sox
Position: Shortstop
Year Inducted into HOF: 1984
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Luis Aparicio, who hails from Venezuela, is the only foreign-born Hall of Famer on this list. Aparicio, nicknamed “Little Louie” is the the first player from Venezuela to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. From 1956 to 1973, Aparicio played as a shortstop, mostly for the Chicago White Sox, but also for the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox. Aparicio was known for his exceptional defensive and base stealing skills. MLB legend Ted Williams called Aparicio “the best shortstop he had ever seen.”
Did You Know?
There is a sports complex in Luis Aparicio’s hometown, Maracaibo, Venezuela, that is named after the legendary shortstop.
5. Hank Aaron (February 5, 1934 – Present)
Current Age (as of July 2020): 86 years, 4 months, 26 days
Birthplace: Mobile, Alabama, USA
Years Active: 1954 – 1976
Team(s): Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers
Position: Right Fielder
Year Inducted into HOF: 1982
photo source: Flickr via Baseball Collection
Like a few of the other Hall of Famers on this list, Hank Aaron is often called one of the greatest baseball players in history. Aaron played 21 seasons for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves in the National League (NL) and two seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League (AL). For most of his career, Aaron was a right fielder although he did sometimes appear in other infield and outfield positions. Since his retirement, Aaron has held various executive roles with the Atlanta Braves, including Senior Vice President.
Did You Know?
Hank Aaron holds the record for the most All-Star Game selections (25) and is tied with Willie Mays and Stan Musial for the most All-Star Games played (24). Aaron is also one of only four players to have at least 17 seasons with 150 or more hits.
4. Whitey Herzog (November 9, 1931 – Present)
Current Age (as of July 2020): 88 years, 7 months, 22 days
Birthplace: New Athens, Illinois, USA
Years Active: 1956 – 1963 as player; 1973 – 1990 as manager
Team(s): Washington Senators, Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers; Texas Rangers, California Angels, Kansas City Royals, and St. Louis Cardinals (manager)
Position: Outfielder and Manager
Year Inducted into HOF: 2010
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Although Whitey Herzog spent seven years as an outfielder, he is better known for his managerial career with the various teams. After his playing career ended, Herzog went on to perform a variety of roles in Major League Baseball, including scout, manager, coach, general manager, and farm system director. When Herzog was manager for the Kansas City Royals, he led the team to three consecutive playoff appearances from 1976 to 1978. Then as a St. Louis Cardinals manager, Herzog guided the team to win the 1982 World Series.
Did You Know?
At the end of Whitey Herzog’s managerial career, he produced1,281 regular-season wins.
3. Willie Mays (May 6, 1931 – Present)
Current Age (as of July 2020): 89 years, 1 month, 26 days
Birthplace: Westfield, Alabama, USA
Years Active: 1951 – 1973
Team(s): New York/San Francisco Giants and New York Mets
Position: Center Fielder
Year Inducted into HOF: 1979
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Did You Know?
Willie Mays hit over 50 home runs in 1955 and 1965, representing the longest time span between 50-plus home run seasons for any player in Major League Baseball history.
2. Whitey Ford (October 21, 1928 – Present)
Current Age (as of July 2020): 91 years, 8 months, 11 days
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Years Active: 1950 – 1967
Team(s): New York Yankees
Position: Pitcher
Year Inducted into HOF: 1974
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Besides Tommy Lasorda, Whitey Ford is the only other living Baseball Hall of Famer in his 90s. Ford spent his entire 16-year career with the New York Yankees and since Yogi Berra’s death in 2015, Ford has been dubbed “The Greatest Living Yankee.” Ford was known for his calm demeanor even during high pressure situations. This combined with his skill led him to rise from the No. 4 pitcher on the Yankees to No.1 by the end of his career.
Did You Know?
Whitey Ford is a ten-time MLB All-Star and six-time World Series champion.
1. Tommy Lasorda (September 22, 1927 – Present)
Current Age (as of July 2020): 92 years, 9 months, 9 days
Birthplace: Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA
Years Active: 1954 – 1956 as a player; 1973 – 1976 as a coach; 1976 – 1996 as a manager
Team(s): Brooklyn Dodgers and Kansas City Athletics; Los Angeles Dodgers (coach and manager)
Position: Pitcher, Coach, and Manager
Year Inducted into HOF: 1997
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Currently, Lasorda Special Advisor to the Chairman where his responsibilities include scouting, evaluating and teaching minor league players, acting as an advisor and ambassador for the Dodgers’ international affiliations, and representing the organization. Lasorda has been with the Dodgers for over 70 seasons, the longest tenure anyone has had with the team.
Did You Know?
In 2000, Tommy Lasorda came out of retirement to manage the United States team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia – the team won the gold medal.
