Chicago Cubs: Ten players you may have forgotten were once on the team

Chicago Cubs: Jamie Moyer

Left-handed pitcher Jamie Moyer was known for years as the ageless wonder because he was able to hang around so long in the major leagues. He pitched all the way until 2012 when he was 49 years old. That long career, which began in 1986, started with the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs drafted Moyer in the sixth round of the 1984 amateur draft, and he signed on June 7, 1984, and would make his major league debut with the Cubs two years later, on June 16, 1986, against the Philadelphia Phillies. On that day, he lasted 6 1/3 innings and allowed four runs but earned the win.

For the next two years, Moyer would struggle to find his footing in the majors. He made 16 starts in 1986 and posted a 5.05 ERA. Then in 1987, he made 35 appearances – including 33 starts – and posted a 5.10 ERA, leading the league in earned runs allowed. It would all come together in 1988, however, as he made 34 appearances (30 starts) and posted a 3.48 ERA.

The Cubs traded Moyer before the 1989 season (see more details on the next slide), and Moyer’s long career would take him to several places. His best stretch was with the Seattle Mariners when he finished in the top six in AL Cy Young Award voting three times over five years between 1999 and 2003. He’d also win a World Series ring with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008.

Moyer finished his exceptional career with 269 wins, making 638 starts. He’s the all-time major league leader in home runs allowed with 522.