1896 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 1896.

"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

1896

n/a Dad Clarkson Baltimore Orioles P 30
n/a Otis Stocksdale Baltimore Orioles P 25
n/a Jimmy Bannon Boston Beaneaters OF 26
n/a Joe Harrington Boston Beaneaters 3B 27
n/a Willard Mains Boston Beaneaters P 28
n/a Bill Yerrick Boston Beaneaters P 23
n/a Bert Abbey Brooklyn Bridegrooms P 27
n/a Dave Foutz Brooklyn Bridegrooms OF 40
n/a Ad Gumbert Brooklyn Bridegrooms P 28
n/a George Harper Brooklyn Bridegrooms P 30
n/a Tommy McCarthy Brooklyn Bridegrooms OF 33
n/a Con Daily Chicago Colts C 32
n/a George Flynn Chicago Colts OF 26
n/a Monte McFarland Chicago Colts P 24
n/a Josh Reilly Chicago Colts 2B uk
n/a Harry Truby Chicago Colts 2B 29
n/a Wiley Davis Cincinnati Reds P 21
n/a Brownie Foreman Cincinnati Reds P 21
n/a Hank Gastright Cincinnati Reds P 32
n/a Bert Inks Cincinnati Reds P 26
n/a Elton Chamberlain Cleveland Spiders P 29
n/a Chippy McGarr Cleveland Spiders 3B 34
n/a Eddie O'Meara Cleveland Spiders C 24
n/a John Shearon Cleveland Spiders OF 26
n/a Eddie Boyle Louisville Colonels C 23
n/a Fritz Clausen Louisville Colonels P 28
n/a Charlie Emig Louisville Colonels P 22
n/a Frank Eustace Louisville Colonels SS 23
n/a Lawrence Freund Louisville Colonels C 21
n/a Bill Hassamaer Louisville Colonels 1B 32
n/a Joe Kostal Louisville Colonels P 20
n/a Doggie Miller Louisville Colonels C 32
n/a Tom Morrison Louisville Colonels 3B 27
n/a Frank Shannon Louisville Colonels SS 23
n/a George Treadway Louisville Colonels OF 30
n/a Joe Wright Louisville Colonels OF 28
n/a Tom Bannon New York Giants OF 28
n/a Cy Bowen New York Giants P 26
n/a Sal Campfield New York Giants P 29
n/a Carney Flynn New York Giants P 22
n/a Reddy Foster New York Giants PH 32
n/a Shorty Fuller New York Giants SS 29
n/a George Ulrich New York Giants OF 27
n/a Ben Ellis Philadelphia Phillies SS 26
n/a William Gallagher Philadelphia Phillies SS 23
n/a Ad Gumbert Philadelphia Phillies P 28
n/a Bert Inks Philadelphia Phillies P 26
n/a Charlie Jordan Philadelphia Phillies P 25
n/a Harry Keener Philadelphia Phillies P 25
n/a Dan Leahy Philadelphia Phillies SS 26
n/a Willie McGill Philadelphia Phillies P 23
n/a Joe Sullivan Philadelphia Phillies OF 27
n/a Bill Whitrock Philadelphia Phillies P 27
n/a Eddie Boyle Pittsburgh Pirates C 23
n/a Brownie Foreman Pittsburgh Pirates P 21
n/a Abel Lizotte Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 27
n/a Connie Mack Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 34
n/a Harry Truby Pittsburgh Pirates 2B 29
n/a Joe Wright Pittsburgh Pirates OF 28
n/a Dewey McDougal St. Louis Browns P 25
n/a Tom Niland St. Louis Browns OF 27
n/a Tom Parrott St. Louis Browns OF 29
n/a Biff Sheehan St. Louis Browns OF 29
n/a Joe Sullivan St. Louis Browns OF 27
n/a John Wood St. Louis Browns P 25
n/a Varney Anderson Washington Senators P 30
n/a Jake Boyd Washington Senators P 23
n/a Carney Flynn Washington Senators P 22
n/a John Gilroy Washington Senators P 27
n/a Harvey Smith Washington Senators 3B 25
1896 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1896 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.

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.