 At the time of his retirement , Wilhelm had pitched in a then @-@ MLB record 1 @,@ 070 games . He is recognized as the first pitcher to have saved 200 games in his career , and the first pitcher to appear in 1 @,@ 000 games . He is also one of the oldest players to have pitched in the major leagues ; his final appearance was 16 days short of his 50th birthday . Wilhelm retired with the lowest career earned run average of any major league hurler after 1927 ( Walter Johnson ) who pitched more than 2 @,@ 000 innings . 
 At the time of his retirement , Wilhelm <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> pitched in a then @-@ MLB record 1 @,@ 070 games . He is recognized as the first pitcher to <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>have</mark></a> saved 200 games in his career , and the first pitcher to appear in 1 @,@ 000 games . He is also one of the oldest players to <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>have</mark></a> pitched in the major leagues ; his final appearance was 16 days short of his 50th birthday . Wilhelm<a href='been_done' title='4'><mark></mark></a> retired with the lowest career earned run average of any major league hurler after 1927 ( Walter Johnson ) <a href='null_relcl' title='5'><mark>who</mark></a>pitched more than 2 @,@ 000 innings . 
At the time of his retirement , Wilhelm done pitched in a then @-@ MLB record 1 @,@ 070 games . He is recognized as da first pitcher to done saved 200 games in his career , and tdafirst pitcher to appear in 1 @,@ 000 games . He is also one of the oldest players to done pitched in the major leagues ; his final appearance was 16 dayz short of his 50th birthday . Wilhelm done retired w thdaowest career earned run average of any major league hurler after 1927 ( Walter Johnson ) pitched more den 2 @,@ 000 innings .