Bartolo Colon has reached another milestone due to his longevity

(AP Images) New York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon is already among the most beloved players in the majors. His story, age and his complete transformation as a pitcher have caused fans to rally around him in recent years. It also helps that he always seem jovial, and he’s a lot of fun to watch at the plate.

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Just when you thought you couldn’t love the 42-year-old any more, he goes out and surprises everyone once again. With Maizer Izturis’ retirement Friday, Colon becomes the last active major leaguer to have played for the Montreal Expos.

It’s quite the accomplishment for a number of reasons. Colon played for the Expos back in 2002. He tossed 117 innings with the club, posting a 3.31 ERA as a 29-year-old. Izturis played for the club two years later, and is seven years younger than Colon.

Considering Colon was out of baseball for the entire 2010 season, selecting him to take home this honor would have looked insane just a few years ago. It highlights just how incredible Colon’s late-career resurgence has been, and speaks to his incredible talent. Reaching this milestone was a long shot.

It should be noted that Colon isn’t the last active player from the Expos organization. Both Brandon Phillips and Ian Desmond were drafted, and played in the minors as members of the Expos. Neither player reached the majors with the team, and thus never donned the jersey during a big league contest. Colon is the last active player to do that.

When baseball eventually decides to expand, and Montreal once again receives a team in 2035, we hope the club will honor Colon on the field for his accomplishments. Not doing so would be rude, as we’re assuming he’ll be the club’s opening day starter.

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