Biggest late-career bloomers

[sgreenwell]

Steve Nash.

Ah, that's a good answer. He was seemingly overlooked and/or hurt earlier in his career, and didn't really establish himself as a regular until his mid-20s. (Until looking up his B-R page, I also didn't realize that his trade to Dallas is what got Phoenix the draft pick that became Marion.)

 

[Scout]

Dave Stewart
Koufax

 

[Batman]

Were Steve Carlton and Nolan Ryan considered late bloomers? Their emergence was a bit before my time, but it seems like they took a while to get going in what became Hall of Fame careers.
Ryan famously had the blister issues with the Mets, then took off once he got traded to the Angels.
Carlton had some good seasons with the Cardinals (one 20-win season and a couple of all-star selections) but jumped to another level as soon as he got to the Phillies.

 

[misterbc]

Tommy John also made the huge career jump after his surgery, age 31, to an All Star level.

 

[justgladtobehere]

Were Steve Carlton and Nolan Ryan considered late bloomers? Their emergence was a bit before my time, but it seems like they took a while to get going in what became Hall of Fame careers.
Ryan famously had the blister issues with the Mets, then took off once he got traded to the Angels.
Carlton had some good seasons with the Cardinals (one 20-win season and a couple of all-star selections) but jumped to another level as soon as he got to the Phillies.

Didn't Ryan have military service when he was with the Mets?