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Posted By: Kevin Cummings

According to the Baseball Almanac, Nolan Ryan had the longest Major League career (27 years) followed by Eddie Collins (25 years) and Pete Rose (24 years).

I'm guessing though that there were Negro Leaguers like Satchel Paige and others who might actually have had longer careers. Satchel's Negro League career is listed, I believe, as having lasted from 1927 through 1950, although I'm not sure if that is consecutive. If you add in his last few years in the Major Leagues (including his 3 inning appearance in 1965 at age 58), he squeeks by Nolan Ryan by one year.

http://baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_ten1.shtml