Mike Trout and the Challenge Facing Older Players in the 21st Century

Willie Mays and Henry Aaron were great players well into their 30s, but older players struggle more in today's game.

Throughout baseball history, the very best players have excelled well into their thirties. The five players who have produced the most WAR from the age of 31 through the end of their careers are Barry Bonds, Honus Wagner, Willie Mays, Babe Ruth and Henry Aaron. Those might be the five greatest players in AL/NL history. Ted Williams narrowly misses that …