1906 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 1906.

"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

1906

n/a Jack Cameron Boston Beaneaters OF 22
n/a Frank Connaughton Boston Beaneaters SS 38
n/a Cozy Dolan Boston Beaneaters OF 34
n/a Gene Good Boston Beaneaters OF 24
n/a Bill McCarthy Boston Beaneaters P 25
n/a Jack O'Neill Boston Beaneaters C 34
n/a Jack Schulte Boston Beaneaters SS 25
n/a Chet Spencer Boston Beaneaters OF 24
n/a Allie Strobel Boston Beaneaters 2B 22
n/a Mal Eason Brooklyn Superbas P 28
n/a Hub Knolls Brooklyn Superbas P 23
n/a Chappie McFarland Brooklyn Superbas P 32
n/a Phil Reardon Brooklyn Superbas OF 25
n/a Jack Harper Chicago Cubs P 29
n/a Tom Walsh Chicago Cubs C 22
n/a Bob Wicker Chicago Cubs P 29
n/a Snake Deal Cincinnati Reds 1B 28
n/a Leo Hafford Cincinnati Reds P 23
n/a Jack Harper Cincinnati Reds P 29
n/a Frank Jude Cincinnati Reds OF 22
n/a Johnny Siegle Cincinnati Reds OF 32
n/a Homer Smoot Cincinnati Reds OF 29
n/a Bob Wicker Cincinnati Reds P 29
n/a John McGraw New York Giants 3B 34
n/a Sam Mertes New York Giants OF 34
n/a Aleck Smith New York Giants C uk
n/a Ches Crist Philadelphia Phillies C 25
n/a Jerry Donovan Philadelphia Phillies C 30
n/a Hugh Duffy Philadelphia Phillies PH 40
n/a Harry Huston Philadelphia Phillies C 23
n/a Harry Kane Philadelphia Phillies P 23
n/a Kid Nichols Philadelphia Phillies P 37
n/a Charlie Roy Philadelphia Phillies P 22
n/a Charlie Case Pittsburgh Pirates P 27
n/a Lou Manske Pittsburgh Pirates P 22
n/a Chappie McFarland Pittsburgh Pirates P 32
n/a Dutch Meier Pittsburgh Pirates OF 28
n/a Rube DeGroff St. Louis Cardinals OF 27
n/a Wish Egan St. Louis Cardinals P 25
n/a Mike Grady St. Louis Cardinals C 37
n/a Jack Himes St. Louis Cardinals OF 28
n/a Ducky Holmes St. Louis Cardinals C 23
n/a Joe Marshall St. Louis Cardinals OF 31
n/a Joe McCarthy St. Louis Cardinals C 25
n/a Chappie McFarland St. Louis Cardinals P 32
n/a Sam Mertes St. Louis Cardinals OF 34
n/a Bill Phyle St. Louis Cardinals 3B 31
n/a Ambrose Puttmann St. Louis Cardinals P 26
n/a Tommy Raub St. Louis Cardinals C 36
n/a Homer Smoot St. Louis Cardinals OF 29
n/a Gus Thompson St. Louis Cardinals P 29
1906 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1906 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 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.