1911 American 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 American League League players who hung up their spikes in 1911.

"You are George Brett and all the cheering has stopped. The music is muted, the hour is late, and they will be taking the banners down and emptying your locker any minute now. As the late Jimmy Cannon would say it, 'All your bats are broken.'" - Broadcaster Jim Murray
 

American League Retirements

1911

n/a Harry Ables New York Highlanders P 28
n/a Howard Armstrong Philadelphia Athletics P 22
n/a Bill Bailey New York Highlanders OF 30
n/a Jesse Baker Chicago White Sox P 23
n/a Tracy Baker Boston Red Sox 1B 20
n/a John Black St. Louis Browns 1B 22
n/a Lew Brockett New York Highlanders P 31
n/a Dave Callahan Cleveland Naps OF 23
n/a Swede Carlstrom Boston Red Sox SS 25
n/a Al Clancy St. Louis Browns 3B 23
n/a Andy Coakley New York Highlanders P 29
n/a Wid Conroy Washington Senators 3B 35
n/a Charlie Conway Washington Senators OF 26
n/a Joe Crisp St. Louis Browns PH 26
n/a Dode Criss St. Louis Browns 1B 27
n/a George Curry St. Louis Browns P 23
n/a Ben DeMott Cleveland Naps P 23
n/a Patsy Dougherty Chicago White Sox OF 35
n/a Jim Duggan St. Louis Browns 1B 26
n/a Gene Elliott New York Highlanders OF 23
n/a Doc Gessler Washington Senators OF 31
n/a Joe Giannini Boston Red Sox SS 23
n/a Dolly Gray Washington Senators P 33
n/a Howie Gregory St. Louis Browns P 25
n/a Hy Gunning Boston Red Sox 1B 23
n/a Ernie Gust St. Louis Browns 1B 24
n/a Mike Handiboe New York Highlanders OF 24
n/a Spec Harkness Cleveland Naps P 24
n/a Bill Harper St. Louis Browns P 22
n/a Topsy Hartsel Philadelphia Athletics OF 37
n/a Ed Hawk St. Louis Browns P 24
n/a Charlie Hemphill New York Highlanders OF 36
n/a Walt Herrell Washington Senators P 23
n/a Danny Hoffman St. Louis Browns OF 32
n/a Joe Hovlik Chicago White Sox P 27
n/a Otis Johnson New York Highlanders SS 28
n/a Tex Jones Chicago White Sox 1B 26
n/a Ed Karger Boston Red Sox P 29
n/a Jack Killilay Boston Red Sox P 25
n/a Red Kleinow Boston Red Sox C 34
n/a Cotton Knaupp Cleveland Naps SS 22
n/a Ralph Kreitz Chicago White Sox C 26
n/a Chick Lathers Detroit Tigers 2B 23
n/a Elmer Leonard Philadelphia Athletics P 23
n/a Bill Lindsay Cleveland Naps 3B 31
n/a Jack Lively Detroit Tigers P 27
n/a Walter Lonergan Boston Red Sox 2B 26
n/a Lep Long Philadelphia Athletics P 23
n/a Bunny Madden Boston Red Sox C 29
n/a Stubby Magner New York Highlanders SS 24
n/a Amby McConnell Chicago White Sox 2B 29
n/a Paul Meloan Chicago White Sox OF 23
n/a Paul Meloan St. Louis Browns OF 23
n/a Warren Miller Washington Senators OF 26
n/a Jack Mills Cleveland Naps 3B 22
n/a Walter Moser Boston Red Sox P 31
n/a Walter Moser St. Louis Browns P 31
n/a Allie Moulton St. Louis Browns 2B 26
n/a Judge Nagle Boston Red Sox P 32
n/a Pat Newnam St. Louis Browns 1B 31
n/a Fred Olmsted Chicago White Sox P 30
n/a Bill Otey Washington Senators P 25
n/a Pat Paige Cleveland Naps P 30
n/a Freddy Parent Chicago White Sox 2B 36
n/a Fred Payne Chicago White Sox C 31
n/a Bugs Reisigl Cleveland Naps P 24
n/a Dave Rowan St. Louis Browns 1B 30
n/a Boss Schmidt Detroit Tigers C 31
n/a Al Schweitzer St. Louis Browns OF 29
n/a Fred Sherry Washington Senators P 22
n/a Bull Smith Washington Senators PR 31
n/a Jock Somerlott Washington Senators 1B 29
n/a Clyde Southwick St. Louis Browns C 25
n/a Blaine Thomas Boston Red Sox P uk
n/a Jack Thoney Boston Red Sox PH 32
n/a Tony Tonneman Boston Red Sox C 30
n/a Joe Walsh New York Highlanders C 25
n/a Hi West Cleveland Naps P 27
n/a Ed Wilkinson New York Highlanders OF 21
n/a Les Wilson Boston Red Sox OF 26
n/a Cy Young Cleveland Naps P 45
n/a Irv Young Chicago White Sox P 34
1911 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1911 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.

Stan Musial ended his Major League career on September 29, 1963. His final hit was a single during the sixth inning off Jim Maloney which drove in his last RBI (which was Curt Flood).