1886 American Association Retirements

The baseball torch is passed from season to season and in some cases, from game to game. In 1911, Cy Young pitched his final Major League game, lost 1-0, and ended the final season of his career with a losing record of 7-9 and an ERA of 3.77. Young's opponent that particular day was a first-year pitcher named Grover Alexander who received the win, added to his league leading shutout total, and went on to begin his career with a winning record of 28-13 and an ERA of 2.57.

Bob Gibson, who was easily one of the most intense competitors of all time, gave up a grand slam to the last Major League hitter he faced, Pete LaCock of the Chicago Cubs. Fifteen years passed and when the two faced off during an old-timer's game, Gibson hit LaCock on his back with a fastball.

Babe Ruth summed it up when he responded to a question about retirement by saying, "A ballplayer should quit when it starts to feel as if all the baselines run uphill." Baseball Almanac is pleased to present a comprehensive list of American Association League players who hung up their spikes in 1886.

"I want to hit a routine grounder to second and run all out to first base, then get thrown out by a half step. I want to leave an example to the young guys that that's how you play the game, all out." - George Brett
 

American Association Retirements

1886

n/a Billy Barnie Baltimore Orioles OF 34
n/a Jim Clinton Baltimore Orioles OF 36
n/a Bill Conway Baltimore Orioles C 25
n/a Joe Farrell Baltimore Orioles 2B 30
n/a Tony Hellman Baltimore Orioles C uk
n/a William Houseman Baltimore Orioles P 27
n/a Jimmy Macullar Baltimore Orioles SS 32
n/a Jack Manning Baltimore Orioles OF 33
n/a Mike Muldoon Baltimore Orioles 2B 29
n/a Sandy Nava Baltimore Orioles SS 37
n/a Pat O'Connell Baltimore Orioles OF 25
n/a Abner Powell Baltimore Orioles P 26
n/a Milt Scott Baltimore Orioles 1B 26
n/a Len Sowders Baltimore Orioles OF 25
n/a Bill Traffley Baltimore Orioles C 27
n/a William Zay Baltimore Orioles OF uk
n/a Ed Kennedy Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers OF 31
n/a Jim McCauley Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers C 24
n/a Dave Oldfield Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers C 22
n/a Joe Strauss Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers OF 28
n/a Dan Bickham Cincinnati Red Stockings P 22
n/a Bill Irwin Cincinnati Red Stockings P 27
n/a Fred Lewis Cincinnati Red Stockings OF 28
n/a Leech Maskrey Cincinnati Red Stockings OF 33
n/a Larry McKeon Cincinnati Red Stockings P 21
n/a Abner Powell Cincinnati Red Stockings OF 26
n/a Jeremiah Reardon Cincinnati Red Stockings P 18
n/a Lee Richmond Cincinnati Red Stockings OF 30
n/a Rex Smith Cincinnati Red Stockings P 26
n/a Will White Cincinnati Red Stockings P 32
n/a Jack Heinzman Louisville Colonels 1B 23
n/a Ted Kennedy Louisville Colonels P 22
n/a Leech Maskrey Louisville Colonels OF 33
n/a Clarence Murphy Louisville Colonels OF uk
n/a Joe Strauss Louisville Colonels OF 28
n/a Tom Terrell Louisville Colonels OF 19
n/a Steve Behel New York Metropolitans OF 26
n/a Steve Brady New York Metropolitans OF 35
n/a Harry Brooks New York Metropolitans OF 21
n/a Joe Crotty New York Metropolitans C 27
n/a Tom Forster New York Metropolitans 2B 28
n/a Jake Aydelott Philadelphia Athletics P 25
n/a Jim Brown Philadelphia Athletics P 26
n/a Charlie Gessner Philadelphia Athletics P 23
n/a Jack Gleason Philadelphia Athletics 3B 32
n/a Jim Hyndman Philadelphia Athletics OF 21
n/a Charlie Kelly Philadelphia Athletics SS uk
n/a Ted Kennedy Philadelphia Athletics P 22
n/a Cyclone Miller Philadelphia Athletics P 27
n/a Joe Quest Philadelphia Athletics SS 34
n/a Rex Smith Philadelphia Athletics P 26
n/a Sam Weaver Philadelphia Athletics P 31
n/a Jim Handiboe Pittsburgh Alleghenys P 20
n/a John Hofford Pittsburgh Alleghenys P 24
n/a Frank Mountain Pittsburgh Alleghenys 1B 27
n/a Frank Ringo Pittsburgh Alleghenys 1B 26
n/a Dan Sullivan Pittsburgh Alleghenys C 30
n/a Ed Harting St. Louis Browns C 22
n/a Trick McSorley St. Louis Browns SS 34
1886 American Association Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American Association during the 1886 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

On July 28, 1976, Blue Moon Odom pitched the final five innings of his Major League career. He was relieved by Francisco Barrios in the sixth inning and the two White Sox combined to pitch a 2-1 no-hitter versus the Oakland Athletics.

Stan Musial ended his Major League career on September 29, 1963. His final hit was a single during the sixth inning off Jim Maloney which drove in his last RBI (which was Curt Flood).