1891 National League 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 National League League players who hung up their spikes in 1891.

"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
 

National League Retirements

1891

n/a Tod Brynan Boston Beaneaters P 28
n/a John Kiley Boston Beaneaters P 32
n/a George Rooks Boston Beaneaters OF 28
n/a Cyclone Ryan Boston Beaneaters P uk
n/a Marty Sullivan Boston Beaneaters OF 29
n/a Jack Burdock Brooklyn Bridegrooms 2B 40
n/a Dude Esterbrook Brooklyn Bridegrooms OF 34
n/a Bill Bowman Chicago Colts C 25
n/a Elmer Foster Chicago Colts OF 30
n/a Marty Honan Chicago Colts C 23
n/a Tom Nagle Chicago Colts C 26
n/a Ervin Curtis Cincinnati Reds OF 30
n/a Jim Keenan Cincinnati Reds 1B 34
n/a Lefty Marr Cincinnati Reds OF 29
n/a Old Hoss Radbourn Cincinnati Reds P 37
n/a John Reilly Cincinnati Reds 1B 33
n/a Mike Slattery Cincinnati Reds OF 25
n/a Clarence Stephens Cincinnati Reds P 28
n/a Ed Beatin Cleveland Spiders P 25
n/a Bill Collins Cleveland Spiders OF 29
n/a Henry Gruber Cleveland Spiders P 28
n/a Spud Johnson Cleveland Spiders OF 35
n/a Henry Killeen Cleveland Spiders P 20
n/a Ed Seward Cleveland Spiders OF 24
n/a Marty Sullivan Cleveland Spiders OF 29
n/a Bob Barr New York Giants P uk
n/a Artie Clarke New York Giants C 27
n/a Roscoe Coughlin New York Giants P 24
n/a Andy Dunning New York Giants P 20
n/a John Ewing New York Giants P 28
n/a Charlie Bastian Philadelphia Phillies SS 31
n/a Ed Cassian Philadelphia Phillies P 24
n/a Alexander Donoghue Philadelphia Phillies OF 28
n/a Joe Gormley Philadelphia Phillies P 25
n/a Lew Graulich Philadelphia Phillies C 30
n/a Mike Kilroy Philadelphia Phillies P 22
n/a Ed Mayer Philadelphia Phillies 3B 26
n/a Al Myers Philadelphia Phillies 2B 28
n/a Walter Plock Philadelphia Phillies OF 22
n/a Phil Saylor Philadelphia Phillies P 21
n/a John Schultz Philadelphia Phillies P uk
n/a Phenomenal Smith Philadelphia Phillies P 27
n/a Fred Carroll Pittsburgh Pirates OF 27
n/a Sam LaRocque Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 29
n/a John Newell Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 24
n/a Ed Spurney Pittsburgh Pirates SS 20
1891 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1891 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

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.