Bartolo Colón
MLB pitcher with 23-season career, oldest no-hitter pitcher
Bartolo Colón is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who achieved legendary status in Major League Baseball primarily through his extraordinary longevity and consistent excellence. Born in Altamira, Mexico (though Dominican by heritage), Colón began his MLB career in 1997 and continued playing into his mid-40s, an exceptionally rare feat in professional baseball. He made 686 career appearances, won 247 games, and pitched for 12 different teams during his 23-season career. In 2012, at age 40, he threw a no-hitter for the Oakland Athletics, becoming the oldest pitcher to accomplish this milestone. His most celebrated season came in 2016 when, at 42 years old, he won 15 games and a Gold Glove Award, demonstrating that age need not diminish athletic excellence. Colón's determination and competitive spirit made him a fan favorite, and his career has inspired countless athletes to pursue their dreams beyond conventional timeline expectations.
Athlete
Dominican
1973
Thinking about the name
Bartolo
Italian origin
“The Italian and Spanish form of Bartholomew, meaning 'son of Talmai.' Bartolo evokes warmth and musicality—think of the beloved barber in The Marriage of Figaro—while maintaining apostolic depth, offering parents a name with both literary panache and spiritual grounding.”