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.

"I'll never make the mistake of being seventy (70) again." - Casey Stengel comment made after being told to quit following the 1960 World Series

American Association Retirements
1888

# Name Team Pos Age

n/a Myron Allen Kansas City Blues OF 35

n/a Wally Andrews Louisville Colonels 1B 29

n/a Bill Blair Philadelphia Athletics P 25

n/a George Bradley Baltimore Orioles SS 36

n/a Fatty Briody Kansas City Blues C 30

n/a Billy Crowell Cleveland Blues P 23

n/a Billy Crowell Louisville Colonels P 23

n/a Law Daniels Kansas City Blues OF 26

n/a Tom Dolan St. Louis Browns C 34

n/a Bill Fagan Kansas City Blues P 24

n/a Bill Farmer Philadelphia Athletics C 25

n/a Julie Freeman St. Louis Browns P 20

n/a Eddie Fusselback Louisville Colonels OF 32

n/a Bob Gamble Philadelphia Athletics P 22

n/a Whitey Gibson Philadelphia Athletics C 20

n/a Ed Glenn Kansas City Blues OF 28

n/a Walt Goldsby Baltimore Orioles OF 27

n/a Mike Goodfellow Cleveland Blues OF 22

n/a Frank Hafner Kansas City Blues P 21

n/a Frank Hankinson Kansas City Blues 2B 33

n/a John Harkins Baltimore Orioles P 30

n/a Frank Hoffman Kansas City Blues P uk

n/a Ed Hogan Cleveland Blues OF 27

n/a Bill Holbert Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers C 34

n/a Pete Hotaling Cleveland Blues OF 32

n/a Charley Jones Kansas City Blues OF 39

n/a Ed Keas Cleveland Blues P 26

n/a John Kirby Kansas City Blues P 24

n/a Unknown Long Louisville Colonels OF uk

n/a Bill McClellan Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers 2B 33

n/a Bill McClellan Cleveland Blues OF 33

n/a John McGlone Cleveland Blues 3B uk

n/a Doc Oberlander Cleveland Blues P 25

n/a Bill Phillips Kansas City Blues 1B 32

n/a Tom Poorman Philadelphia Athletics OF 31

n/a Dave Rowe Kansas City Blues OF 34

n/a Billy Serad Cincinnati Red Stockings P uk

n/a Ed Silch Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers OF 24

n/a Skyrocket Smith Louisville Colonels 1B 21

n/a Bill Stemmyer Cleveland Blues P 24

n/a Mike Sullivan Philadelphia Athletics OF 29

n/a Sam Trott Baltimore Orioles C uk

n/a Dick Van Zant Cleveland Blues 3B 24

n/a George Walker Baltimore Orioles P uk

n/a Joe Werrick Louisville Colonels 3B 27

n/a Bill White Louisville Colonels SS 29

n/a Bill White St. Louis Browns SS 29

n/a Frank Zinn Philadelphia Athletics C 23

# 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.

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.

Hank Aaron ended his Major League career on October 3, 1976, with a sharp single during the sixth inning off Dave Roberts of the Detroit Tigers.

Copyright © 2000-2007. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Design by Geisler Young. Hosted by Hosting 4 Less.
Part of the Baseball Almanac family: 755 Home Runs | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Today in Baseball History.