Baseball Almanac - 1888 American Association Retirements

1888 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 1888.

"You are George Brett and all the cheering has stopped. The music is muted, the hour is late, and they will be taking the banners down and emptying your locker any minute now. As the late Jimmy Cannon would say it, 'All your bats are broken.'" - Broadcaster Jim Murray

American Association Retirements
1888

# Name Team Pos Age

n/a Julie Freeman St. Louis Browns P 20

n/a Whitey Gibson Philadelphia Athletics C 20

n/a Frank Hafner Kansas City Blues P 21

n/a Skyrocket Smith Louisville Colonels 1B 21

n/a Bob Gamble Philadelphia Athletics P 22

n/a Mike Goodfellow Cleveland Blues OF 22

n/a Billy Crowell Cleveland Blues P 23

n/a Billy Crowell Louisville Colonels P 23

n/a Frank Zinn Philadelphia Athletics C 23

n/a Bill Fagan Kansas City Blues P 24

n/a John Kirby Kansas City Blues P 24

n/a Ed Silch Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers OF 24

n/a Bill Stemmyer Cleveland Blues P 24

n/a Dick Van Zant Cleveland Blues 3B 24

n/a Bill Blair Philadelphia Athletics P 25

n/a Bill Farmer Philadelphia Athletics C 25

n/a Doc Oberlander Cleveland Blues P 25

n/a Law Daniels Kansas City Blues OF 26

n/a Ed Keas Cleveland Blues P 26

n/a Walt Goldsby Baltimore Orioles OF 27

n/a Ed Hogan Cleveland Blues OF 27

n/a Joe Werrick Louisville Colonels 3B 27

n/a Ed Glenn Kansas City Blues OF 28

n/a Wally Andrews Louisville Colonels 1B 29

n/a Mike Sullivan Philadelphia Athletics OF 29

n/a Bill White Louisville Colonels SS 29

n/a Bill White St. Louis Browns SS 29

n/a Fatty Briody Kansas City Blues C 30

n/a John Harkins Baltimore Orioles P 30

n/a Tom Poorman Philadelphia Athletics OF 31

n/a Eddie Fusselback Louisville Colonels OF 32

n/a Pete Hotaling Cleveland Blues OF 32

n/a Bill Phillips Kansas City Blues 1B 32

n/a Frank Hankinson Kansas City Blues 2B 33

n/a Bill McClellan Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers 2B 33

n/a Bill McClellan Cleveland Blues OF 33

n/a Tom Dolan St. Louis Browns C 34

n/a Bill Holbert Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers C 34

n/a Dave Rowe Kansas City Blues OF 34

n/a Myron Allen Kansas City Blues OF 35

n/a George Bradley Baltimore Orioles SS 36

n/a Charley Jones Kansas City Blues OF 39

n/a Frank Hoffman Kansas City Blues P uk

n/a Unknown Long Louisville Colonels OF uk

n/a John McGlone Cleveland Blues 3B uk

n/a Billy Serad Cincinnati Red Stockings P uk

n/a Sam Trott Baltimore Orioles C uk

n/a George Walker Baltimore Orioles P uk

# Name Team Pos Age

1888 American Association Retirements

Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American Association during the 1888 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

Did you know that future hall of fame pitcher Walter Johnson ended his Major League career in 1927 with a pinch-hit appearance? During the final game of the season pitcher Tom Zachary, who had just given up Babe Ruth's sixtieth home run of the season, was lifted and Johnson replaced him at the plate.

On September 28, 1960, broadcaster Curt Gowdy uttered, "It's got a chance. It's got a chance. And it's gone!" Those words were used to describe the final at-bat of slugger Ted Williams.

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