Baseball Almanac - 1920 National League Retirements

1920 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 1920.

"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

National League Retirements
1920

# Name Team Pos Age

n/a Oscar Dugey Boston Braves PR 33

n/a Bunny Hearn Boston Braves P 30

n/a Johnny Jones Boston Braves P 28

n/a Charlie Pick Boston Braves 2B 33

n/a Red Torphy Boston Braves 1B 29

n/a Tom Whelan Boston Braves 1B 27

n/a Doug Baird Brooklyn Robins 3B 29

n/a Rowdy Elliott Brooklyn Robins C 30

n/a Bill McCabe Brooklyn Robins SS 28

n/a Red Sheridan Brooklyn Robins SS 24

n/a Paul Carter Chicago Cubs P 27

n/a Chippy Gaw Chicago Cubs P 29

n/a Claude Hendrix Chicago Cubs P 32

n/a Buck Herzog Chicago Cubs 2B 35

n/a Joe Jaeger Chicago Cubs P 26

n/a Hal Leathers Chicago Cubs SS 22

n/a Bill McCabe Chicago Cubs PH 28

n/a Joel Newkirk Chicago Cubs P 25

n/a Ted Turner Chicago Cubs P 29

n/a Nick Allen Cincinnati Reds C 32

n/a Ray Fisher Cincinnati Reds P 33

n/a George Lowe Cincinnati Reds P 26

n/a Bill Rariden Cincinnati Reds C 33

n/a Morrie Rath Cincinnati Reds 2B 34

n/a Monty Swartz Cincinnati Reds P 24

n/a Jack Theis Cincinnati Reds P 29

n/a Doug Baird New York Giants 3B 29

n/a Claude Davenport New York Giants P 23

n/a Larry Doyle New York Giants 2B 34

n/a Pug Griffin New York Giants OF 25

n/a Roy Grimes New York Giants 2B 27

n/a Tom Grubbs New York Giants P 27

n/a Benny Kauff New York Giants OF 31

n/a Bob Kinsella New York Giants OF 22

n/a Fred Lear New York Giants 3B 27

n/a Al Lefevre New York Giants SS 22

n/a Vern Spencer New York Giants OF 27

n/a Mike Cantwell Philadelphia Phillies P 26

n/a Gavvy Cravath Philadelphia Phillies OF 40

n/a Johnny Enzmann Philadelphia Phillies P 31

n/a Bert Gallia Philadelphia Phillies P 29

n/a Fred Luderus Philadelphia Phillies 1B 35

n/a Gene Paulette Philadelphia Phillies 1B 30

n/a Walt Tragesser Philadelphia Phillies C 33

n/a Walt Walsh Philadelphia Phillies PR 24

n/a Howdy Caton Pittsburgh Pirates SS 26

n/a Nig Clarke Pittsburgh Pirates C 38

n/a Bill Hinchman Pittsburgh Pirates PH 38

n/a Bill McKechnie Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 34

n/a Johnny Meador Pittsburgh Pirates P 28

n/a Bob Glenn St. Louis Cardinals P 26

n/a Tim Griesenbeck St. Louis Cardinals C 23

n/a Hal Kime St. Louis Cardinals P 23

n/a Mike Knode St. Louis Cardinals OF 25

n/a Bill Schindler St. Louis Cardinals C 24

n/a Walt Schulz St. Louis Cardinals P 21

n/a George Scott St. Louis Cardinals P 25

n/a Oscar Tuero St. Louis Cardinals P 22

# Name Team Pos Age

1920 National League Retirements

Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1920 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).

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.

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