1908 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 1908.

"I want to hit a routine grounder to second and run all out to first base, then get thrown out by a half step. I want to leave an example to the young guys that that's how you play the game, all out." - George Brett
 

National League Retirements

1908

n/a Warren Gill Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 30
n/a Jim Kane Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 27
n/a Simmy Murch Brooklyn Superbas 1B 28
n/a Dan McGann Boston Doves 1B 37
n/a John Ganzel Cincinnati Reds 1B 35
n/a Harry Pattee Brooklyn Superbas 2B 27
n/a Sammy Strang New York Giants 2B 32
n/a Dave Brain New York Giants 2B 30
n/a Tommy Sheehan Brooklyn Superbas 3B 31
n/a Ernie Courtney Philadelphia Phillies 3B 34
n/a Jack Hannifin Boston Doves 3B 26
n/a Jim Ball Boston Doves C 25
n/a Alex Farmer Brooklyn Superbas C 32
n/a Bill Ludwig St. Louis Cardinals C 27
n/a Charlie Moran St. Louis Cardinals C 31
n/a Lew Ritter Brooklyn Superbas C 33
n/a John Sullivan Pittsburgh Pirates C 36
n/a Art Hoelskoetter St. Louis Cardinals C 26
n/a Bill McGilvray Cincinnati Reds PH 26
n/a Hunky Shaw Pittsburgh Pirates PH 24
n/a Shad Barry New York Giants OF 30
n/a Dick Bayless Cincinnati Reds OF 25
n/a Dave Brain Cincinnati Reds OF 30
n/a Jack Hannifin New York Giants OF 26
n/a Jack Hayden Chicago Cubs OF 28
n/a Charlie Johnson Philadelphia Phillies OF 24
n/a Ralph McLaurin St. Louis Cardinals OF 24
n/a Wilbur Murdoch St. Louis Cardinals OF 34
n/a Cy Neighbors Pittsburgh Pirates OF 28
n/a Spike Shannon New York Giants OF 31
n/a Spike Shannon Pittsburgh Pirates OF 31
n/a Jimmy Slagle Chicago Cubs OF 35
n/a Billy Maloney Brooklyn Superbas OF 30
n/a Shad Barry St. Louis Cardinals OF 30
n/a Joe Kelley Boston Doves OF 37
n/a O.F. Baldwin St. Louis Cardinals P 27
n/a Roy Beecher New York Giants P 25
n/a Jack Doscher Cincinnati Reds P 28
n/a Fred Gaiser St. Louis Cardinals P 23
n/a Homer Hillebrand Pittsburgh Pirates P 29
n/a Jim Holmes Brooklyn Superbas P 26
n/a Abe Kruger Brooklyn Superbas P 24
n/a Bill Mack Chicago Cubs P 24
n/a Bill Malarkey New York Giants P 30
n/a Charlie Maloney Boston Doves P 23
n/a Joe McGinnity New York Giants P 38
n/a Stoney McGlynn St. Louis Cardinals P 37
n/a Bert Sincock Cincinnati Reds P 21
n/a Carl Spongberg Chicago Cubs P 25
n/a Dummy Taylor New York Giants P 34
n/a Bill Tozer Cincinnati Reds P 26
n/a Bob Vail Pittsburgh Pirates P 27
n/a Jake Volz Cincinnati Reds P 31
n/a Harley Young Boston Doves P 25
n/a Harley Young Pittsburgh Pirates P 25
n/a Phil Lewis Brooklyn Superbas SS 25
n/a Walter Morris St. Louis Cardinals SS 29
n/a Patsy O'Rourke St. Louis Cardinals SS 28
n/a Walt Thomas Boston Doves SS 25
1908 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1908 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

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.