Jamie Moyer has cracked the Rockies rotation at age 49

Unbelievable. Jamie Moyer, at age 49, has earned a spot in the Rockies rotation. Jim Caple wrote a terrific piece on Moyer, but let's expand that list a little bit. Care to go in a time vault back to 1986?

Jamie Moyer made his big-league debut on June 16, 1986. Some interesting things to know:

Moyer during one of the highlights of his career,
the 2008 World Series.

• The Kansas City Royals were the defending World Champions. They have not been back to the postseason since. Chew on that one for a bit.
• Only six of the current MLB parks were in existence when Moyer made his debut. They are Fenway Park (Boston), Wrigley Field (Chicago), Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles), Angel Stadium (Anaheim), Oakland Coliseum and Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City).
• Comiskey Park, home of the White Sox, was still the oldest ballpark in baseball, as it was in its 76th season.
• 1986 is closer to 1961 and Roger Maris than it is to 2012.
• Phil Niekro was the oldest active player in the big leagues in 1986 at age 47. He was also the last active player born in the 1930s.
• As old as Moyer is, he is not the only active player born in the 1960s. Omar Vizquel (1967) and Mariano Rivera (1969) are still hanging around.
• Moyer and Vizquel (1989) are the last active players who played during the 1980s.
• Moyer is older than eight MLB managers!
• Dale Sveum, Cubs (1963)
• Ozzie Guillen, Marlins (1964)
• Joe Girardi, Yankees (1964)
• Fredi Gonzalez, Braves (1964)
• Robin Ventura, White Sox (1967)
• Eric Wedge, Mariners (1968)
• Manny Acta, Indians (1969)
• Mike Matheny, Cardinals (1970)
• Only three of the current managers in MLB were managing a big-league club in 1986: Jim Leyland (Pirates), Bobby Valentine (Rangers) and Davey Johnson (Mets, who would go on to win it all in '86).
• Tony La Russa was still managing the White Sox in 1986. In fact, when Moyer made his debut, La Russa was just three days away from being fired by GM Ken "Hawk" Harrelson, marking the only time in his 34 years of managing that he was ever canned.
• There were only 26 MLB teams in 1986, as the Rockies, Marlins, Diamondbacks and Rays did not exist.
• The Seattle Mariners, who debuted in 1977, still had yet to experience the thrill of finishing over .500. It would be another five years before Seattle would finish with a winning record.
• The Blue Jays, who also debuted in 1977, were the defending AL East Champions, coming off a 99-win season.
• On the day Moyer debuted, the Mets were already a ridiculous 44-16, leading the old NL East by 11.5 games over Montreal. Even more surprising was the play of the defending NL Champion St. Louis Cardinals, who were floundering in fourth place with a 25-35 record in the East. Already 19 games behind the Mets in June, their season was effectively over.
• The Mets finished 108-54 that year, the most wins of any big-league club since 1975. They would also join the 1975 Reds and 1983 White Sox as the only teams to win their division by at least 20 games.
• Fox Television, which has broadcasted every World Series since 2000, did not make its debut until October of 1986.
• During the span of Moyer's career, two starting pitchers have won the league MVP: Roger Clemens in 1986 for Boston, and Justin Verlander last year for Detroit.
• Legends from baseball's golden age were still alive, such as Leo Durocher, Joe Sewell and the "Meal Ticket," Carl Hubbell.
• Barry Larkin also began his career in 1986, retired, and is now being elected to the Hall of Fame after the customary five-year waiting period, plus another two years of falling short of the necessary vote total.
• A small sampling of players who were still active in 1986:
• Pete Rose
• Reggie Jackson
• Don Sutton
• Steve Carlton
• Carlton Fisk
• Tom Seaver
• Dusty Baker
• Don Baylor
• Kirk Gibson
• Mike Schmidt
• Dave Kingman
• Mike Scioscia
• Dave Concepcion
• Tony Perez
• Some managers who were piloting clubs that season include:
• Earl Weaver (Orioles, in his final season)
• Whitey Herzog (Cardinals)
• Sparky Anderson (Tigers)
• Lou Piniella (Yankees, his first season managing)
• Gene Mauch (Angels)
• Pete Rose (Reds, still a player-manager at this point)
• Chuck Tanner (Braves)
• Tommy Lasorda (Dodgers)

Well, there you have it. I'm looking forward to watching Moyer pitch this season, and even more, I hope he does well. After all, I would love to see Moyer stick around to pitch at age 50 next year!
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Eh, might as well...
Here's a hit song from 1986, Cameo's "Word Up." Enjoy.