Baseball Almanac - 1917 National League Retirements

1917 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 1917.

"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
1917

# Name Team Pos Age

n/a Frank Allen Boston Braves P 29

n/a Larry Chappell Boston Braves OF 28

n/a Ed Fitzpatrick Boston Braves 2B 28

n/a Fred Jacklitsch Boston Braves C 42

n/a Mike Massey Boston Braves 2B 24

n/a Chief Meyers Boston Braves C 37

n/a Ed Reulbach Boston Braves P 35

n/a Art Rico Boston Braves C 22

n/a Ed Walsh Boston Braves P 37

n/a Wheezer Dell Brooklyn Robins P 31

n/a Bunny Fabrique Brooklyn Robins SS 30

n/a Bill Leard Brooklyn Robins 2B 32

n/a Chief Meyers Brooklyn Robins C 37

n/a Mike Mowrey Brooklyn Robins 3B 34

n/a Jack Snyder Brooklyn Robins C 31

n/a Paul Wachtel Brooklyn Robins P 30

n/a Earl Blackburn Chicago Cubs PH 25

n/a Paddy Driscoll Chicago Cubs 2B 23

n/a Charlie Pechous Chicago Cubs 3B 21

n/a Morrie Schick Chicago Cubs OF 26

n/a Tom Seaton Chicago Cubs P 30

n/a Harry Wolfe Chicago Cubs OF 25

n/a Harry Wolter Chicago Cubs OF 33

n/a Emil Huhn Cincinnati Reds C 26

n/a Elmer Knetzer Cincinnati Reds P 32

n/a Hans Lobert New York Giants 3B 36

n/a Red Murray New York Giants OF 34

n/a Jack Onslow New York Giants C 29

n/a Ad Swigler New York Giants P 22

n/a Bobby Byrne Philadelphia Phillies 3B 33

n/a Claude Cooper Philadelphia Phillies OF 26

n/a Paul Fittery Philadelphia Phillies P 30

n/a Jimmy Lavender Philadelphia Phillies P 34

n/a Jesse Altenburg Pittsburgh Pirates OF 25

n/a Bundy Brief Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 25

n/a Adam Debus Pittsburgh Pirates SS 25

n/a William Fischer Pittsburgh Pirates C 27

n/a Don Flinn Pittsburgh Pirates OF 25

n/a Charlie Jackson Pittsburgh Pirates OF 24

n/a Alex McCarthy Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 29

n/a Ray Miller Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 30

n/a Arch Reilly Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 26

n/a Honus Wagner Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 44

n/a Bill Webb Pittsburgh Pirates 2B 22

n/a Harry Wolfe Pittsburgh Pirates 2B 25

n/a Tony DeFate St. Louis Cardinals 3B 23

n/a Bruce Hitt St. Louis Cardinals P 21

n/a Paddy Livingston St. Louis Cardinals C 38

n/a Tom Long St. Louis Cardinals OF 27

n/a George Pierce St. Louis Cardinals P 30

n/a Jack Roche St. Louis Cardinals C 27

n/a Fred Smith St. Louis Cardinals 3B 31

# Name Team Pos Age

1917 National League Retirements

Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1917 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

On September 28, 1960, broadcaster Curt Gowdy uttered, "It's got a chance. It's got a chance. And it's gone!" Those words were used to describe the final at-bat of slugger Ted Williams.

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).

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