Bartolo Colon has officially announced the end of his playing career, which included 21 Major League seasons. Reporter Hector Gomez seemingly broke the news back in June, though Colon’s agents denied that their client was retiring just yet. However, the Mets announced Friday that Colon will retire as a Met on September 17, as part of a tribute day in his honor at Citi Field.
The 50-year-old Colon pitched in the independent Mexican League as recently as the 2021 season, but he hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2018. As such, the right-hander will close the book on his memorable career with 565 career MLB games with 11 different teams, a 4.12 ERA over 3461 2/3 innings, four All-Star appearances, the 2005 AL Cy Young Award, and one career home run. Colon won 247 games, the most by any pitcher born in the Dominican Republic.
Colon’s MLB career began in Cleveland in 1997. Though he struggled to a 5.65 ERA in 94 innings as a rookie, he would quickly become the club’s reliable workhorse, pitching to a 3.91 ERA (122 ERA+) with a 4.00 FIP over 819 innings during the 1998-2001 campaigns. He got off to a phenomenal start in 2002, with a 2.55 ERA that was 72% better than league average, before being shipped to Montreal in a deal that saw Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips, and Lee Stevens sent to the Indians. The deal was a blockbuster at the time, and Cleveland went on to benefit from both that trade package and its related trade tree for years afterward.
Colon pitched well with the Expos, posting a 3.31 ERA in 117 innings before the club dealt him to the White Sox. Colon pitched a career-high 242 innings during his 2003 season on the South Side, posting 3.87 ERA (120 ERA+) before departing for free agency the following offseason. He landed a four-year deal with the Angels in free agency, and after struggling to a 5.01 ERA in his first season with the club delivered a phenomenal 2005 season that earned him his second career All-Star appearance and a Cy Young award. During the campaign, Colon racked up a league-leading 21 wins in 33 starts as he posted a strong 3.48 ERA in 222 2/3 innings of work.
Unfortunately, Colon’s final two seasons in Anaheim would be tainted by injury, as he struggled to a 5.90 ERA in just 155 2/3 innings across the two campaigns. After departing Anaheim, Colon would pitch just 101 1/3 innings over the next three years, suiting up for the Red Sox in 2008 and returning to the White Sox in 2009 before missing the entire 2010 season due to shoulder injuries.
His return to a major league mound came in 2011 after he signed a minor league deal with the Yankees. In the Bronx, Colon posted a solid 4.00 ERA in 164 1/3 innings of work with a FIP of 3.71. The 2011 season represented a new beginning for Colon, now 38, as he would go on to pitch more than 150 innings in each of the following five seasons for the A’s and the Mets. Though a 50-game PED suspension in 2012 added a cloud over his career revival, Colon’s 2012-16 stretch included Colon’s third All-Star appearance, which came in Oakland as he posted a phenomenal 2.65 ERA in 190 1/3 innings of work en route to a sixth-place finish in AL Cy Young award voting.
It also included his fourth and final All Star appearance, which came at the age of 43 with the Mets in 2016. After making it to the World Series with the Mets in 2015, Colon posted a 3.43 ERA that was 17% better than league average by measure of ERA+ in 191 2/3 innings of work as the Mets returned to the playoffs, though Colon ultimately did not pitch for the club in the postseason as New York lost the NL Wild Card game to the Giants. Colon pitched in the majors for two more seasons after leaving the Mets, posting a 6.13 ERA in 289 1/3 innings split between the Braves, Twins, and Rangers before making his final MLB appearance at the age of 45.
Beyond the numbers, Colon also became a cult hero around baseball, adopting the nickname “Big Sexy.” Between his fun-loving personality, everyman physique, and the general appeal of an ageless veteran hurler getting by low velocity and excellent control, Colon had a knack for delivering memorable moments, whether on the field or while interacting with teammates and fans.
MLBTR wishes Colon all the best as he officially moves into his post-playing career.
Going out on his own terms.
148 g
326 pa
299 ab
11 r
25 h
4 2b
0 3b
1 hr
11 rbi
0 sb / 0 cs
1 bb 166 k
=============
.084 avg
.092 ob%
.107 slg%
.199 ops
People frequently point out that Colon didn’t deserve that 2005 Cy Young Award but what’s rarely mentioned is it might have been payback for 2002 when he may have deserved it but didn’t win. It’s the only time I ever remember when someone wasn’t the best pitcher in the American League and wasn’t the best pitcher in the National League but still may have been the best pitcher in all of Major League Baseball. They couldn’t award him the Cy Young because no one knew which league he should have won it in. In 2002 Colon won 10 games with the Cleveland Indians and was then trade to the Montreal Expos to be their co-ace ace along with Javier Vasquez. That was the last time the Expos made a real push to win it all. Colon then won another 10 games with the Expos that season. So, he was a 20-game winner that season, but he wasn’t the best pitcher in the AL because he only won 10 games in the American League, and he wasn’t the best pitcher in the NL because he only won 10 games in the National League. He may have been the best pitcher in MLB overall. That is the only time in MLB history that a pitcher won at least 10 games in both leagues during the same season. That was the last time the Expos tried to break the Braves record 14 consecutive division title streak. The first time was in ’94. Of course, they failed in ’94 because of the strike there were no division winners. in ’02 they failed again. That’s still a pretty cool record in my book. Winning 10 games in the American League followed by another 10 in the National League in the same season has to be really hard to accomplish. I’m not sure if we will ever see that record broken. If the Cy Young award were a single award for all of baseball there’s a really good chance Colon would have won it, but since it is split into 2 leagues, he only put up half a season in each league and couldn’t win either award.
Not only did he win 10 games in both leagues, but he also lost four games in both leagues and pitched four complete games in both leagues. Many of his other stats for that year are nearly identical as well. A very interesting statistical performance for Bart.
Looking back at the results in 2002 I will say I don’t think Colon would have actually won it had he pitched in one of the leagues all season, but he still didn’t get the respect he deserved. Barry Zito won it in the American League. Pedro Martinez finished 2nd and Derek Lowe finished 3rd. Randy Johnson won it in the National League and Curt Schilling finished 2nd. Those are fair votes in my opinion. Those guys really are the only 5 pitchers in baseball who were arguably better than Big Sexy though. In the National League Roy Oswalt, Eric Gagne (reliever) and John Smoltz (reliever season) all finished ahead of Colon. That’s a joke if you ask me. Oswalt finished 5th and wasn’t as good as Colon that season. Gagne finished 4th and really should have been behind even Oswalt. John Smoltz finished 3rd and he only earned 1.2 bWAR as a closer that season. Colon had more wins above replacement than Smoltz just off of Colon’s National league stats in the 2nd half that year. In the American League Jarod Washburn finished 4th and was nowhere near as good as Colon or even Oswalt that season. So, Colon was much better than the 4th place AL Cy Young finisher and FAR better than the 3rd place NL Cy Young finisher in addition to the guys who finished 4th and 5th in in the NL. But Colon didn’t finish even in the top 5 of either league. I don’t think they even allowed people to vote for him in the AL. He would have been a top 4 pitcher in the AL or a top 3 pitcher in the NL if his season stats were combined to one league. Smoltz finishing 3rd over him is crazy. Smoltz only had 1.2 bWAR all season in the National League. Colon more than doubled that just in his National League stats alone. That’s not even counting Colon’s 10-win first half with Cleveland.
I hope big sexy continues to grace us with his presence by becoming a pitching coach somewhere. The MLB needs big sexy.
What’ll he coach? Cheating or overeating?
I mean, if he can teach pitchers to pitch 14 years in the big leagues, win a CY young, make a couple AS games, and get caught using PEDs at 39/40 I’m sure he will be a helluva pitching coach.
Just think of the nicknames for hefty pitchers
The round mound of strike town. All I got so far.
I swear he should be in the HOF. Like how much did PEDs really help him?
I don’t think he understood that you still have to exercise when taking PEDs. Regardless though, he comes up short as far as HOF goes. For length of his career he still did not hit any HOF milestones. He also comes up quite short in elite seasons.
Pretty good player just not HOFer.
According to Andy Pettitte a lot of pitchers just use PEDs to recover fast from injuries. Clemens and a couple of his colleagues clearly used them while pitching, but for a lot of pitchers I think that increased muscle mass does too much to the flexibility they need.
A n g e l s…….
I will remember this guy’s career more than I will remember the careers of most Hall of Famers. A true legend.
And I thought it might be a slow news day!
An absolute legend
And an absolute unit
He was officially the final big league player older than me. That is a depressing statement to make.
With the Mets season officially trash, it would be cool for Big Sexy to pitch 1 more inning on that retirement day.
Couldn’t do any worse than some of the pitchers the Mets have now.
How many years after you stop playing do you need to officially retire?
Hasn’t stopped Bill Spaceman Lee from sticking around with the Savannah Bananas!
Forget pitching. Let him DH!
I never understood why a team never gave Carlos Zambrano a shot as a DH. I mean, the guy had the worst temper in MLB history, but he could hit.
He’d swing at a pickoff throw.
My favorite Colon stat is the number of times he walked in his career: exactly once. Including in the minors!
When I saw the photo of him in a Mets uniform I figured they signed him so they could have the oldest rotation ever with Verlander and Scherzer! Great player and great career. Go enjoy retirement.
BerenSTEIN Bears
Looney TUNES
The Monopoly Man’s monocle
Love this. Colon may be remembered as a pitcher at his best for his years in Cleveland but “Big Sexy” is remembered best in NYC.
Big Sexy!!!!
Ugh, thought his career would’ve been extended by the NL picking up the DH.
Then we never would have seen his classic homerun.
I’m surprised that the Pirates didn’t pick him up
Would love it if Mets came out with a limited-supply (only 40 made) fragrance to honor him and call it…you guessed it: Bartolo Colon
Notes: Dominican tobacco, coffee, fruit (he harvested coffee beans and fruit from ages 9-14)
End note: Musk
Finally a challenger to Sex Panther. “60 percent of the time, it works every time” ain’t cutting it for me anymore at the bingo hall.
I sprayed Bartolo Cologne all over me, now I talk with a Dominican accent. Please advise.
Sorry, don’t get the cheap/expired stuff from Walgreen’s. The only antidote is Curve by Claiborne, but you’ll smell like your sixth grade self. Go with God.
Now jhew tell me! Aye papi, que lastima… Dios mio!
However, the Mets announced Friday that Colon will retire as a Met on September 17, as part of a tribute day in his honor at Citi Field.
With the way the Mets season has gone I wouldn’t be surprised if they have him pitch that day.
…they need him to hit.
@Tdat1979: Just a hook to sell more tickets after the team is out of it. The Wilpons did the same thing with David Wright the final weekend in 2018, but at least he played.
This is a sad day for all of us old, fat men everywhere.
But whyyyyy???
$$$, obviously.
The Johnny Appleseed of baseball. Spreading his seed all over the country side
I don’t buy it. Legends don’t “retire”… they sail off into the sunset majestically on a stallion with a beer in one hand and bat in the other…
Sailing on a stallion? That’s a new one
Can spend more time with his families
Somebody sign him for the stretch run. HEY CINCINNATI REDS I’m talking to you. Can’t be much worse than some of the stiffs from the independent leagues you’ve signed. Bartolo and all those kids would be a juggernaut. And those stiffs you’re running out to the mound might learn something. Can you imagine facing Hunter Greene at 100 mph then having to face a Bartolo 70 mph fastball, it would tie them in knots. And yes, I know Hunter is on the DL. But he’s due back in a week or so.
If this post had said that:
“50 year old Bartolo Colon is set to hold a showcase for MLB teams for a possible return to baseball”
… I’d have taken a flyer on him lol
That will be next spring.
my first idol…Cleon…21 forever!
I always thought it was amazing how this man resurrected his career in his late 30s and pitched well into his mid 40s. Bartolo was one of the funniest guys on the field, hope he enjoys his retirement!
Not only are all of MLB younger than me, I am now in the 2x club with (most of ) the rookies
Kind of missed some key moments in 2012 while with the A’s; on April 18, 2012 Colon set a record by throwing 38 consecutive strikes (almost exclusively fastballs). Also, the PED suspension cost the A’s dearly in the post season. In August Colon was 3-1 throwing 28 2/3 inning and allowing just 8 runs; 6 runs in the one loss.
The A’s rode Jarrod Parker hard down the stretch. The A’s had Tommy Milone starting game 2 of the ALCS vs the Detroit Tigers rathe than Colon.
Must be nice to retire before the age of 67.
He made it by a year… or two, maybe.
Lol, Amen
Dude sucks
Yeah, he won a Cy Young. Definitely sucks
He can now relax with one of his families
The “Big Sexy”.
An amazing stat, to me anyways, and not saying best ever…
565 games, 13 in relief, with 435 decisions – 77%
not in this day and age
and he was an Expo…true dinosaur
I never understood why people went crazy for this guy. I love that they do but just don’t understand it.
Not so hard to understand, really. He was entertaining character.
Former Cy Young winner and had multiple great seasons. Read his stats and you’ll find your answer
Yet his single homerun gets more coverage than his career numbers.
rightly so
it’s a top 25 moment in mlb history
Hmm, not sure why this such a top-25 great moment. If you want to see a great moment, google “Hung-chih kuo bat flip.” He was mainly a reliever who hardly ever swung a bat but when hit his only dinger he flipped it like he was Barry freaking Bonds. Now that was a great moment.
Big likeable personality, even bigger body, and his teammates all loved him. Built like a pro wrestler, Colon endured 21 seasons and almost 3500 IP. One can argue the merits of his CYA but it is his nonetheless. He was good for baseball.
Retired before collecting Social Security, but only just.
Give this guy the same treatment a lot of you give other roid users.. he cheated.
Clearly moving on to ultramarathons.
Best of luck.
Buffet ultramarathons, maybe
youtu.be/OVFsq9FQBlc
i’ll post this again because it’s one of my favorite things ever
amazinavenue.com/2016/7/13/12170246/a-league-of-ba…
Say it ain’t so, Bartolo!
The behind the back, Globetrotter-style put out to first base was one of the coolest plays I’ve ever seen. I hope he gets to pitch an inning.
The last Expo finally retires. All the best Bartoloooooooo…
I am a Cleveland fan and remember him as a young hard throwing pitcher. It is like he had two careers as he totally re-invented himself to keep pitching.
Kudos Bartolo on a wonderful career!
Congratulations to Bartolo Colon on a heck of a career, including a Home Run.
And with this, we can also say R.I.P. to the Montreal Expos as Colon was the last (sort of) active player to have suited up for the organization
Noooooooooooooooooo!!!!!
For real this time? Or will he come out tomorrow saying that this was fake news?
He could make it a retirement tour if he takes Scherzer’s spot. Not happening, but could be fun.
Big Sexy is a Hall of Famer, don’t care what the writers say, I haven’t really cared for their opinion in a while anyway.
Who cares? Good riddance to that clown. So annoying.
Good. Now I don’t have to read all the annoying gushing over that fool. Not at all funny.
Why is he annoying? Did he steal your cheeseburger in 2009?
I remember when Big Sexy used to throw 99 in the 9th inning of a complete game back when no starters threw 99. And my dad would tell me “you see those tree trunk legs? That’s how you throw 99 in the 9th”. It’s both funny and sad that he’ll mostly be remembered for being a fat funny over the hill pitcher when he was so good with the Indians.
It’s a helluva career for a guy who never learnt to throw a breaking ball or a changeup or anything besides a fastball really. He threw super hard and threw fastballs for strikes in Cleveland. He threw pretty hard and threw fastballs for strikes for the Angels in the middle. For the A’s, Twins, an others he threw super slow fastballs and still threw them for strikes. It’s all he ever did. It worked. We can admire that I would say. Cheers to the man on the mound.
I will never forget the ‘cheers’ when he visited Sox Park after he left – ‘CO. LUN. BLOW! CO. LUN. BLOW!’
It was magical. He provided a lot of delight.
An absolute joy when he was on the Mets. Named my 1st dog after him. 9/10. Loses a point for the secret family.
Who knew he was still alive