| "Age doesn't matter". It doesn't, for many professional | | | | Steamrollers' head coach. |
| athletes who defy conventional wisdom by playing | | | | 3. Football: George Blanda |
| their sports when other players have already settled | | | | Interestingly, many "experts" branded Blanda as one of |
| into a well-earned retirement. Why do they do it? The | | | | the "NFL rejects". They argued that he wasn't skilled |
| reasons can range from being highly motivated, to | | | | enough to play as a quarterback in the NFL. Blanda |
| simply continuing a lifetime of participation in | | | | would prove all of this critics wrong, retiring from |
| competitive sports. Here are the all-time oldest players | | | | professional football at the age of 48. He also holds |
| in various American professional sports: | | | | the record for the longest professional football career, |
| 1. Baseball: Leyroy "Satchel" Paige | | | | at 26 years. His achievements include passing for |
| Amazingly, Paige was 42 years old when he became | | | | seven touchdowns in a single game, and being |
| a professional baseball player. The pitcher was | | | | inducted into professional football's Hall of Fame. |
| famous not only for his hard fastball pitch, but also for | | | | 4. Hockey: Gordie Howe |
| his showboating-which became popular with crowds. | | | | When he retired at 52 years old, Gordie Howe had |
| During the last year playing in professional baseball | | | | become the oldest NHL player in the professional |
| (1965), Paige was an amazing 59 years old! As a side | | | | league's history. Born in Canada, many people consider |
| note, Paige's birth date of 1905 is somewhat vague. | | | | Howe to have been one of the greatest hockey |
| Still, Paige's story is fascinating. He began his | | | | players in the history of professional hockey. Some of |
| professional baseball career in the Negro League | | | | Howe's other records include: |
| (1923), during an era when African-Americans were | | | | - Most NHL (regular season) games played: 1,767 |
| forbidden from playing in all-white baseball leagues. | | | | - Most NHL (regular season) games played with one |
| During his professional career of nearly three decades, | | | | team: 1,687 |
| Paige is believed to have won about 80% of the | | | | - Most NHL seasons played: 26 |
| roughly 2,500 games that he played. | | | | He also held professional hockey's records for career |
| 2. Basketball: Nat Hickey | | | | goals and assists, though Wayne Gretzky has since |
| In the USA, Nat Hickey earned the distinction of being | | | | broken both records. Another achievement of Howe is |
| the oldest player in professional basketball history. At | | | | that both the Hartford Whalers and Detroit Red Wings |
| the age of 45 (and 2 days before his 46th birthday), | | | | have retired Howe's #9 jersey. |
| Hickey played in one game during his final season in | | | | For these four record-breaking professional athletes, |
| the NBA. In the game he scored two points (from free | | | | age indeed doesn't matter. When most players have |
| throws), was 0-6 in field goal attempts, and also | | | | already settled into new careers, these players were |
| committed five personal fouls. Hickey played for | | | | still hitting the field, court, or rink. They've proved that |
| several professional basketball teams from the 1920s | | | | sports aren't just for youngsters, but also the |
| to the 1940s. During his last year as a player in the | | | | young-at-heart. |
| NBA, Hickey was actually serving as the Providence | | | | |
