1916 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 1916.

"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
 

American League Retirements

1916

n/a Thomas Healy Philadelphia Athletics 3B 21
n/a Axel Lindstrom Philadelphia Athletics P 21
n/a Harland Rowe Philadelphia Athletics 3B 21
n/a George Hesselbacher Philadelphia Athletics P 22
n/a Ray Kennedy St. Louis Browns PH 22
n/a Red Lanning Philadelphia Athletics OF 22
n/a Walt Whittaker Philadelphia Athletics P 22
n/a Jack Bradley Cleveland Indians C 23
n/a Shorty Des Jardien Cleveland Indians P 23
n/a Moxie Divis Philadelphia Athletics OF 23
n/a Bill Fincher St. Louis Browns P 23
n/a Red Gunkel Cleveland Indians P 23
n/a Billy Lee St. Louis Browns OF 23
n/a Lee McElwee Philadelphia Athletics 3B 23
n/a Bill Stellbauer Philadelphia Athletics OF 23
n/a Cy Wright Chicago White Sox SS 23
n/a Cap Crowell Philadelphia Athletics P 24
n/a Michael Driscoll Philadelphia Athletics P 24
n/a Howard Lohr Cleveland Indians OF 24
n/a Jack Richardson Philadelphia Athletics P 24
n/a Shag Thompson Philadelphia Athletics OF 24
n/a Fritz Von Kolnitz Chicago White Sox 3B 24
n/a Marsh Williams Philadelphia Athletics P 24
n/a Del Baker Detroit Tigers C 25
n/a George Baumgardner St. Louis Browns P 25
n/a Doc Carroll Philadelphia Athletics C 25
n/a Bill McTigue Detroit Tigers P 25
n/a Jim Brown Philadelphia Athletics OF 26
n/a Bob Coleman Cleveland Indians C 26
n/a Red McKee Detroit Tigers C 26
n/a Carl Sawyer Washington Senators 2B 26
n/a Al Bergman Cleveland Indians 2B 27
n/a Jess Buckles New York Yankees P 27
n/a Ralph Mitterling Philadelphia Athletics OF 27
n/a Ray Shook Chicago White Sox PR 27
n/a Claude Thomas Washington Senators P 27
n/a Babe Borton St. Louis Browns 1B 28
n/a Charlie Mullen New York Yankees 2B 28
n/a Mike Murphy Philadelphia Athletics C 28
n/a Carl Ray Philadelphia Athletics P 28
n/a Ollie Welf Cleveland Indians PR 28
n/a Doc Cook New York Yankees OF 30
n/a Joe Fautsch Chicago White Sox PH 30
n/a Rip Hagerman Cleveland Indians P 30
n/a Marty McHale Boston Red Sox P 30
n/a Marty McHale Cleveland Indians P 30
n/a Henri Rondeau Washington Senators OF 30
n/a Harry Chapman St. Louis Browns C 31
n/a Jack Dalton Detroit Tigers OF 31
n/a George Moriarty Chicago White Sox 1B 31
n/a Jack Lapp Chicago White Sox C 32
n/a Danny Moeller Cleveland Indians OF 32
n/a Danny Moeller Washington Senators OF 32
n/a Jack Ness Chicago White Sox 1B 32
n/a Bill Carrigan Boston Red Sox C 33
n/a Clyde Engle Cleveland Indians 3B 33
n/a Solly Hofman New York Yankees OF 34
n/a Roy Hartzell New York Yankees OF 35
n/a Fred Beebe Cleveland Indians P 37
n/a Nap Lajoie Philadelphia Athletics 2B 42
n/a Billy Sullivan Detroit Tigers C 42
1916 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1916 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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).

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.